My friend Anand: A death by choice

It’s now ten years. Ten years since the death of my friend and batch-mate in the college, Anand Ranthidevan and his wife Deepa, who decided to call quits in 2011. They were in their late 30s, successful and happy. Ten years on, and I am still not able to come to terms with his death. Why did he do that? The question keeps lingering in my mind. 

He, in fact, made me think a lot even when he was alive. Anand and I were together in chemical engineering class, REC, Trichy, from 1990-94. I studied in a small town, Srirangam and the college and the liberal world overwhelmed me. More particularly, Anand and his philosophy. That was the first time my idea of what is right and what is wrong was questioned. He used to demolish my assumptions with a wide grin and a ruthless logic that came to him effortlessly. 

It used to go like this: “No, Anand, we should not be selfish.” 

 “Ha-ha, really Mani? Think about it again. We live because we are selfish. We kill to survive. How many living things do you hurt every day! Can you really live without killing or hurting something or somebody?  Think about it. The fittest survive, Mani. Everybody, almost every species does that. That’s the philosophy of life. Don’t get carried away by what people preach. That is done by the powerful to keep order in society. Analyze all that is told to you on the altar of logic. Life is ours and we are responsible to only ourselves!”

Another time, it was “Anand, my house is very small. Can’t invite all our friends.” 

“To invite people home, you don’t need a big house, Mani! All you need is a big heart and a sense of acceptance of your humble background.” 

He was brutally honest. His questions and answers would make many of us, friends and batchmates, uncomfortable. But, he was comfortable with me.  Maybe, I was yet to learn the art of pretension then.  I guess, he liked that frankness. 

He used to laugh at me and my philosophy on life. His forthrightness dipped in sharp wit could penetrate any defence. I have seen him tearing the guys apart in the class, canteen, anywhere. He was seldom seen in a company, and yet he was popular. 

Slowly, I was drawn to him as he challenged my assumptions logically. He taught me to question things objectively. He explained to me how there is nothing called right or wrong and only what we do and what we don’t want to do. He taught me to be bold. Indeed, his contribution to my ‘growing up’ may be much more than what I ever realised. 

He was courageous and smart. I remember the arousing extempore speech he gave on the basketball court, a day before we went on strike against the college management. I remember his smart preparations for exams and how he used to get as many marks as he needed. He never had trouble being the smartest of all. But, he never really was a part of the world we all lived in. He lived in his own world, with his own rules, if at all he had any. 

In a way, he was a philosopher who lived his philosophy.  Even during his college days, he found the word hypocritical. He found pretensions all around. He lived as if he is immune to the pretensions. He lived for himself one day at a time. I never remember him having long-term goals. He lived in the present. Whatever happiness he got out of his karate classes, his ice creams, his laughter- he lived it, fully. 

I did wonder once, what will he do when the karate, ice creams and books fail to enthral him? What will keep him interested in life? Like most men, would he fall into the vortex of love and find a lady who will hold his interest for a longer time? And then maybe children? 

He indeed found Deepa interesting, and they got married in Bangalore, presumably without any fanfare. I remember how he once called me on the phone and announced his marriage. He laughed and said, “I did not send you a marriage invitation, Mani, because, I never printed any! Why should we waste others’ time for my marriage?” I was not surprised a bit. 

Then, I lost touch with him in the midst of a chaotic life. I left Bokaro steel city and joined the IAS. Got married, entered the life of a civil servant and lost myself in the mundane affairs of life. Years rolled on. I lost touch with him. 

At times, Anand would show up in my mind. I wanted to catch up with him and surprise him with how much I have changed. I wanted to tell him that I understand his philosophy much better with age. I wanted to tell him that I fully agree with him that the world is indeed inside our minds and we just live life as we want and we become experts in justifying it. 

But, then, that day never came. Only the news of his death came. Death by choice. Both killed themselves by hanging together leaving a clear death note. “We have lived a very eventful and happy life together. We’ve travelled the world, lived in different countries, made more money than we ever thought possible, and enjoyed spending as much of it as we could on things that brought us joy and satisfaction. We believe in the philosophy that our life belongs to us and only us, and we have the right to choose to die as much as we have the right to live. We have kept Rs 10,000 in an envelope for expenses. We are making this decision in our individual capacities.” 

The death note exhibited the same striking clarity he always had. He never seems to have unanswered questions. But, he left me with so many questions. 

Why he didn’t find a reason to live? Why do I have so many reasons to live. And my reasons are real reasons or have I invented them for my sake? I remembered a quote from Einstein “Strange is our situation here on earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose.” And then he said somewhere else, “I would want to know why He started the universe. For once I knew that answer, then I would know the purpose of my own life” 

Most of us live without knowing the purpose. So, we invent a purpose, may it be a loft one of living for others or a simple selfish one. But, an honest examination would force us to face the fact that we are selfish and we live for ourselves. Even if we assume that we contribute something to the world, the universe and the world are so overwhelming that it makes our contribution so little to be counted. 

Ramana Maharishi says, “Your own Self-realization is the greatest service you can render the world.” Did Anand realize himself, the greatest service in the world? Did his brutal honesty lead him to feel that he has no more reason to live? Does his honesty mock me and my pretension to life? 

Destiny has strange ways of mocking us; at our pretensions;  the list of reasons that we invent to live; spouse, kids, family, friends, and society. Endless list of reasons. So, when I realize that all those lists are invented by me for my own selfishness, what will I do? Can my honesty survive the emptiness? Will that self-loathing and emptiness claim me? Did that claim Anand?

These questions remain unanswered even after ten years of his death. 

The School on the banks of the river Cauvery

A single moment can decide the course of our life.

My life's course was decided in 1983, almost 40 years ago, in the month of May, at Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, on the banks of river Cauvery. It was about my admission to 6th std in a new school, after finishing primary school.

I wanted to join the E.R. High School, located on the southern banks of river Cauvery and part of the city of Tiruchirappalli. It had a good reputation and was also affordable. My father took me there for admission to 6th grade. Unfortunately, I didn’t fare so well in the ‘entrance test’ to get the merit seat and hence was offered a ‘donation seat’ which came with a premium. My father could not afford that. As it was already noon, and my father wanted to get me admitted soon, he prodded the ER school clerk.

“Is there any other good school nearby that would charge fewer fees?”

“There is this Srirangam Boys High School. But, it is across the river and away from the main city. Would you be interested?"

The normal answer would have been a 'no'. Because river Cauvery was the northern boundary of the city and no student from the city ever ventured to cross the river and study on the Island of Srirangam. But, my father took a decision to cross the river and to go and see the school. That was the moment.

The decision to cross the river was like crossing the Rubicon. It changed my life.

We reached the school around 2 pm in the noon. Surprisingly, I did quite well on the entrance test. The principal, Shri. Sanakaranarayana, (SSN) was impressed and admitted me immediately.

Had I not studied in Srirangam school, I would not have met RC sir (R. Chandrasekhar), the best teacher I have ever come across in my life. He taught Chemistry and I fell in love with that subject. Because I liked Chemistry, I decided to do Chemical Engineering. Because I wanted to do Chemical Engineering, my choice of colleges narrowed down and I ended up at Regional Engineering College, Trichy (Now, NIIT).

