Hotels rehiring old employees

Hotels rehiring old employees

Milton.Lawrence@timesgroup.com

24.11.2020

Mysuru: For Lokesh, life appears to have come full circle. Like many of his colleagues in the hospitality business in Mysuru, Lokesh, who has over 20 years of experience, was laid off when the lockdown was imposed in March. It was the beginning of a very difficult time for him and he had to relocate four of his family members to his hometown to make ends meet.

Now that things are returning to normal, he has been rehired by the same restaurant where he worked.

Like Lokesh, many others in the industry in Mysuru are being rehired — albeit at a lower pay scale — now that the sector, which took a severe beating due to the lockdown, is finding its feet again. Occupancy rates in hotels have risen to 40%, while some restaurants are seeing 70-75% customers.

C Narayanagowda, president, hoteliers’ association, Mysuru, says many employees were dismissed and some establishments even shut down for good. “Times are still uncertain, but we are hoping things will get better soon,” he said. “About 25,000 people are directly or indirectly dependent on the industry in Mysuru.”

Lava KG, F&B manager at a popular restaurant, revealed business has picked up to about 70% of what it was during pre-Covid times, while MD Harish Kumar Hegde, proprietor, Hotel Airlines and Shubhodini Convention Hall, said, “Despite the lockdown we didn’t lay off any of our employees or cut their salaries. The economy is showing signs of revival with room occupancy rising to 40% from zero during the lockdown.”

Many in the hospitality industry in Mysuru are being rehired — albeit at a lower pay scale — now that the sector is finding its feet again

Schools abroad open during lockdowns

Schools abroad open during lockdowns

Farheen.Hussain@timesgroup.com

24.11.2020

Bengaluru: Several European countries including Germany, Ireland, France, and England may have tightened their lockdowns because of a fresh outbreaks of Covid-19, but they have kept schools and childcare facilities open.

While France imposed a month-long nationwide lockdown on October 28 and England followed suit on November 4, schools were exempt in both countries. Denmark was one of the first western countries to reopen schools on April 15 after a month’s lockdown.

These countries decided on this stand by ensuring innovative and strict safety measures (ventilation, mask-wearing and outdoor classes in small bubbles) and considering socio-economic consequences (like domestic violence, educational interruption, poverty etc.).

Some reports say medical experts in these countries supported the decision, pointing out that the rate of virus transmission in schools was low. As per a study by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, released in August, children accounted for less than 5% of all Covid-19 cases reported in 27 countries of the European Union and Britain.

According to another report, following the summer vacation in Japan, children have been attending school on alternate days to make social distancing easier. Even Wuhan schools reopened on September 1. Schools in Russia, Ukraine and Belgium also reopened in September with authorities making masks mandatory for teachers and pupils.

However, as per foreign media, cities like Detroit, Philadelphia, and Boston in US, are shutting schools and conducting online classes to prevent Covid infections. In Italy too, schools reopened in September after staying closed for six months, but moved to online classes within a week after a fresh outbreak. This led to a protest by a group of students in Italy’s Turin city. Spearheaded by 12-year-old Anita Iacovelli, the movement became a nationwide one with students sitting outside their schools, bracing the winter cold and studying via gadgets.

My daughter, in class 10, had hoped schools would reopen with adequate safety measures. Of course I would have taken a call whether to send her after gauging the situation, but with board exams, I felt she would be better prepared with regular classes. It’s also her last year in school before moving to college. I hope schools reopen at least in January so that she can have two months of memories and studies before exams

Yasmin RJ A PARENT

Educationists slam govt move to postpone reopening schools

 Educationists slam govt move to postpone reopening schools

GAP IN LEARNING Violation Of Fundamental Right Of Children, Driving Inequity By Prolonging Closure Of Institutions, Experts Say

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

24.11.2020

Bengaluru: Many educationists have slammed the government’s decision to postpone reopening of schools. Over the past few months, several experts in the sector have pushed for schools to reopen as they say prolonged closure will lead to multiple problems including gaps in learning, a higher drop out rate, child marriages, child labour and malnutrition. These problems, they say, are especially pronounced in rural areas.

Sources say the education department is all for reopening schools, while the health department is against it. On Monday, the government decided to go by the health department’s recommendation.

