So, What's The Answer?!
On Tuesday (Nov 27th, 2007) Mr.Shivanna, an M.P. from Karnataka asked the following question in Lok Sabha:
How did we find out? It's there in a report published in today's (Nov 28, 2007) Vijaya Karnataka.
The report mentions that Mr.Shivanna asked the question in Kannada even after the Speaker requested him to use English. The report also mentions that Jairam Ramesh the concerned minister started his answer in Kannada but quickly switched over to English.
Dear readers, now tell us what's that you want to know.
The minister's answer?
Or, Mr.Shivanna's attire?
If it's the attire that you are interested, you will find what you want in the V.K. report. In fact, the report itself is more or less about Mr.Shivanna's attire. For the record, he was dressed in a full suit and a tie.
Now, if you really want to find out what the minister said about the onion exports, you will have to read another newspaper. You won't find it in Vijaya Karnataka.
So, what's the answer?
From the Economic Times:
ದೇಶದ ಈರುಳ್ಳಿ ಬೆಳೆಗಾರರು ಈರುಳ್ಳಿಯ ದರ ಕುಸಿತದಿಂದ ಕಣ್ಣೀರು ಸುರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈರುಳ್ಳಿ ರಫ್ತು ಮೇಲೆ ನಿರ್ಬಂಧ ವಿಧಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ರೈತರ ಕಷ್ಟ ನಿವಾರಿಸಲು ರಫ್ತು ನಿರ್ಬಂಧ ಸಡಿಲಿಸುವ ಆಲೋಚನೆ ಸರಕಾರಕ್ಕಿದೆಯೇ
How did we find out? It's there in a report published in today's (Nov 28, 2007) Vijaya Karnataka.
The report mentions that Mr.Shivanna asked the question in Kannada even after the Speaker requested him to use English. The report also mentions that Jairam Ramesh the concerned minister started his answer in Kannada but quickly switched over to English.
Dear readers, now tell us what's that you want to know.
The minister's answer?
Or, Mr.Shivanna's attire?
If it's the attire that you are interested, you will find what you want in the V.K. report. In fact, the report itself is more or less about Mr.Shivanna's attire. For the record, he was dressed in a full suit and a tie.
Now, if you really want to find out what the minister said about the onion exports, you will have to read another newspaper. You won't find it in Vijaya Karnataka.
So, what's the answer?
From the Economic Times:
Referring to the increase in onion prices a few months back, Ramesh said the government changed the policy on October 4, restricting exports. The policy was reverted on November 14 after the prices in the wholesale market in the country moderated, touching as low as Rs 7.5 to Rs 8.5 per kg, he said.
posted by Sanjaya | 11:23 AM
2 Comments:
Your post hits the nail! For long, I have felt that news articles, especially in Kannada are either taken up as space-filling tasks or lack insight and concern about the issue being covered.
It seems like Kannada print media is not really interested in ANY of the serious stuff concerning the people of this state/nation.
Another classic example: Look at "what all" Union Minister of State for Planning M V Rajasekharan had said in an inaugural function of a hostel in Bangalore on the 25th this month and what was reported in Kannadaprabha.
The minister talked about the issue of classical language status to kannada. The minister talked about the recent skirmish between Siddaramaiah and Mahadevu. More importantly, being the minister of state for planning he talked about the 11th five year plant, supposed to be "historic" because it allocates "nearly 75 per cent of its total budgetary allocation for the 11th five year plan on important sectors such as rural development, agriculture, education and health". A rough check on the figures from previous plans denote that the percentage allocation for these sectors in the previous 2 plans did not cross 40%.
Kannada Prabha totally ignores the allocation of funds in 11th five year plan, instead it chooses to concentrate on the minister's views on petty politics. It is as if, his views on the 11th five year plan (for which he is the concerned minister of state) are not important enough.
Here is the link: http://www.kannadaprabha.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=KPD20071225122328&Title=District+Page&lTitle=%C1%DBd%C0+%C8%DB%7D%E6%25&Topic=0&dName=%86%E6MV%DA%D7%DA%E0%C1%DA%DF&Dist=1
The whole news was covered in Deccan Herald: http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Dec262007/state2007122643165.asp
A similar folly in the Agriculture section of Prajavani dated 27th. It applauds the "bravery" of farmers in Chitradurga trying to grow Cocoa in their semi-arid fields. Everyone knows that the farmers suicides that has engulfed our state is because of the high risks involved in agriculture. Now, the paper does not even think about the risks involved in growing cocoa in chitradurga and applauds the efforts of the farmers instead of maintaining a cautious tone on the subject. The water requirement for the cocoa (and the arecanut along with it) is gleefully ignored. Neither is the effect of this crop on downstream farmers/ecology of the place ever mentioned. The article is more like an invitation to willfully gamble rather than to inform the target audience.
Here is the link: http://www.prajavani.net/Content/Dec132007/dharshan2007121257745.asp
Dear Sham,
Thanks for reading my blog and the comment.
While I do generally agree with you about Kannada print media, I won't say it's not interested in ANY serious stuff.
In fact, even my bête noire VK, publishes really good articles about rain water harvesting/water conservation from time to time.
Thanks again, for a very interesting and informative comment.
Regards!
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