And REC, Trichy, changed me from a small-town boy into a confident youngster to get two jobs in the campus placement and later choose a third one at SAIL, Bokaro Steel Plant. And it is because of joining SAIL, I could prepare for IAS and clear it in 1998.

So, the person behind all these is Shri. R. Chandrashekar, fondly RC, the Chemistry teacher. So, what did RC sir do?

Apart from teaching well, he encouraged students as I have seen never before. Every attempt to answer the question in the class will be received with such genuine admiration from him! He was a world of motivation and recognition. He will look for reasons to appreciate everyone. Even if someone answers a very simple question, he will applaud and say. “Padichuttu Vandheengala, very good” (Oh, you have read well and come to the class!).

It made us read more and more. Students were motivated to read the lessons prior to the class and come prepared to hear those encouraging words. Even the worst student in the class never bunked RC sir’s class. In fact, the backbenchers would be found in the chemistry lab, even if they miss the regular classes.

It was not just chemistry, but, RC sir pushed the students to challenge their limits. When I struggled to speak a single sentence correctly in English, he sent my name to the district-level English debate competition! When I was horrified to see my name, he simply said, ‘Unnum Aagadhu, neenga Nalla pesuvinga parunga’ (Nothing will happen, you will do well!). I didn’t do well, but that was the starting point for my debate competitions and it took me to the position of becoming General Secretary of the College Student’s Union at REC, Trichy.

Now, when I look back, I realize the most important quality in a teacher is to encourage and build confidence in the student. When the teacher keeps faith in the student, the student almost always redeems it. And RC sir did that with aplomb.

My school friend JP (whom I bumped into after 20 years!) concurs with me that RC sir is the best teacher anybody would ever come across. To this date when we call RC sir, we feel the same encouraging and motivating words from him. He is a true blessing in life.

The school had other legendary teachers too. V Ramanujam, (Math), PN Shekar (Biology) N Gopala Krishnan (English/Maths), Nacchimuthu (Physical Education), apart from the dear school Principal, Sankara Narayan sir. His physics classes were a treat to listen to.

The school is now called ‘The higher secondary school for Boys, Srirangam’. What sets the school apart from other schools is the fact that it drilled the sense of duty as the highest quality among all.

The motto of the school is ‘Duty thine only Idol’. This will surprise many. Because it keeps one's duty first, even before worshipping God. That too for a school, that is located on the Island of Lord Ranganatha and almost every founder and teachers of the school are deeply religious. This was ingrained in my mind, that duty comes first in life.

Decades later, in 1999, when I saw the etching on the entablature of Vidhan Soudha, the seat of the Karnataka Government, ' Govt work is God’s work’, I found it echoing the words 'Duty thine Only Idol'.

From the banks of the river Cauvery to the portals of Vidhana Soudha, the journey was made possible by my school, the Srirangam Boys High School, and the decision to cross the River Cauvery.

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NB: My sincere thanks, Shri.

Suresh Kumar S

, the Hon'ble MLA and ex-minister for Karnataka Govt for prodding me to write this two years back.

Leadership at the times of Corona - How do I volunteer?

ಕರೋನಾದ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಯಕತ್ವ -

ನಾನು ಹೇಗೆ ಸ್ವಯಂಸೇವಕನಾಗುವುದು? (The English version is after this Kannada version)
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ಕರೋನಾ ದಾಳಿ ನಾವು ಊಹಿಸದ ವಿಷಯ. ಇದು ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಗಳ ಒಳಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಹೊರಗೆ ನಡೆಯುವ ಯುದ್ಧ. ಯಾರೂ ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ಸುಮ್ಮನಿರಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ಹೋರಾಡಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಯುದ್ಧವನ್ನು ಎದುರಿಸಲು ನಮಗೆ ನಾಯಕರು ಬೇಕು! ಈ ಯುದ್ಧವನ್ನು ನಾವು ಹೇಗೆ ಹೋರಾಡುತ್ತೇವೆ?

ನೀವು ನಾಯಕನಾಗಲು ಬಯಸುವಿರಾ?

ನೀವು ಸರ್ಕಾರದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೈಜೋಡಿಸಬಹುದು ಮತ್ತು ತಂಡದ ಭಾಗವಾಗಬಹುದು. ಸಮುದಾಯ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ನಮ್ಮ ತಾಯಿನಾಡಿಗೆ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲು ಸ್ವಯಂಸೇವಕರಿಗೆ ವೇದಿಕೆ ನೀಡುವಲ್ಲಿ ವಾರ್ತಾ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಸಂಪರ್ಕ ಇಲಾಖೆ (ಡಿಐಪಿಆರ್) ಭಾರತೀಯ ರೆಡ್‌ಕ್ರಾಸ್, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಮತ್ತು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೈಜೋಡಿಸಿದೆ.

ಸ್ವಯಂಸೇವಕ ನಾಯಕನಾಗಿ, ನೀವು ಸ್ಥಿರ ಅಥವಾ ಕ್ರಿಯಾತ್ಮಕ ಅಥವಾ ಎರಡೂ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದನ್ನು ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸಬಹುದು.
ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ:

ನೀವು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿರಬಹುದು ಮತ್ತು ಇಂಟರ್ನೆಟ್ ಮೂಲಕ ನಮ್ಮೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು. ನೀವು ಟೆಲಿಗ್ರಾಮ್ ಗುಂಪು ಅಥವಾ ಯೂಟ್ಯೂಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ಡಿಜಿಟಲ್ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಭಾಗವಾಗುತ್ತೀರಿ.

ನೀವು ಗುಂಪುಗಳನ್ನು ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುವ ನಿರ್ವಾಹಕರಾಗಬಹುದು ಅಥವಾ ನೀವು ವೈದ್ಯರಾಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ ಅಥವಾ ತಜ್ಞರಾಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಉತ್ತರಿಸಬಹುದು. ಆದರೆ ಆಯಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಪಾತ್ರ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಆಸಕ್ತಿಕರವಾಗಿದೆ.

ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ (Field visit):

ಇಲ್ಲಿ, ನೀವು ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ಎಂದು ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ನೀವು ಭಾರತೀಯ ರೆಡ್ ಕ್ರಾಸ್, ಡಿಐಪಿಆರ್ ಮತ್ತು ಕೆಎಸ್ಎಲ್ಐನ ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳು, ಕಿವಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಅಂಗಗಳಾಗಿರುತ್ತೀರಿ! ನೀವು ತಿರುಗಾಡುತ್ತೀರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸರ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ತಲುಪಿಸುವಷ್ಟು ಮುಖ್ಯವಾದ ಯಾವುದನ್ನಾದರೂ ಹುಡುಕುತ್ತೀರಿ. ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಬರುವ ಸುದ್ದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಲು, ಅದು ನಿಜವಾದ ಅಥವಾ ನಕಲಿ ಎಂದು ನೋಡಲು ನೀವು ಕೆಲವು ಸ್ಥಳಗಳಿಗೆ ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡುತ್ತೀರಿ. ಏಕೆಂದರೆ, ಅನೇಕ ಬಾರಿ, ಇದು ವದಂತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅದನ್ನು ಯಾರೂ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸದ ಕಾರಣ ಅದು ಹರಡುತ್ತದೆ! ಈ ಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿ, ನೀವು ನಾಗರಿಕ ವರದಿಗಾರರಾಗಿ ಅಥವಾ ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಯಾಗಿ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುತ್ತೀರಿ ಮತ್ತು photograph ಛಾಯಾಚಿತ್ರ (ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮೊಬೈಲ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವಿರಿ) ಅಥವಾ ವೀಡಿಯೊ, ಸಂದರ್ಶನ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿಗಳ ಪುರಾವೆಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ನಿಖರವಾಗಿ ಏನಾಯಿತು ಎಂದು ನಮಗೆ ತಿಳಿಸಿ. ವಾಸ್ತವವಾಗಿ, ಸಮೀಕ್ಷೆ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಮತ್ತು ವರದಿ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಮುಂತಾದ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಆಸಕ್ತಿದಾಯಕ ಕೆಲಸ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ. ನೀವು ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರಿ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ದಾಖಲಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕೆಎಸ್‌ಎಲ್‌ಐ ಅದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿವರವಾದ ಅಧ್ಯಯನವನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ.

ನಿಮ್ಮ ಈ ಪಾತ್ರವು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಸ್ವಯಂಪ್ರೇರತವಾಗಿದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಗರಿಷ್ಠ 3 ತಿಂಗಳ ಅವಧಿಗೆ ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸಬಹುದು. ಆ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ, ಮುಖಗವಸುಗಳು, ಸ್ಯಾನಿಟೈಜರ್‌ಗಳು ಮುಂತಾದ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಸುರಕ್ಷತಾ ಕಿಟ್ ಅನ್ನು ನಾವು ನಿಮಗೆ ಒದಗಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ. ಅಗತ್ಯವಿದ್ದರೆ ನೀವು ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ಇಎಸ್‌ಐ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಉಚಿತ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯವನ್ನು ಸಹ ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತೀರಿ.

ಯಾವುದಕ್ಕೂ ಕಾಯದೇ ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ನೋಂದಾಯಿಸಿ:
https://covid19.karnataka.gov.in/coronawarrior.html

ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕೆಲಸದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಮಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಲು ನಿಮಗೆ ಗುರುತಿನ ಚೀಟಿ, ಕಿಟ್ ಮತ್ತು ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ ಪ್ಯಾಕ್ ನೀಡಲಾಗುವುದು!

ನೀವು ಅಭಿನಂದನಾ ಪ್ರಮಾಣಪತ್ರವನ್ನೂ ಸಹ ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತೀರಿ!

ನೀವು ಅನುಕರಣೀಯ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿದರೆ, ನೀವು ಸರ್ಕಾರದಿಂದ ಬಹುಮಾನವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತೀರಿ.

ನಾಯಕ ಒಮ್ಮೆಗೇ ಉದ್ಬವಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.ಅದರೆ ಈಗ ನೀವು ಹಿರೋ ಆಗುತ್ತಿರಿ, ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಅದು ಬಿಕ್ಕಟ್ಟಿನ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ. ಯೋಚಿಸಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕರೆ ಮಾಡಿ. ನಿಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿರುವ ನಾಯಕನನ್ನು ಜಾಗೃತಗೊಳಿಸಿ! ಕೆಚ್ಚೆದೆಯ ಹೊಸ ಜಗತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ವಾಗತ!



The Corona onslaught is something we never imagined. It’s a war which is fought both inside and outside our homes. We are in the uncharted territory. But, we need to fight this. This battle needs leaders who are selfless and who can innovate as they move ahead. 

Do you want to be such a leader? DO YOU HAVE IT IN YOU?

If so, be a volunteer. One has to serve to lead. You can join hand with the govt and be a part of the 'Corona Warrior' team. The Dept of Information and Publicity (DIPR) has joined hands with The Indian Red Cross, (KSLI) Karnataka and Karnataka State Labour Institute in providing a platform to the volunteers to serve our community, our state and our motherland.

As a volunteer leader, you can play any of the following roles:


1. Food: Cooking
2. Food: Delivery
3. Food: Sourcing raw materials
4. Telemedicine (only if you are a doctor)
5. Telemedicine: Psychiatric counselling
6. Medical Infrastructure
7. Fieldwork: Media/Busting fake news
8. Fieldwork: Along with police
9. IT support from home
10. IT support at the control room, Infantry road/MIS
11. Strategy/Supply chain/Logistic planning
12. Website: design/maintenance
13. HR mgmt
14. Public relations
15. I can do any work given!

Most of these roles have both the static (WFH) or dynamic (Field) component.

WORK FROM HOME:

You can be at your home and work with us thru the internet. You will part of our front end on the digital media, in the Telegram group or YouTube and moderate them. You can be an admin managing the groups or answer the queries asked if you are a doctor or an expert.

At the FIELD:

Here, you are expected to move around and hence a transport for yourself.  Both you and your vehicle will be issued with a pass. You will be the eyes, ears and limbs of the Indian Red Cross, DIPR (Department of Information and Public Relation) and KSLI (Karnataka State Labour Institute). You will move around and look for anything that is important enough to be conveyed to the govt.

You will also visit certain places to verify the news coming from there, to see if it's genuine or fake. Because, many times, it’s a rumour and it spreads as nobody can verify it! In this place, you act as a citizen reporter or a govt official and tell us what exactly happened with evidence like a photograph (taken in your mobile) or video, interview etc.

In fact, there will be much more interesting work like making a survey and reporting. What you are doing will be documented and KSLI will do a detailed study on that, with credits to you!

This role is purely voluntary and may extend for 3 months period at the maximum. During the time, we will provide you with full safety kit like masks, sanitizers etc. You will also get the free medical facility at the ESI hospitals of the Labour dept if required.

The organisation will be headed by a Task Force at the state level, and then we will have district coordinators and then local coordinators. 

You have ample scope to serve and thus, to lead. You can register here. 

Please register: https://covid19.karnataka.gov.in/coronawarrior.html

Within 7 days of registration, you will be issued the ID card, a kit and a backpack to help you in your work, depending on the need. Thus, if you Work from Home (WFH), you may be not given the kit or ID card. Your selection to the programme is based on the feedback from the zonal coordinators who are from Civil defence dept, and their decision is final. We have no time to entertain any questions on their decision.

If you do not hear from us even after 7 days of your registration, then, post it in the Telegram group https://t.me/karnataka_Covid19 or call 155214 and leave your details. You will get an appreciation certificate for your participation, again on the recommendation of the zonal coordinators. If you do exemplary work, you will get a reward from the govt too.

