Sir,

I had the opportunity to listen to speeches in Parliament. Three members, all representing Karnataka, spoke — two elected and one nominated to the Rajya Sabha. These were Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Dr. C.N. Manjunath and Dr. Sudha Murty.

Yaduveer and Dr. Manjunath were elected to the Lok Sabha, while Dr. Sudha Murty was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.

Yaduveer spoke with dignity about creating more educational facilities. Dr. Manjunath spoke with serious concern highlighting 13 percent death rate from road accidents, advocating for a 300-bed poly-trauma centre at NIMHANS in Bengaluru and similar trauma centres every 125-km on highways to save lives during the crucial Golden Hour.

Dr. Sudha Murty passionately called for several monuments across India to be recognised as World Heritage Sites and emphasised the need to improve facilities for tourists.

The most striking aspect of their speeches was that, unlike the usual noise and disruptions that often plague Parliamentary discussions, their ideas were heard in silence — a testament to the high quality of their articulation that makes   Karnataka proud.

But here’s the tragic part: Whether it’s Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru or K.R. Hospital in Mysuru, the situation is abysmal, with no accountability. This is just the tip of the iceberg and the less said about our medical infrastructure across Karnataka, the better. Our fatalistic outlook has allowed unethical practices and corruption to thrive.

Similarly, in education, media reports reveal how our schools lack basic facilities, cleanliness, sufficient teachers and adequate classrooms. A sea change is needed to bring about reform, but the moot question remains: Is there political will?

– H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, Saraswathipuram, 17.8.2024

Note: The correspondent does not say where the suggested “sea change” is needed to bring about the reform to correct the “abysmal situation” in government hospitals, education, policing etc. Look how government officers insist on private schools and colleges to follow the rules, including providing the fire safety measures, fire extinguisher, costing lakhs of rupees. But do we find any government school provided with this facility?

And then the private schools have to obtain a building stability certificate and also renew it once in 5 years. These are two guaranteed windows for corruption.

Are the government school buildings stable? Have we not seen some government schools and colleges collapsing in parts and roof ceiling coming down?  In fact, government schools and hospitals should be a model to private players.

In our State, rules and regulations are enforceable only to private operators, not government institutions or PSUs.—Ed

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