Many in Kerala look down upon blue-collar jobs even though thousands of Keralites do such jobs abroad and elsewhere in India. To get rid of this perception is the primary objective of state-owned Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), said a top official.

Blue-collar jobs primarily include electricians, plumbers, carpenters, traditional craftsmen, refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics, those involved in wall and floor tiling, bakery and restaurant services, florists and others.

Aiming to skill the young workforce of Kerala, as also elevate their skills to global standards, KASE promotes, establishes, sets up, monitors, governs and regulates institutions and academies.

Talking to IANS, KASE Director Sriram Venkitaraman, a young doctor-turned-bureaucrat, pointed out “the day the perception towards blue-collar jobs in our state changes, Kerala will have no reason to look back”.

“If one goes to the Middle East, we can see Keralites happily working at such jobs; but that’s not the case here.

“Our aim is to see that we change this perception and for that we have already started equipping all such people with additional skills. If things go as planned, all such workers will soon be making a beeline not just to Middle East but to other parts of the world as we have a huge population of the youth seeking jobs,” said Venkitaraman.

He said they have started to tap into the industrial training institutes — 91 in the government sector and 450 in the private sector — where more than 60,000 youth who have completed school education join annually.

“We had been to Singapore, which currently is the world leader in training students in these trades.

“We will soon enter into an agreement with the Singapore government which will be our knowledge partner to turn our ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes) into state-of-the-art institutes. For this, the state government has worked out a budget of Rs 800 crore, of which, in the first phase, Rs 228 crore would be allocated,” he said.

Venkitaraman, who has travelled all over the world, pointed out that in the West, blue-collars workers are respected and this attitude is what he plans to bring to India.

As part of its strategy, KASE has, in the past few months, been conducting zonal and district-level competitions aimed at identifying and training the youth to participate and win medals at the World Skills Competition that is scheduled to be held in the city of Kazan in south-western Russian in 2019.

“We ran a competition where we had just one condition — that all participants should be younger than 21. A total of 7,500 participants competed to showcase their vocational skills in 20 trades — 120 of whom have been selected for the state finals to be held at Kochi over three days from April 28.

“Of these, 40 will be selected to represent their state at the national level after which the final selection for Russia would be made,” said Venkitaraman.

He said taking part in the state-level finals are electricians, plumbers, carpenters and traditional craftsmen, and the three-day event will be a held on a “massive scale” and will also be open to the public.

“Basically, we want to showcase this event as we feel this could be one way to change the perception that prevails here,” he said.

BJP winning streak to continue in Karnataka – Prakash Javadekar

Union Minister for HRD, Sri Prakash Javadekar has said Bharatiya Janata Party
is all set to win State Assembly elections with absolute majority.
Addressing a Media Conference here today he said Congress lost power in 12 states and BJP won 11 of
them. The people of India were against Congress because of its corruption, divisive and sectarian politics. In
Karnataka too, BJP’s winning streak would continue as there had been anti-incumbency wave against
Congress regime.
Referring to Congress election in-charge, Sri K. C. Venugopal’s statement that the party would retain
power with 130 seats, Sri. Javadekar said the Congress would not even cross 50-seat mark. The Congress
leader were free to have daydreaming, he quipped.
He said Chief Minister, Sri Siddaramaiah himself was not sure of his victory in his home constituency and
he was trying to find a safe seat. Senior Congress leaders including Sri. Ambarish, were hesitant to contest on
party ticket.
Prime Minister, Sri Naredra Modi had proved that he was messiah of developments. Also, Sri
Yeddyurappa had a track record of development. So this time, the Union Minister said, it would
be “Vikasada Haadi – Yedyurappa Modi” slogan (Modi and Yedyurappa to take Karnataka on developmental
path).
Sri. Javadekar said the increasing number of suicides by farmers in Karnataka reflected the Congress
regime in poor light. Compared to Karnataka, the BJP ruled states reported minimum number of farmers
suicide. The BJP led NDA Government had come to the rescue of farmers by launching “Fasal Bhima”
scheme. However, the Congress regime failed to take the benefits of the scheme to farming community in
Karnataka.
The Union Minister said the law and order situation had been in its lowest web in Karnataka. The
common people were living in fear as the criminals had free run. The Congress regime had been punishing
the law-abiding officials, and even few of them resorted to an extreme step of ending their lives. Why no one
was arrested so far though many of Hindu activists were assassinated? The anti-national elements had
homely feeling whenever and wherever Congress was in power.
He said more than 70 corruption cases had been pending with Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) but there
had been attempts to hush up them. The price of a truck load of sand was Rs. 17,000 when Sri Yeddyurappa
was in power but the price had now been increased to Rs. 70,000. It showed the Congress regime was hand
in glove with Sand Mafia he charged.
–