At the same time, be aware of the risks involved in outdoor work. You will be signing an indemnity bond that would free the govt of any liabilities legally. Also, the task Force reserves the right to remove you from the Volnteership due to any reason, after giving you an opportunity of being heard in writing.

If you have any questions, join this telegram group and ask: https://t.me/karnataka_Covid19

Leaders are born, not during ordinary times, but during a crisis.

Many years later, when you grey and narrate this historical event to your grandchildren, and if they ask "Did you do anything to help others during the pandemic?', you should have something to say? Isn't? Then, this is your opportunity. 

Citizen Suggestions received on SAFETY issue of construction workers: IIMB Conclave on 29th Jan, 2020.

Conclave on Construction Worker Safety on 29th, Jan, at IIMB, Bengaluru. - Feedback received on twitter: 

1. 20 citizens made suggestions. All of them were considered by the team. The best will be incorporated into the upcoming policy.
2. Your voice is heard, analysed and included in the policy.  Come and change the way your govt works for you!

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1. . jairajeshprakash - @prakashjairajes

Sir, every construction worker produce fitness certificate, every builder, contractor has to conduct health check camp to their workers at least once in three months construction board has to pay compensation to real construction worker after due enquiry from private agency

if the worker produces physical fitness certificate to work it shows he has no diseases and he is fit to work if the builder conduct the health check up camp it reveals about occupational diseases regarding issue of compensation to enquiry is necessary to avoid flake claims

2. Ganesh | ಗಣೇಶ್ - @gganeshhh

A mechanism for labour to escalate when they don't get paid.. many contractors don't pay them for months, they go back frustrated and empty handed after months of working A payment contract for them with their contractors needs to be made mandatory.

An employment exchange sort will be helpful.. where in they can search for jobs.A registration card , linked to aadhar, will be helpful when labourers from distant states are employed and they indulge in thefts.

3. SATI DASS -  @ksatidass

Sir, In addition to the safety, mobile schools for their kids be arranged. Intra state Ration card portability to buy essential commodities from any other nearby controlled shops be permitted. Accidental and Medical Insurance be made compulsory.

4. charan archan - @archancharan

1) currently construction companies are working day & night for faster & cost efficient construction for these bring a centralized punching system for all construction workers so that no of hours working at site will be monitored.

2) Fix the salary as per Hour or 8hr/day if they continue for over time. Over time also paid as per salary & fix the holiday & shift off so that worker also can take rest. Currently govt has made this rules but without proper monitoring of working hours... All rules are in toss



5. Ravindra Salkatte - @Ravindra310

Construction labourers far from esi hospitals, can get info of nearest Ayushmanbharat empannelled public health institution, so that they can b treated if Inpatient requirement s there.

6. Ganesh - @gganeshhh

The wooden scaffolding is very unsafe, especially during rainy season(as it is tied by coir). it needs to be banned for heights about 10 feet

Painters shouldnt be grtting down via a thread from tall buildings without safely basket and waist protection

Hand gloves, shoes and helmet should be must..

Electrical safely of the site must be validated.. most of them dont have any understanding of the electrical safely.. circuit breaker should be a must to save lives.. MCBs should also be installed in the poles for additional safely

One more: They need to be educated about child marriages and family planning... Many have an average of 4 kids and can barely feed them properly.. some are married off at 16 or below..

7. Srikrishna - @sri16587

One more challenge is all works done by depts is NOT well informed irrespective of planned / unplanned work . Post tragic incidents Labour Dept is getting involved / informed . Process & Protocol to be formulated well with civic dept’s & Labour Dept

8. ರಾಜ್..Raj - @Natraj93787359

Contractor and Engineer not interested in taking care of road and other construction worker They don't provide the uniform dress, safety gear of working place. For scrutiny purpose department establish one vigilance team including the social worker and lawyer.

9. Arpita Bhat -  @ArpitaBhat1

Since I have worked in Site as well as office as a Civil Engineer. I have noticed private builders do not even provide basic safety accessories like Safety shoes, hard hat & safety jackets. It must me made sure that at least basic things will be provided to them.

Moreover, the workers should aware of the importance of being safe and consequences. There will be workers who refuse to wear safety accessories given to them after several warnings from the engineers. I think spreading awareness is also important !

10. Trivedi Bhavdip -  @bhavdip_sompura

The workers are doing job by accepting advices from engineers. As a fresher, young engineers are also in state of a "labour". If the labours' training as a civil engineer can be done, a good practical working will take place. Think about it.

11. KIRAN C.N -  @chiki1303

Training is very important for the construction workers along with their job. Large builders should conduct safety classes to these workers

12. Vinod -  @radiologyvinod

So much rules and regulations ,I don't think small builders will survive . I would rather request government &  labour dept to provide few safety accessories free. Just blaming on the government and the small builders it is easy we should also think of finance involved

13. Jaswanth Singh - @jasshu7

Creating awareness about @AyushmanNHA& ensure all the construction workers are included under this scheme. #PMSBY, #PMJJBY #APY can also be explored. Having a similar model @dguvI can share few presentations and training programmed done with them

14. Sandeep The Voice - @sandeepthevoice

Everywhere I see that the small children of construction workers don't have footwear. The adults seem to wear slippers and sandals, but the child walks around barefoot. Wish we could give them all some footwear and protective clothing.

15. Krushika AV - @KrishKrushik

I have suggested this earlier,

Bring new rule where builder/contractor must register all the laborers working in site in govt insurance scheme. The money spent 4r that should be deducted from labor cess free skill development training 4r construction labors, Subsidized safety gears

16. Venugopalan Govindan - @gvenugopalan

Sir, not quite safety, but financial safety. We see many of them in poor living conditions. in comparion, a pvt sector employee earning similar or even less, lives better. Main causes imo, 1. Lack of knowledge of banking, saving etc and taking usurious loans.

17. Divaker V Vittal - @divaker01

Women with toddlers come to work as construction workers and stay in construction places as guards. It is dangerous to the infants, small children and working women from construction debris, open pits, sumps and electric wires. Please enact on handling this challenge, Captain

18. Anil P Joseph - @Anil4Joseph

Construction Safety aspects with my limited exposure to HSE has two elements

1.Behavioural/Attitudinal Issues of Workmen & Supervisory Staff

2.Systemic Issues of our Ecosystem

Attitudinal Issues of Supervisory folks

Investment in PPE,Safe Work Process study & mitigation =Cost

If the Mgmt thinks investment in Safe practices is a Cost,then it will invariably be more of visual exercise at the site rather than embedded in the culture of safety thru adequate engagement/training investment in bringing about safe working behaviour/ supervisory accountability

As regards workmen,since they didn’t have formal training in acquiring the skillsets using PPEs while they were learning their craft,they find it suffocating to use the PPEs/exhibits great amount of resistance inspite of risks which are evident

This change needs coaching/coaxing

Then there are systemic issues

I’m not sure we have maps capturing the pipelines,Telecom optical divers,Electrical lines, tunnels which are there in any construction site resulting in untoward incidents while digging activity mechanically or manually

There are similar issues while working at heights which can be managed if folks are diligent & take adequate safety measures

Safety Audits - Internal/External doesn’t really test the quality/efficacy of PPEs/safety measures taken rather it is more of a SOP review/paper exercise

19. D Prasanth Nair - @DPrasanthNair

There are two types of issues

1. Where safety gear is not given. Enforcement of rules important

2. It is given and not used. Here it is a mindset change that needs to be done. Constant Communication in local language helps. Involve family in inculcating safety habits

3. Leverage technology to ensure usage

20. Charan Archar - @archancharan

There are few things

1) currently construction companies are working day & night for faster & cost efficient construction for these bring a centralised punching system for all construction workers so that no of hours working at site will be monitored.