“Unfortunately a one-sizefits-all strategy hurts the poorest children the most. We are driving inequity through this approach,” said Rishikesh BS, faculty, Azim Premji University. “It’s understandable the government is wary of a public fallout should children get infected, but that is the reason why school operations should devolve to the SDMC (school development and monitoring committee). The SDMC should decide when schools should open or shut. This will be a win-win for both disadvantaged parents whose children have had very little formal learning opportunities as well as the government, which will not have to face criticism from people.”

Calling the decision unfortunate, Niranjanaradhya VP, Centre for Child and Law, NLSIU, said it “amounts to abdication of state responsibility”. “Clearly this is a decision against poor and disadvantaged communities and their children,” he said. “It is difficult to understand why the chief minister is taking all decisions, bypassing and sidelining the education minister. The state has the primary obligation to uphold and protect the rights of children. It is a clear violation of a fundamental right under the Constitution (article 21A).”

Gurumurthy Kasinathan, director, Centre for Education and Technology, IT for Change, who had also initiated a memorandum to resume regular classes, said, “The decision not to reopen will save lives at no financial cost, but the government is overlooking other terrible costs – that of malnutrition, child labour, early marriages, drop outs and learning loss. Together, these will cause the slow and sure death of children, especially from marginalized groups.”

Children are back in school in many countries, pointed out Kavitha Gupta of Neev Academy who insisted the pandemic is a challenge to civilization and governments “should not make it worse for the next generation by compounding learning losses of the past few months”.

“In some American cities, the public system is closed, but private schools are open,” Gupta said. “In Germany schools are open despite almost all other things being shut. The role of government is clearly defined in helping schools function. Schools in Singapore are running normally with full participation in academics, sports and extracurricular activity. Government policy is clear on travel and quarantine to keep the community safe.”

Many others questioned the government’s decision to keep schools closed but allow liquor shops and movie halls to conduct regular business.

COVID HIT: Candidates selected to teach in government-aided firstgrade colleges stage a protest demanding immediate postings. The state had delayed appointing them, citing financial crunch

Private institutes not enthused too

Private schools’ associations have also condemned the decision. “This is a painful decision. The government is only considering opening or otherwise option, but is unworried about issues that go along with it — like retaining teachers, keeping budget schools afloat and continued schooling for children. The chief minister has not understood the real problem,” said D Shashi Kumar, secretary, KAMS (Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka).

College attendance had bearing on decision

One major influence in the decision not to reopen schools is attendance — of the lack of it — in colleges after they reopened last week. “Colleges have reopened, but attendance is very poor. From December 1, it is planned to reopen medical and paramedical colleges in the state. The impact of reopening colleges will be known soon,” observed the technical advisory committee. Bangalore North University said attendance remained thin just like last week. Bangalore University said it has improved, albeit slightly. “Covid test results are coming in and attendance has improved from 10% to 20%. Practical classes also have started,” said KR Venugopal, vice-chancellor, Bangalore University.

Learning modules launched

The education department launched projectbased learning (PBL) and customized learning achievement path (CLAP) modules designed by Sikshana Foundation through Cisco Webex, which are paper-based learning modules. More than 18 lakh government school children from grades 4 to 7 will receive these learning modules to continue learning at home. These modules are based on learning levels of students in arithmetic.

₹40,000 reward for tracing missing pets

₹40,000 reward for tracing missing pets

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Rajkot: 24.11.2020

A Rajkot-based businessman Bhavin Mehta has announced a reward of Rs 40,000 for anyone who finds his two dogs that went missing from his friend’s house during Diwali festival.

The pooches, three-year-old Leo of Lhasa breed and Bruno of Shih Tzu breed, have been missing since November 15 from the house of Mehta’s friend in Trikonbaug area of the city.

The desperate Mehta family issued an advertisement in local newspaper announcing reward of Rs 20,000 for each dog.

Mehta, who owns a factory in Shapar Veraval area had gone to Rajasthan to celebrate Diwali leaving his two dogs at his friend’s placein Trikonbaug area of the city.

“As per our information our dog went missing on the night of November 15. We are trying to find them since then. This was my first dog and the family was attached to it, said Mehta.

According to the family both Leo and Bruno had became friends and preferred each other’s company. They had been keeping each other company in the past also. The dogs seemed to have left the house at around 2am in the night when the gate of the premise was slightly open. Mehta who lives on Gondal road said that the dogs have been with his family since they were 25-daysold. However, the Mehta’s have not lodged formal police complaint.

