Karnataka government has banned presentation of garlands, bouquets, shawls and fruits in any official programme. It has sid that organisers can, instead, present Kannada books to guests.
The order by the State government was issued on Tuesday by P. Ravi Kumar, Chief Secretary of Karnataka. All department heads and government undertakings have been asked to comply with the directions.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who who participated in a meeting of senior police officials in Bengaluru earlier in the day, had refused to accept a bouquet. “This is unnecessary expenditure. There is no need to give bouquet, garlands and shawls in the name of protocol. Henceforth, the tradition should be stopped,” he said.
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Government departments spending a lot of funds on presentation of shawls and flowers to guests at various programmes. Sometimes these gifts are received multiple times in a single day by leaders, as they participate in several programmes.
Mr. Bommai had brought up the issue of cost cutting in the first meeting with bureaucrats when he took oath as Chief Minister. He had said that in the context of the COVID-19, there is a need to bring in financial discipline and unnecessary expenditure should be curtailed in every department.
Newly sworn-in Energy and Kannada and Culture Minister V. Sunil Kumar had appealed to those coming to greet him not to give garlands and gifts and asked for Kannada books instead, which he would donate to a library in his Karkala constituency.
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At the meeting with police officials, Mr. Bommai urged the police force to be people-friendly and initiate measures to bring the crime rate under control. “Crimes are like virus. They have to be curtailed very strongly,” the Chief Minister told a meeting of senior police officers in Bengaluru on August 10.
Declaring that crimes cannot be tolerated, he said maintaining law and order was the first priority of the government. He particularly told the police that crimes related to land disputes must be prevented. Asking them to prepare for future challenges, he said the dark web, gambling and other illegal activities must be controlled without any compromise.
“Our fight against narcotics and drugs will continue. Strict action has to be taken in all districts in this regard,” he said and also stressed on the need for strengthening the internal security division. He listed various programmes taken up in the police department with respect to improving and modernising basic facilities.
The Chief Minister told police authorities to initiate measures to increase the income of prisoners. Home Minister Araga Jnanendra appealed to the Chief Minister to extend support for modernising and improving the department. “The police department must give priority for speedy investigation of crime. Delay in investigation will not be tolerated,” he said.
Chief Secretary P. Ravikumar, DG& IGP Praveen Sood, Additional Chief Secretary to Home Department Rajaneesh Goel, Principle Secretary to Chief Minister N. Manjunath Prasad and other senior officials were present on the occasion.
Role in preventing third wave
Reminding the police force about the important role to be played by them in handling the pandemic, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said action needs to be taken to prevent a possible third wave of COVID-19. “Precautions have to be taken in border districts. Inspection at border check posts will be mandatory. Senior officers will have to work more responsibly,” he said.