2) Fix the salary as per Hour or 8hr/day if they continue for over time. Over time also paid as per salary & fix the holiday & shift off so that worker also can take rest.

Currently govt has made this rules but without proper monitoring of working hours... All rules are in toss

Suggestion received on Twitter for Information and Public Relation dept, Govt of Karnataka, 2019.

After being posted as Secretary, Dept of Information and Public Relations, I thought of seeking free advice on Twitter. The response was overwhelming. I thought I must post the details in public for anybody to read. 

This time, my staff did not take the mention the name of the person who gave the idea, but would ask them to do next time! 

Please go thru if you have time! Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to give suggestions!

SL.No	Suggestions/FeedBack	Action	Status	Remarks
1	If your new department just reply to RTI queries/applications without any ambiguity and evasion, that should be more than enough.	Ok! I will check this. @Karmika_Sahaya and @shyleshbhat please get more details. Let's move the file and get approved from the Hon'ble Minister. Rope in KEONICS to see how we can copy it from DoPT. Let's have a target of one month?
2	Sir, my top 3 pick: 1. Publicize GoK policies in simpler terms & more regularly (a refresher) 2. Dire need to improve info flow amongst Civic Agencies. It's like right hand doesn't know what left hand doing :)  3. Regular upd of GoK achievements 2 boost confidence in Aam Public!
3	More information spreading is required for this every panchayat one dedicated staff and voluntary movement is required sir
4	Information about schemes, health, education, safety, life science, employment, security, yoga, agriculture, horticulture, entrepreneurs development, and so many subjects required for the peoples and country but our information is dept lagging under your captaincy set right ji
5	Regarding the information department the achievement of the govt should be explained to public 2 the schemes of the all departments should be published in conspicuous spaces both in kannada and English 3 having a cardinal relations with both print and electronic media
6	One dedicated news paper from the department sir
7	Alternately each Dept can maintain idea Register (iRegister) to enrol all public ideas for Dept . iRegister should be owned by PR division at Dept . Pls review and fine tune iRegister as pilot project and extend to all Dept at Karnataka	Please copy all the ideas posted here and put up a file to me. Though I have noted down important points, I would like to have them for the record purpose and to note them on the file. You can keep scree shots too. Use control room if required.
8	Congratulations, Sir. Most important thing is to ensure that RTI replies are transparent and without any confusion...
9	Sir, i have been following you for some time. You seem to be overloaded with duties! Meaning your contribution is appreciated by your office. Please gather a vibrant team and promote them too to learn as much and contribute!	Thank you! In fact, I want to impart skill up-gradation for 3 persons every 3 months. Sort of internship at my office. Working on the modalities		I will come up with a plan. @shyleshbhat discuss this with me.
10	I am 100% sure,90% of ppl don't know 90% of schemes & their departments they just roam all departments & enquire. still they don't get proper info by staff . this leads to increase of brokers & misuse. to curb this & to maximize the awareness, One Single App is essential	@Karmika_Sahaya kindly remind me on this issue too, till the file is initiated and sent to the office of the CS
11	Every DC, RC, Commissionerates/Directorates, Departments of GoK should have verified accounts on social media platforms especially twitter. @Uppolice is the best example. Every Zonal ADG, Range IG/DIG & District Police has such verified accounts and deals with public grievances.	Good point! We will try the same
12	Produce Report Card on Every Three Months, So People know Schemes Benefitting and How beneficiary Can Take Benefit from Such a Welfare Schemes Sir. We are Confident Sir You will give Your Best For Betterment of people , Society	@Karmika_Sahaya please ask my PS Pallavi to create a file on this issue of report cards and put up.
13	Implement the Srinivasa Murthy committee which says the public should be centre of information policy. You had made a head start earlier. Caveat: I am a committee member.	Oh, thanks a lot for the wonderful report sir! We are at it. 60 beautiful suggestions you have given us!
14	Welfare scheme Advertisement should be in all taluka office, like big hoardings.	Thank you for the suggestions. We are planning digital boards.
15	Congratulations Manivannan Sir!! Looking forward for your awesome performance in this department too. Is it possible to publish schedule for all government (Heads of dept. / MLAs / MPs / Ward / Area Council Members/ Head of Police Station) to meet public everyday?	Good idea! We had one in BESCOM long ago. Will try to do it with DIPR and Labour dept first. @shyleshbhat , please discuss with me on this.
16	Sir @mani1972ias may I suggest, Conducting local trips for Govt school children of rural areas to Local courts,Govt Hospitals,Police stations,Taluk office etc & spreading awareness & how our society works, to teach & guide them that these institutions are friends of the people.	Good idea! We will explore it. @Karmika_Sahaya , please remind me of this.
17	Public awareness in rural areas. We severely lack the knowledge of any Good Govt scheme's. Sir if possible plz do the same job as you once did as Bescom MD. Your work was fantastic. Many Lineman lives were saved thanks to you sir. You are a Hero.	Yes, you are right! Most of the suggestions were about creating awareness. We will plan it. Thanks for your kind words regarding BESCOM
18	Get Karnataka on MyGov	Sir, already CMO is coordinating. We will be doing that soon
19	Forst, second and third - Put out information which is truthful and establishes credibility of the government	I will do so, sir.
20	Can we have a website of the government, which is navigation friendly with all departments on one platform. Presently, the websites of respective depths lack updation.	Ma'am, very much desirable. But, many such attempts have failed as depts are doing fire fighting and don't put efforts on updating of the websites.
21	How about putting video tutorials on how to access online services of govt. Reading steps on how to fill a particular form is not encouraging in these times of multimedia. Step will result in increased reach of the services in a short time. Happy to offer pro-bono consultancy	Good point! @Shobana_88 please ask Pallavi to come on Twitter. We need to write to all depts on this good idea.
22	An easy-to-understand booklet with lots of graphics for women to understand what benefits they are eligible for and how to get them. Same for children - separate for girls and boys - in child-friendly language.	Very good idea!! Would you have anyone who can help us with this? @shyleshbhat please call MCA for a meeting on this. Remind me to call Commissioner, DIPR		Sure! I’m with @UNICEFIndia and along with my colleagues who support the state of Karnataka, we will be happy to support. My email is aganguli@unicef.org
23	A dummies guide to applying for ayushman bharat	Very good point! @Karmika_Sahaya please remind me
24	Sir, from http://Karnataka.gov.in to most of the ministerial websites in karnataka are no user friendly, not updated. nowadays info is sought online at initial stage. Maintaining websites, regular updation wl be great information dissemination. Other states hv gud websites	Ok! That's handled by another dept. But, will pass on the message. Updating and maintaining websites needs lots of efforts and time, and many in the govt are yet to realise it.
25	1. Use post offices as last mile agencies of information department. Publicise a “meet your postmaster” system. 2.Credits to kids in exams for talking to nearby needy neighbourhoods about relevant schemes 3. Incentivise clerks by promotion credits for enrolling people	#1 is doable. 2 and 3 are beyond my pay-band! @Karmika_Sahaya can you fix an appointment with The Post-Master General of Karnataka state? @Shobana_88 also get a team from KEONICS who can design & deliver.
