Karnataka - Bangalore

Kumaraswamy asks BBMP to improve quality of its schools

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Recognition: Awardees waiting to receive Kempegowda Award during the Kempegowda Day Celebrations in Bangalore on Tuesday.

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday urged the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to improve the quality of education in its schools to that of private schools.

Mr. Kumaraswamy, whose speech at the Kempegwoda Day celebration was read out in his absence by Health Minister R. Ashok, said BBMP schools need not be necessarily meant only for poor children. They should be modernised, he added.

Congratulating the BBMP workers for painstakingly developing the city, Mr. Kumaraswamy said building an international brand for the city was the joint responsibility of the people, the BBMP and the Government.

More than 40 people who have contributed to different fields were given the Kempegowda Award. Among them were writers M. Chidananda Murthy, Sumathindra Nadig, heart surgeon Vivek Javali, folklore expert C. Shivashankar, Musician R. Zakaria, singer Kasturi Shankar and Bharatanatyam exponent Usha Datar.

Member of Parliament Tejaswini Sriramesh created a flutter by alleging that she had been ignored while choosing the awardees though she represented 27 lakh people. Clarifying that did not mean to disrespect the awardees, she regretted that the Chief Minister had failed to turn up for the awards presentation function.

At one point she questioned the expenses incurred for the grand function but suggested later that the event should be held in a fitting manner on the steps of the Vidhana Soudha next year.

Minister for Science and Technology Ramachandra Gowda was present.

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