Mangaluru: Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader has announced a series of measures covering food safety enforcement, voter enrolment, Dasara celebrations, infrastructure works and overseas education opportunities during a press conference at the Circuit House in Mangaluru.

Food safety inspections to be intensified

Khader said food safety inspections would be intensified across Karnataka, while stressing that the exercise was intended to protect public health rather than target businesses.

The announcement comes after an inspection of a sweet manufacturing unit following a complaint. Officials ordered the temporary closure of two units and issued show-cause notices. Further action will be taken after examining the responses submitted by the concerned establishments.

Khader said food safety enforcement should not be viewed as an attempt to disrupt businesses or livelihoods. Instead, food business operators have a responsibility to ensure that consumers receive safe, unadulterated and quality food prepared and handled under proper hygienic conditions.

The inspection campaign, which has already been expanded beyond Bengaluru, will cover major cities including Mangaluru, Hubballi, Mysuru and Belagavi. Food establishments will be expected to comply with prescribed standards relating to purity, quality, hygiene and food handling.

QR-based grievance system planned

The minister also announced plans to introduce a digital grievance mechanism using QR codes and barcodes at commercial establishments and public places.

Under the proposed system, consumers will be able to scan a displayed code and register complaints directly. The complaint will then be automatically forwarded to the department concerned.

Food-related complaints will be routed to the Food Safety Department, while complaints concerning expired, substandard or potentially unsafe medicines will be sent to the Drugs Control Department.

The grievance system will also be integrated with the official State government website to enable systematic monitoring and follow-up of complaints.

Khader said displaying QR codes or barcodes would be made mandatory at restaurants, pharmacies and other public establishments.

He also stressed the need for greater attention to food and hygiene standards in paying guest accommodations, hostels, messes and catering establishments.

Health advisory boards carrying six to eight important health and hygiene guidelines will have to be displayed at such premises. Khader urged PG and hostel operators to consider the health and wellbeing of residents a responsibility and ensure that nutritious and safe food is served.

Voter verification to focus on inclusion

On the second phase of voter-list verification and enrolment, Khader said he had discussed the issue with the Election Commission and Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

He emphasised that officials should strictly follow Election Commission guidelines while giving priority to the inclusion of eligible voters rather than unnecessary deletion of names.

Khader said every citizen who has attained the age of 18 should be enrolled as a voter in accordance with the law.

Officials will issue notices in cases involving spelling errors, discrepancies in names and other inaccuracies, allowing citizens an opportunity to make corrections.

The minister also highlighted challenges faced by citizens living abroad who may be unable to travel to local offices for voter-related procedures.

He called for a uniform State-level mechanism to make the process easier for eligible non-resident citizens and ensure that they can exercise their voting rights without confusion.

Khader said door-to-door verification was being carried out in his constituency to maximise the enrolment of eligible voters.

Grand Dasara celebrations planned in Mangaluru

Preparations are also underway for the upcoming Navaratri and Dasara celebrations in Mangaluru.

Khader said Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had assured full support for the celebrations. He described Dasara as more than a religious festival, calling it an important representation of Karnataka’s history, culture and traditions that should be passed on to younger generations.

Meetings involving legislators, government officials and community representatives have already been held to finalise the arrangements.

A special one-day Yuva Dasara will be organised at Ullal during the nine-day festivities. The programme is expected to include cultural events, performances by renowned artists and an award ceremony to honour youngsters who have achieved success at the national or State level in sports, education and culture.

Khader also said the Chief Minister had directed the department to organise Dasara sports competitions at the taluk, district and State levels.

Khader questions KRDL’s capacity for rain-damage works

Khader raised concerns over the allocation of rain-damage relief works to Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRDL) instead of the Public Works Department (PWD).

He questioned whether KRDL has adequate engineers, technical staff and expertise to execute and supervise large-scale infrastructure projects effectively.

Concerns were also raised regarding the tendering and supervision of works. Khader referred to instances where contractors allegedly execute projects, prepare bills and obtain signatures without adequate direct supervision.

He said responsibility for road-related damage ultimately lies with the PWD and local authorities and argued that the PWD should therefore be the appropriate agency for executing road-related works.

The minister also questioned whether direct allocation of works to KRDL by legislators could place excessive pressure on the organisation, particularly when it has limited manpower.

Khader suggested that the functioning of the Land Army/KRDL could be reviewed if the organisation is unable to manage the workload effectively.

On procurement procedures, he clarified that engineering divisions under the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department must follow the prescribed tendering process.

According to the rules cited by Khader, works exceeding Rs 5 lakh require a formal public tender. He stressed that government agencies must strictly follow procurement and tender procedures while implementing public projects.

Study Abroad Expo to be held in Bengaluru

Khader also announced a government-supported Study Abroad Expo to be organised under the guidance of Skill Development Minister Sharan Prakash Patil and Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

The expo will be held on Sunday, September 6, at Gayatri Vihar, Gate No. 4, Palace Grounds, Bengaluru.

Representatives from around 70 leading foreign universities are expected to participate. Students and parents will have an opportunity to interact directly with university representatives and obtain information about courses, fees, scholarships, admission procedures and eligibility criteria.

Khader said the initiative is aimed at protecting students and parents from fraudulent agents and middlemen who may provide misleading advice, recommend unsuitable institutions or impose excessive and hidden charges.

Direct interaction with universities is expected to provide students with a more transparent route to overseas education. Participants will also be able to learn about available government scholarship opportunities.

The minister said participating institutions would be held accountable, and the State government could blacklist any university found to have misled or deceived students through the fair.

Khader urged students and parents across Karnataka, particularly those from the coastal region, who are planning to pursue higher education abroad to make use of the expo.

The announcements reflect a broad focus on public health, citizen services, cultural activities, infrastructure accountability and educational opportunities. Khader stressed the importance of stronger enforcement and transparent systems while ensuring that government initiatives remain accessible to the public.