26	For each of the welfare schemes of the govt, clear details are required and publicised in prominent places. 1. What is offered 2. Target audience 3. Eligibility criteria & Documents required. 4. Person/Office to contact. 5. Grievance redressal/escalation method, if any
27	Create whatsapp /telegram group of all the village/panchayat heads who get the details of govt scheme directly instead of through media or advertisements	Good idea! But, would need the active help of all the depts of the govt. We will try!
28	Will be good if the dept can create a website in Kannada and English on “how to...” avail various government services. Can be segmentised for urban, rural, women, students, senior citizens, business people etc Can also be published as a booklet.
29	Congratulations Sir. Here is my take on what the the top 3 goals could be: 1. Bottom up dissemination of information 2. Impeccable governance structure to succeed (vertical/horizontal) 3. People centricity & challenge the status quo All the very best to you.	Thank you, ma'am!
30	Can you give out details on how govt is planning to help flood hit farmers in Belgaum area & info on metro work in Bangalore. Thanks	@Karmika_Sahaya please forward it to the concerned dept and ask them to reply. @cpronammametro take note.
31	1) everything not barred under Sec 8 of RTI Act, must be shared suo moto, the same day the information becomes actionable. 2) Websites Of every GOK Dept & Agency are organised in a similar way, so it’s easy for user to find info. 3) All laws r translated to Kannada or English			More importantly, all the laws/rules/notifications shall be indexable (as in HTML format, instead of merely in document/pdf format) . It makes searching easy
32	@UmangOfficial_ all the central govt. services are available in a single platform in @UmangOfficial_ , though #sevasindhu is in karnataka. not designed properly n not accessible as @UmangOfficial_
33	Create a Knowledge Graph of the Govt. With information on personnel, services, offices, documents etc. It's my research area in my day job. I can help.	Good idea! It may take a long time, but worth it! Let's discuss this also when we meet. Thanks for this idea and the offer
34	Listing welfare schemes in an open platform with eligibility . Showcasing people who have benefited. Share with ward committees so they can share at the micro Govt level. I’m on the ward committee and I wd be interested to share welfare schemes with my ward	Thank you, ma'am!
35	It would be great if Karnataka Govt also published all information on schemes like the Jan Soochna portal that just got launched in Rajasthan.
36	Congratulations sir, for additional responsibility Misinformation prevails when it comes to details regarding policies, procedures regarding government schemes/day to day activity Some Dos/Don'ts kind of document shall be present in the office premises in big letters to help
37	Congrats sir. 1. Create outreach for existing schemes to last mile using local dialect content with digital literacy. 2. Standardise reporting goals and progress across siloed departments and open data sets. 3. Capacity building in social media channels and service delivery.
38	1)Make sure all scheme info is available in one place including eligibility 2) Make application simple 3) Make status of application trackable.
39	1. Eliminate political influence in stating the facts 2. Reconcile claims of success as per Govt. records with ground reality 3. Relentlessly meet people with open mind for criticism and bring them up at legislative level 4. Mandate awareness ads in all regional TV channels
40	1. Publish about schemes people can benefit but has less awareness 2. Statistics on programs undertaken and benefits accrued
41	Please keep Karnataka Govt. websites up to date & have comprehensive details & FAQ. Pls check if all Helplines are functioning properly.. Pls clearly mention the Govt. Officer & contact no. Responsible for coordinating each scheme.
42	Sir, we hope to see 'useful' information on the @KarnatakaVarthe handle, instead of advertisements. :) The aims could be to 1) Make citizens aware of the facilities in each dept 2) How citizens can gain access 3) Make Govt proactive through the information channels. Good Luck!
43	. Dissemination of schemes and initiatives available to people from govt and with links to relevant information details. 2. How to avoid middleman during approaching for the same and whom actually to approach. 3. Advsmt of people's DUTIES as citizens as much as their rights.
44	- Higher accessibility of information on government programs and initiatives. - Consolidation of all websites pertaining to government programs and initiatives into a single website managed by dept of info & PR - 24/7 web accessibility & document download services - Kannada use
45	Sir, Schemes like Sukanya Samruddhi, Pension Schemes majorly for unorganised sector, Health scheme in collaboration with SG health scheme, farmer schemes should be prioritised n reached to as many people as possible. Social security schemes must be taken fwd at a rapid pace.
46	Congratulations sir. 1) news letters department wide to give status on implementation. Sakala stats. 2) insist all govt agencies to update on projects / disruptions . Mainly big infrastructure like Metro , flyover, underpass. Public the biggest stakeholders are kept uninformed
47	1. How do we make sure public knows about all the govt. schemes they can avail & process 2. In case of any situation, urgently clarify govt. stand, create clarity about d situation, provide guidance 3. Project govt. good works in true spirit
48	My top 3 asks: 1) Identify a common templates to be used to publish information across departments/services/schemes. All announcement should conform to the defined template. 2) Have a common repository of all such publications and make it accessible to all. 3) Define SMART goals to the department and periodically assess progress on the same and publish it. In addition, please create awareness on what the charter of the department is..helps set expectations with the public.(2/2)
49	The most needy should get this information about govt welfare scheme and that can happen only thru participation of general public, kindly create a role like common man ambassador / partner who will identify the needy get them registered to schemes
50	Congratulations: Goals: 1. Reaching the 'right' population ( not a public paper advertisement ) meant for that scheme(>80%) 2. Explaining the benefits of the schemes through campaigns-District/Taluk level 3. Increased use of social media to reach out 4. Data compilation(adhar)
51	1. Website which mentions "Eligibility & procedure" for ALL Govt. schemes. 2. Real-time status of ALL Govt. projects, listed district wise. 3. "Did you know?" trivia on social media about achievements of Govt. depts.
52	One App -> List of departments->select department-> list of schemes &programs by this skill ,sector & requirement base all students/entrepreneurs/women/unemployed youths can search the info , read , apply & benefited..
53	Congrats sir, I would like to request tat, wtevr schemes u r gonna make please ensure that it should reach public... Either in digital way or through press media... We all can have basic knowledge on government work..
54	1) Focussed outreach of welfare schemes .i.e. Scheme info should reach for whom the scheme is made instead of generalized outreach 2) Details of sanctioned money and money used at different levels for diff schemes 3) Mechanism to track and measure the effectiveness of outreach
55	)ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ನಾಗರಿಕನಿಗೂ, ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಯೋಜನೆಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಇರಬೇಕು. 2)ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಇಲಾಖಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳು ಒಂದೇ ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಲಭಿಸುವಂತಾಗುವುದು. 3) ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ಆ್ಯಪ ಮೂಲಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ, ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳ applicatin status ವೃದ್ಧಿಸಬೇಕು..