Bruno of Shih Tzu breed and (R) Leo of Lhasa breed have been missing since November 15

Dont be confused between covid and winter flu

 

SC pulls up Gujarat for its illogical Covid restrictions

SC pulls up Gujarat for its illogical Covid restrictions

Seeks Action Plan To Curb Virus Surge Within Two Days

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  24.11.2020

Worried over possible worsening of the grim Covid-19 situation after the festive season and onset of winter, the Supreme Court on Monday asked all states to submit action plans in two days to ensure the pandemic does not spin out of hand and came down heavily on Gujarat for its illogical restrictions and told the Delhi government to tighten its belt.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R S Reddy and M R Shah minced no words in telling Gujarat the flaws in its plans to arrest a surge in Covid-19 cases. “The situation is alarming in the state. What is the logic behind banning marriage celebrations between 9 pm and 6 am when marriage celebrations can be held in the daytime? How are the authorities sure that congregations in the day will not result in spreading the disease? You explain the logic behind this decision,” the bench said.

It also rapped the state for allowing politicians, MPs and MLAs to take out political rallies and processions while restraining others. “What is happening? The state is facing the worst situation. The state must file an affidavit explaining the logic behind these decisions. It also must file a status report about steps being taken and would be taken to bring the situation under control," Justice Shah said.

A health worker takes aswab sample from a man for a covid test at CTM on Monday

SC: All states have to be ready to combat worsened situation

The SC bench’s order said, “It is submitted in this court that in the month of November, there has been a great spike of Covid-19 cases throughout the country, especially in the states of Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is also submitted that the situation in the month of December is likely to worsen and all states have to be prepared to combat the worsened situation regarding Covid-19.”

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta said Delhi government would have to answer a lot of questions about managing the situation in the national Capital as the home minister had to intervene to give impetus to steps being taken, including augmentation of infrastructure, to fight a spike in cases. He urged the court to direct states to file their action plans by Monday evening for the court to take up hearing on Tuesday.

Appearing for Delhi, additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain said the state government has now reserved 80% of ICU beds in all 115 private hospitals of Delhi for Covid-19 patients as many people from the NCR were coming to the Capital for better treatment.

The SC said, “The situation has worsened in Delhi in the last two weeks and it is for Delhi government to augment the infrastructure and facilities for patient care. We are of the view that immediate steps are required to be taken by all the states as well as by the Union government. Let the status reports, as indicated above, be filed within two days from today and the matter be listed on November 27 for consideration and passing appropriate orders.”

The Supreme Court had taken up the case suo motu on noticing news reports about bodies of Covid-19 patients being dumped in major Delhi government hospitals in the early days of the pandemic.

The Delhi high court is also dealing with the issue of Covid care steps being taken by Delhi government.

Times View:

Coronavirus is cunning and cruel. Everyone is susceptible to it. To fight the outbreak, one needs the right science-based strategy and a sincerity of approach. Mere posturing will not do. The apex court has rightly asked the state for an explanation on its stance, which prima facie seems illogical.

Visitors at the National Library of India as it reopened for members after more than eight months, in Kolkata on Monday

HC rejects Raja plea against nod to CBI, ED to appeal 2G acquittals

HC rejects Raja plea against nod to CBI, ED to appeal 2G acquittals

Abhinav.Garg@timesgroup.com

24.11.2020

New Delhi: The CBI and ED won a partial victory on Monday before the Delhi high court when it rejected several petitions challenging the central government’s sanction to the CBI to appeal against the acquittal of former telecom minister A Raja and others in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation case.

However, the plea for early hearings filed by the probe agency to fast track the decision to get its appeal admitted before the retirement of Justice Brijesh Sethi became infructuous after the judge transferred the case to another bench and listed it for December 1. Justice Sethi retires on November 30 this year. The HC, while rejecting the plea of Raja and others, including ex-telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, also held that amendments to the anti-corruption law made later would not apply to cases registered before, therefore the 2018 amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act relating to Section 13(1)(d) would not come to the rescue of the acquitted accused in this appeal.

Raja, through advocate Manu Sharma, argued that the CBI’s appeal against the acquittals in the 2G case had become infructuous with the coming of the new anti-corruption law. He told the court that the graft charges levelled against him and others in the case have been omitted in the new Prevention of Corruption Act of 2018 and, therefore, prosecution in the instant matter cannot go on.

Apart from Raja and Behura, Raja’s then private secretary, R K Chandolia and Bollywood film producer Karim Morani had also raised the issue in separate applications.

Full report on www.toi.in