Under-16 social media ban on cards

OB Bureau

Instagram scrolls and gaming reels could soon face a reality check in Karnataka. The state government is considering regulating, or even banningm social media use for children below 16.

School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa said midweek that the proposal is under discussion, with a final call to be taken only after consultations with students, parents, teachers and subject experts.

Speaking after attending the National Science Day programme at the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium in Bangalore, the minister made it clear that the move is being explored in the interest of children’s well-being and development.

Bangarappa flagged growing concern over children’s increasing dependence on mobile phones. He pointed out that parents, too, share responsibility for the surge in screen time.

Many parents, he noted, “hand over mobile phones to keep children quiet”. It’s a practice that has led to excessive exposure to social media and mounting digital distractions, he added.

In response, the government is planning an awareness campaign titled “Put away mobile phones, pick up books”, following directions from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The Chief Minister, Bangarappa said, has repeatedly stressed the need to tackle the issue and promote healthier habits among students.

However, the minister underscored that no decision has been finalised. Any regulation or ban will come only after extensive stakeholder consultations, he said, emphasising that the objective is to act in the best interest of children.

For now, the proposal remains at the discussion stage. But with the Chief Minister’s backing and rising concern over screen addiction, Karnataka’s under-16s may soon find their feeds under scrutiny.

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HL: Illegal stay drive: 2,000 quizzed in city

OB Bureau

Karnataka has kicked off a statewide hunt for illegal immigrants, with Bangalore at the centre of an intensified verification drive. Home Minister G. Parameshwara midweek announced a special operation to identify foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas or are living without valid documentation. The move comes amid Opposition claims that large numbers of undocumented immigrants are residing in the state.

Addressing reporters in the city, the minister said that while many foreign nationals enter India on valid visas, some continue to stay even after their visas expire. Authorities, he said, are now working closely with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to trace such individuals.

The issue of Bangladesh nationals figured prominently in the recent legislative discussions. Parameshwara said the matter was debated extensively and the government has assured action. The opposition had alleged that between 20 lakh and 50 lakh illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were living in Karnataka; a claim that has now triggered a statewide verification push.

“In that backdrop, I have ordered a special drive. All districts have been informed and instructions have been issued. It is perceived that Bangalore has a large number of illegal immigrants, and therefore searches are being conducted to identify those living here without valid authorisation,” the minister said. And the crackdown has already begun.

Police in launched a special operation midweek targeting foreign nationals suspected to be residing in the city without valid authorisation. In a single day, more than 2,000 individuals were questioned as part of the drive, police sources told the press. Many were found to have overstayed their visas or were living without proper documents.

Sources added that specific inputs had been received about certain migrants, particularly from Nigeria and Bangladesh, staying in Bangalore without valid authorisation. Legal action is now being initiated against those found violating immigration norms.

Police said the exercise is aimed at maintaining law and order in the city, adding that assistance from central agencies will be sought if necessary.

Meanwhile, responding to reports that around 15,000 children are suspected to be missing in the state, Parameshwara said the government treats such cases with utmost seriousness. Regular reviews are being conducted, he said, and search operations have been launched across districts. Several missing children have already been traced, the minister said, while efforts continue to locate others.

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HL: ‘Let it be a burden’: DKS on welfare gurantees

 

OB Bureau

Amid the BJP’s charge that the Congress government’s five guarantees are driving Karnataka towards bankruptcy, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar midweek conceded that the schemes are a burden, but insisted they are essential to shield people from financial and mental stress.

“We have given five guarantees, ensuring free bus service for women, free power, and Rs 2,000 financial assistance. We have given these benefits even though they are a burden on the state government,” he told the press, at the launch of preventive treatment for haemophilia patients under the “Kusuma Sanjeevini” initiative and the inauguration of 108 ambulance services at the Nehru Planetarium.

“We want to ensure that people do not face mental stress due to financial difficulties. If you are confident, people will come forward to provide assistance. In this background, the government has taken a decision to instil financial confidence and mental strength among people, so that they are financially empowered,” he added.

The remarks are likely to trigger fresh debate over the sustainability of the guarantees, a political flashpoint in the state. But the focus of the event was healthcare. Citing inputs from Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, Shivakumar said a single injection costs about Rs 50,000 per month, translating to nearly Rs 5 lakh annually per patient.

“Let the expenditure be there, it is not an issue. Those affected by this disease should not feel helpless. Considering the financial difficulties faced by parents, the government has decided to step in,” he said. He added that the proposal had been placed before the Cabinet by the Health Minister and was approved.

“It does not matter which government in the country takes up this task, but Karnataka should lead, and we have taken that decision,” he said. Drawing on his own stint as Medical Education Minister, Shivakumar highlighted Karnataka’s position in the medical sector.

 

“Karnataka is a leader in medical education. You can go to any country — the US, Australia, Europe, or elsewhere — and you will find our doctors excelling. Every year, we produce 13,940 doctors, including more than 3,000 postgraduates. Karnataka is the only state in the country with about 70 medical colleges, with at least one medical college in every district,” he said.

He also noted that more than one lakh paramedical staff are trained in the state. “When I was in charge, I gave permissions liberally. Today, young men and women from Kerala and Assam come here for training and later settle abroad,” he said.

For Shivakumar, the welfare guarantees and the healthcare push form part of a larger political message.

“Serving humanity is the biggest commitment of our government,” he said, urging patients and families not to lose confidence.