To overcome shortage, government will recruit teachers every year: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said the State government would appoint teachers every year to ensure that the State will not face a dearth of teachers in future.

  Inaugurating the State-level Teachers’ Day and award presentation ceremony here on Thursday, he said shortage of teachers has been the major hurdle in the education sector for the past several years.

Realising that lack of teachers was affecting conducting of classes, the government has already issued an order for appointment of 12,000 guest teachers. Besides, 4,000 regular teachers will be appointed soon, he added.  Stating that Karnataka’s literacy rate is lower than Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Siddaramaiah said the government is would take  steps to improve the literacy rate in the State.

Compensation

Later, after visiting areca plantations infected by the rot disease in Theerthahalli taluk, the chief minister said the Cabinet will take a decision on sanctioning special package to the growers, who have lost their crop due to the rot disease.

Speaking to reporters in Theerthahalli, he said areca crop grown on 45,000 hectares in the district was infected by the rot disease. The growers are unlikely to get the yield this year. Besides, the copious rain that lashed Malnad taluks for 70 days prevented the growers from spraying Bordeaux mixture on areca crops to protect them from the disease. He said it would be better if farmers considered cultivating alternative crops as they need at least eight to ten years to develop the ravaged areca farms again.

More than 50 per cent of the crops have been damaged in Shimoga, Udupi, Chickmagalur and Kodagu districts due to heavy rain.  So, the government has already directed the officials of Horticulture and Agriculture departments to provide a compensation of Rs 12,000 per hectare under the National Calamity Relief Fund to those who have lost their crops. However, the growers are demanding more compensation, he added.

Vet colleges

Replying to a queryon veterinary college students’ indefinite dharna in Shimoga seeking recognition to their institute from the Veterinary Council of India(VCI), Siddaramaiah said, “the government is committed to meet all the requirements of the VCI to ensure that all the three veterinary colleges get recognition. The creation of infrastructure needs time and funds.”