Financial help for women lawyers
Women, who have an LLB degree, aged below 35 years and whose annual income is below Rs 40,000, may avail assistance of Rs 1000 per month for four years from the Bar Council. The last date for applying is July 25. Contact: Deputy Director, Women and Child Welfare Department, Bangalore Urban District, near Kidwai Institute of Oncology, Hosur Road, B’lore -29

KAT chairman’s term extended
Chairman of Karnataka Administrative Tribunal justice A V Srinivasa Reddy’s term has been extended for another three years by the President of India, said a release from the KAT.

‘Farm education may be privatised’
The State Cabinet on Thursday referred the proposal of allowing private sector in agricultural education, on the lines of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, to a cabinet sub-committee headed by Home and Law Minister M P Prakash.
According to sources, private institutions will be allowed to offer various courses in agriculture and allied subjects like diary and fisheries, which are at present under the government control. Even research and development activities would be opened to the private sector once the government approved the proposal.

Hassan airport tender approved
The Cabinet on Thursday approved the tender submitted by the M/s Jupiter Aviation and Logistics Pvt Ltd for developing a green field airport at Hassan. The firm would be given 960 acres of land on lease agreement for 30 years and the government would provide additional 486 acres of land required for the project. The tender was approved after negotiating higher lease price with the company than the price quoted by it in the bid. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Road Development Corporation will construct three approach roads - from National Highway 48, Hassan ring road and Arasikere road - to the new airport and a proposal in this regard was also approved.

Govt staff plan protest on July 19
The Akhila Karnataka State Government Employees’ Federation has given a call to observe a protest day on July 19 against the provisions of the proposed Pension Reform Bill, anomalies in the implementation of fifth pay commission among others.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Federation President U D Narsimhaiah said the provision of the Bill provided for appointment of pension fund managers, which was detrimental to the interest of employees. There is every possibility that the pension funds could be misused, he alleged.
The other demands include implementation of Rs 6,800 as basic to all teachers in the state, declaring Bangalore as A-1 city, filling up of vacant posts in all government departments, education institutions and state undertaking.

ASI gets govt nod to buy Hampi land
The Union Government has approved a proposal allowing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to acquire 228 acres of private land for Rs 8.31 crore at the tourist centre of Hampi.
An official release said this proposal originated on account of the World Heritage Site at Hampi being surrounded by private cultivable land, over which the ASI has no ownership.
Archaeological remains at Hampi are scattered in an area of 26 sq km. “This land acquisition will help in providing proper access to some of the monuments and facilitate exposing the ancient remains which are in private lands,” the release said. This proposal was approved as per the consent award by negotiating the land value with the owners by the State government, it added.
While the earlier proposal was to cost the government Rs 1.58 crore, the Union culture ministry revised it to Rs. 8.31 crore. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni wants the 50 km area around Hampi monuments to be acquired and had informed this to Karnataka Minister Ramachandra Gowda two months ago.