56	1) Govt websites to be in both Kannada and English. 2) Transparency of govt spending 3) Transparency on various projects, with expected completion date. e.g. information on Metro Phase 2 progress & likely rollout dates should be updated at least once a month.
57	Sir , First thing is 'awareness , people should know there is Department from where they can know what government is doing for them . So pls build a super friendly website and a team to interact with them online. To reach village , hire ad agency to advertise via text
58	The department ads put up at airport area and bmtc bus shelters are mainly in English...no kannada
59	Congratulations Sir! IMO: 1. Webportal and Mobileapp. For example: "GOKINFOLINE" 2. A common minimum baseline of information, statistics and analytics for each dept. to be published by dept. 3. Star rating based on info updated by dept, citizen rating, citizen engagement, etc.
60	or any service that is available online, it is almost impossible to get it done online. For eg., I've been applying for a caste certificate for my child, but it keeps getting rejected Everytime, despite me submitting all correct docs. They force us to go to the centres n bribe
61	Open data, in open and accessible formats, not locked up in PDF, Excel or scanned reports. Programmatic, web based access to increase accountability and transparency.
62	Give more importance to news related to government recruitments. None of the TV channels cover this. Our govt websites are also very outdated. It will be helpful if you cover this here. Thank you and congratulations!
63	1. In Kannada, daily deliver time & context sensitive info about schemes of Govt. & weather to people's mobil, email and to panchayat display. 2. Make a list of 100 icons & 100 tourist places of Karnataka & publicize widely. 3. Collect feedback from people & provide to Govt
64	To clearly (a) communicate the various schemes which are available from both state and central govt for common public (b) tranparency in various schemes - how much money has been spent and it's sources (c) a portal for constituency wise work done, spending and work in progress.
65	.1.. Targetted dissemination of info for beneficiaries. 2. Cost effectiveness in advertisement 3. Simplification of the details of the welfare programmes.
66	1. Information dissemination at grassroot level - to the target citizens 2. Create local Action Groups - they'll work on awareness, implementation &follow up of welfare schemes.this will also result in job creation for localites 3. Create a Young India platform to propagate.
67	1. Request u to publish Ministry wise information on seperate website as Centre publishes on PIB and release a gvt app which shows ongoing works of corresponding ministries and schemes as well. Also include gvt job notification through app if possible.
68	2. Information is not only a Data but Wealth also. Deliver schemes of the gvt through Gvt bus stations at all levels(Dist, Taluq, village), Gvt hospitals, Gvt offices like Sub- register offices. Publishing news in creative short videos will help at larger extent.
69	3. There should be a volunteer/ gvt appointee at every village with whom the gvt can send information directly on schemes and facilities provided according to the criteria as per the gvt. Through him every person will know the information quickly. Also make use of @DDChandanaNews
70	Sir awareness of health insurance schemes is still low among the public . The full page ads in local dailies on arogya schemes will help Many are getting into debt trap due to non awareness of Health insurance schemes especially those at BPL.The best places to create awareness are PDS centres , tehsil office , bus stands and metro
71	My $0.02. 1) Making info/process about various govt depts which people need to visit for getting license/NOCs/approvals transparent and accessible. 2) Enable online tracking of applications in various govt depts. 3) Sensitize govt depts about issuing notifications in English also
	Road safety, n traffic rules n regulations awareness campaign especially through media so that even young children know it before they get their license. Also knowledge on how to give way to an ambulance, or what to do during an accident, how to approach a police ,etc
72	Help people get benefits of ayushman Bharat- many people don’t seem to know how to go about it Importance of nutrition Safety info for women; warning for criminals
73	Finding different ways to.reach out to public on various schemes of the government. Create a feedback mechanism to drive in opinions of people to improve the same. Work with Local Governments to see how their need for public relations can be met.
74	Sir my suggestion, 1. Dissemination of schemes in wider platforms such as mass and social media as well as paper media in regular intervals(if there is no budgetary constraint) 2. Interacting directly with target audience for resp Schemes & taking note of
75	pl send daily bullet points of govt schemes n benefits etc to govt schools for display on notice board in big letters . They read and also tell their parents, neighbours. Such info shapes them and reaches maximum without wasting money in advts in paid private business media.
76	1. Giving maximum information about welfare schemes to public. 2. let the public know what kind of services you can provide them. 3. Information is everything in 21 era. There must be proper utilisation for business and studies
76	Sir, 1. First and foremost important thing is proper means (app/website) which will connect people directly to concerned officials, mostly ppl get confused and give up taking any issues to officials for not being able to find out which to contact for what!? 1/n
78	Build a public data warehouse and ensure minute level data is available so that citizens can find and detect corruption. Publish a real time citizen dashboard so that citizens can understand how tax payer funds are being used .
79	1) ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸುತ್ತೋಲೆ/ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಕಲ್ಪಿಸುವ ಆದೇಶವಾದಲ್ಲಿ Website, Twitter ನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸುವುದು. 2) ಕೆಲವು ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಇಲಾಖೆ/ಕಚೇರಿ ಅಧಿಕೃತ ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ 3) ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ಸಹಾಯವಾಣಿ ತೆರೆಯಿರಿ.4) ಕೆಲವು ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಗಳು ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರು ಸಲ್ಲಿಸುವ ದಾಖಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಣ್ಣಪುಟ್ಟ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ ಇದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ ಅದನ್ನ ಸರಿಪಡಿಸಿ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯ ಒದಗಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ರಮವಹಿಸುವಂತೆ ತಿಳಿಸಿ. ಅನವಶ್ಯಕವಾಗಿ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರು ಅಲೆಯುವುದು ಕೊನೆಗೆ ಹಿಂಬರಹ ನೀಡುವುದು & ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರು ಅಲೆಯುವುದ ತಪ್ಪುತ್ತದೆ. ಉದಾ: ಆಧಾರ್, ಜಾತಿ ಪ್ರಮಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಳಾಸ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ etc
80	One integrated app that gives all department & all schemes information like "One state, One App". Now one can separately search department websites for info & schemes. If everything brought under one app , info can reach last mile person & its stake holders.
81	1. Clear concise information about scheme and concerned authorities to be contacted to avail benefit 2. FLOW chart of application process including days (PERT method). 3. Let's have website like PIB. More ideas after few days
82	Congratulations 1) Quality data 2) Accessibility to data 3) Updates on various schemes - ICDS, ICPS etc etc
83	It will be nice if you could implement a system of broadcasting, so that it reaches unknowingly even to a frustrated hopeless citizen and he/she could get sensitized by available schemes , become hopeful, and act to do something beneficial. Target should be the last person
84	1.Govt welfare schemes info can be integrated into a single portal along with the Sakala services.For rural areas,this can be done through CSC’s (RJ’s Jan Sochna portal does this)
85	Sir, The cabinet decisions/Briefings are not published in official websites. We citizens will benefit immensely if the same is made available on the official website on the lines of PIB. Kanaja website needs to be updated.