Lokayukta to have free hand; Illegal slaughtering to be stopped
Bharatiya Janata Party chief ministerial candidate, Sri. B. S. Yeddyurappa has
vowed to rebuild Brand Bengulru Image through holistic planning and corruption free transparent
administration.

As part of BJP’s “New Bengaluru for New India” initiative here today Sri Yeddyurappa interacted with
people from different walks of life, and elicited their opinions on diverse topics like how to save lakes and
improve living condition in Bengaluru.

He said there was no dearth of fund but clean hands. Due to lack of commitment, vision and planning
and increased corruption, the present Congress regime had taken the IT city of Bengaluru backward. Once
the Bengaluru city was known as Garden City but now it had become a Garbage City.
He said the City of Bengaluru needed more attention as it contribute around 60 percent of State
revenue. Lack of infrastructures, traffic congestion, shrinking and polluting lakes, increasing population and
crimes etc had put pressure on city. It needed a holistic planning and political commitment to
development. More and more satellite towns should be developed to decongest Bengaluru. The new
government would do everything to create a congenial atmosphere for the growth of IT industry. Metro
projects would be speeded up with cooperation of Union Government.

Referring to poor law & order situation in Bengaluru he said the criminal elements had emboldened
under Congress regime. If the party was voted to power his government would restore the law and order
situation by posting upright officials in key positions.
On the increasing corruption cases Sri Yeddyurappa said the Congress government weakened the
Lokayukta and set up Anti-Corruption Bureau under the control of Chief Minister. It was done to hush up
their corruption cases he said and added within two months of assuming power the BJP regime would
restore the power of Lokayukta and would be given free hand.
The Chief Minister Sri. Siddaramaiah should explain – who gave a 70-lakh rupees wrist-watch to him
and why they gave him. However influential one might be but no one would be spared. All the cases of
corruptions would be taken to logical end, he asserted.

He said all the illegal slaughter houses would be closed. Farmers would be dissuaded from selling their
livestock by giving them financial incentives.
Entrepreneurs Sri. Suhas and Smt. Nina Das; noted writer, Sri. Sandeep Balakrishna; legal luminary,
Smt. Jyothi Bhat; bloggers, Sreeharsha Perla and Sri Raviraj and columnist, Sri. Chiru Bhat raised diverse
topics. State BJP spokesperson Smt. Malavika Avinash anchored.

Central ordinance is a historic step – Prakash Javadekar
Union HRD Minister and State BJP election in-charge
Sri Prakash Javadekar has termed the Central ordinance allowing courts to award
death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age, as
“historic step”.
Addressing a Press conference here today he said citizens were expecting some
stringent step from the Government. The revolutionary ordinance would go long
way in preventing heinous crimes from occurring. Prime Minister Sri. Narendra
Modi deserved to be commended for initiating such a deterrent law.
He denied the Union Government was forced to initiate such a measure to save
itself from the onslaught of the Opposition over recent child rape cases in JammuKashmir
and Uttar Pradesh. Bringing new law or amending the existing ones were
natural process in the democracy. There was no political consideration behind it,
he added.
Welcoming the ordinance, the General Secretary of State BJP Mahila Morcha,
Kum. Manjula said the Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi led NDA Government had
sent a clear message that no one could go scot-free by committing crime. The
Government would not compromise on the safety of women and minors.
Kum. Manjula, who is a former Chairperson of Karnataka State Women
Commission, said the Prime Minister had shown his commitment for gender justice
by inducting 7 women in his Cabinet and assigning them important portfolios like
Defence and External Affairs. He had taken several daring decisions to bring in
reforms in administration and economy in the past. The latest step was truly
praiseworthy and she was thanking PM on behalf of women and children of the
State.
–

BJP workers from Arasikere constituency are worried as the party candidate Dr. Arun Somanna, the son of senior BJP leader V Somanna, hasn’t begun his campaign. The party workers want BS Yeddyurappa to resolve the issue soon. Dr. Arun Somanna’s was given ticket contest from Arasikere in the third list released by the BJP on Friday. V Somanna There are contrasting reports about the reason for Dr Arun Somanna’s absence in the assembly ahead of the assembly elections. According to a private television report, V Somanna is upset the BJP leadership for not allowing him to contest from Hanur assembly constituency. He has been given a ticket to contest from Bengaluru’s Govindaraj Nagar.

There are contrasting reports about the reason for Dr Arun Somanna’s absence in the assembly ahead of the assembly elections. According to a private television report, V Somanna is upset the BJP leadership for not allowing him to contest from Hanur assembly constituency. He has been given a ticket to contest from Bengaluru’s Govindaraj Nagar.

Mr Krishna made his debut in the Lower House defeating V.Somanna of the BJP about a decade ago. Somanna had to vacate the seat after he defected from the Congress to the BJP but lost to Mr Krishna in 2009. According to the other report, V Somanna is reportedly not interested in fielding his son from Arasikere as it is difficult for him to campaign in two constituencies simultaneously.

P Anil Kumar is the richest independent candidate to have filed nomination papers for May 12 polls.

P Anil Kumar, a new face for the upcoming Karanataka Assembly elections, used to earn his living by selling tea. Now, the 42-year-old who has filed his nomination as an independent candidate from Bommanahalli constituency in Bengaluru is a crorepati.

With declared assets worth Rs 339 crore, P Anil Kumar is the richest independent candidate to have filed nomination papers for the elections scheduled on May 12. Not only this, Kumar also owns a fleet of 16 cars, including imported brands though he wouldn’t name them.

Struggle for Kumar, who hails from Kerala, began early in life. After his father died, his mother worked as a house help to take care of her three children.

With tears in his eyes, businessman Kumar said, “My mother used to wipe floors and wash utensils at people’s houses. She would get four idlis to eat but would first feed us.”

With diminished resources at home, Kumar could not pursue his academics beyond the third standard. He left for Bengaluru when he was mere 11 in 1985.

According to reports, Kumar who moved to Bengaluru without any roof over his head has spent his early days in the city sleeping in front of closed shops at night. After few days, Kumar was offered a job by a man in his shop. “I was told to carry mangoes from one place to another,” he said.

Soon after, he started selling tea at small companies and later, during the IT boom in the 1990s, at software companies and big showrooms. He got more people and expanded his tea-selling business. “I started earning more and even managed to save,” Kumar claimed.

Kumar’s fortunes changed after his marriage when the couple bought a plot in Bengaluru to build a house of their own. But he sold the land after somebody offered him double the price. It was his breakthrough into the world of real estate that, according to him, yielded high returns.

“I started buying small plots and sold them for many times the price. That was in the late 90s,” he said, claiming that he made crores in a span of six years.

Eight years ago, he set up his own company called M J Infrastructure in Bomanahalli. Kumar says he is also into philanthropic work that includes building a church and a temple as well.

Pitted against BJP’s Sathish Reddy who holds the Bomanahalli seat, P Anil Kumar seems confident of a win. “I have the Almighty’s blessings and support of the people,” he said.