86	Under "Public Relations" make sure every district's: Collector, SP, CEO, Municipal Commissioner etc., are having Twitter/#mastodon account to luk after citizens complaints/ suggestions
87	2.Also can the dept please Ensure that booklets regarding various schemes,diff depts etc are printed and distributed at various schools/universities so that children are made aware of this.The @ncert textbooks have this.imp to have an informed citizenry
88	Statistical statement every month.. Or as appropriate Of Information of applications received as per information of government schemes and Information of Dissemination of government funds and Benfeciaries with address list.
89	Detailed information on all the scenes under one roof, categorized wrt departments. May be a website. Clear information on all schemes through grama panchayath
90	Many schemes, how/where to access, SLA, whom to contact/escalate is hardly known. Posters are less impact compared to AV. Banks & Post Offices across state, should be used to put up Digital walls. All Gov scheme AV campaigns be managed, transmitted & controlled centrally
91	Ayushman Bharat, how farmers can sell their produce bypassing agents..
92	1. about water harvesting schemes and how they can be implemented at local level / houses 2. sewers and the old pipe lines ... when they need the next maintenance checkup ? what need to be done from our side etc. 3. info about old age schools. many still are illiterate
93	Top 3 goals, 1. Scheme enrollment processes 2. Scheme live enrollment numbers 3. Govt budget revenue / expenditure numbers for layman’s understanding
94	Will be good to map below 1. Stakeholders who need info - farmers, citizens, govt. and extension officers (including village level), NGO 2. Time & frequency when info needed - School cycle, Medical help, Agri and marketing schemes 3. Methods to publish and distribute 4. Measuremt
95	Sir, Public relations: Improve the relation between govt and citizen. Govt must be polite and eager to help citizens. All the dept personnel must be cordial in approach towards citizens. Citizen must have a point of contact at district, taluka, village level.
96	1. Integrating database for all welfare schemes. Irrespective which welfare scheme someone enrolls for if there is a central database , we can built system to share information about other schemes and nudge them. like netflix which prompts next program to watch
97	2. Much of welfare scheme are based on supporting Income documents and/or others documents. Enabling provision to apply to these documents while applying to welfare program (and not separately) can certainly help
98	3. Service delivery like Delhi in cities like Bangalore , Mysore etc will also help
99	Respected Sir, publish the gravinces steps of each dept..if feasible Twitter or whatsup numbers of concern depts..so that common ppl can reach to respective depts insted of twitting all matters to only few officers or cmo...
100	All the schemes must be on a dashboard and in public domain so that public can also track progress of it and question about delays
101	1.Information regarding various Govt welfare schemes should finally reach to the beneficiary at the grass root level. 2. Expeditious and uncluttered dissemination of Information. 3. Act as bridge between Govt and public
102	Citizens should be able to get to know grievance redressal mechanism available in the state.
103	1) People in rural areas having no awareness about govt. policies and schemes for their welfare so they should get aware to it. 2) Mostly policies and schemes remains only in documents so they should be implemented at ground level.
104	Building an interactive platform for Office of DC to communicate with public..(1) helps in propagation of govt scheme (2) provides platform for people to get clarity around schemes...digital is better
105	benefiting the illiterate , True BPL and the tribal class with Govt schemes should be the first step . Were social media ,Google and Android might not reach
106	Govt schools, banks, bills(electricity,water etc) can be used for publishing schemes specific to their age group...youtube(influencers and app) n facebook can be used.
107	Most urgent projects, that should have been given top priorities, decades back are 1-Efficient, effective UGD, ST n SWM systems, in all the towns. No city in karnataka, India has complete system. 2 Preserving scarce sources of fresh water, preventing its largescale pollution.
108	Sir, It can act as job portal for Govt. and Semi Govt. (village level to national level) If @KarnatakaVarthe could tweet/via FB/Instagram, that would be of great help.
109	Sir, use Print, TV and Digital media (listed state, regional, district level media houses, which are getting advertisements by govt.) to give vast publicity to welfare schemes. For any big advertisement make it mandatory to publish about welfare schemes free of charge.
110	A mobile app for starters, sir, if there is none available now, for citizens to know about eligibility and procedures for benefiting from such schemes..Would be even better if one app could give all info and data, non-classified of course, on the govt departments, offices and their functions. With updated info and data on works planned, in progress and achievements so the citizens can see their government working for them.
111	2. Unique governance bringing all the dept heads under same platform like watsapp group or something so tat there will be quick communication btw officers on any public issues reported by ppl
112	1)    Track and convey achievements not money spent (I know you do this, but the department should do this across the schemes). 2)    2) Identify / foster volunteers/NGOs in various wards/villages whose job will be to popularise schemes. To do this, some form of performance of the schemes (to the potential) can be published transparently. CSR funds can be utilized for this, where relevant. 3)    3) Extension of (2), in Urban areas - families can be encouraged to popularise these schemes with their maids/drivers and others - so that the information gets propagated. Where possible, they can enroll them too.
113	Govt (policies/benefits) info can reach masses via a) Ads on BMTC / KSTRC buses b) Posters near religious places (Temples/Mosques/Churches) c) Bus stands / Railway stations / Auto stands d) Posters near schools/colleges e) Radio ads / TV ads
114	Would like to see monthly email newsletters about the work each department is doing - new schemes, progress of schemes, deadlines for implementation, rule changes if any etc. People can subscribe to specific departments' updates which concerns them professionally/ personally.
115	Please put up a list of projects being undertaken and their status report. Would help if this was out in the open. Let everyone see hits/misses. Great publicity and will invite real time critique.
116	The solution could be to fast pace the pending bbmp tender activities... provide better transportation. And provide better health benefits and life styles. Keeping lakhs of people in less density of dusted areas will not work out for long. This is sincle. Phase out IT slowly
117	Start taking up work at sez near airport. Start building at least now. Indias software capital it is. This is rut now. Build the future silicon city of bengaluru . phase out IT chunk by chunk, like they do it in sprints
118	Not sure if below suggestions come under your purview.  make tier 2 cities visible to Industry/Entrepreneurs & help them grow (Aim: Decongest Blore) 2. Online/SMS/IVRS Surveys for feedback on effective implementation of Welfare Schemes.
119	1. To expedite RTI queries promptly as per prescribed timeline 2. To minimise false propaganda 3. And of course - optimal usage of money as it is really very hard earned by us.
120	Sir, can you please start a feedback system along with information sharing. This feedback system can be really useful in estimating how effective is the government schemes and how efficiently it is implemented
121	Captain, I would love to know about the 1) various schemes introduced by the Govt. from time to time and 2) implementation of online and paperless citizen services.
122	People must be made aware of the govt. schemes and how can they avail. Once they know, corruption would decrease