The Hassan Citizens’ Forum on Sunday felicitated Gururaj Hebbar, a noted doctor and a philanthropist, for securing the Rajyotsava award this year. The State government had chosen him for the award considering his contribution to setting up a low-cost hospital on a cooperative model, and centres to take care of abandoned babies and the elderly.
Dr. Hebbar and his wife Swarnalatha were taken in a procession form the Hemavati statue to Hasanamba Kalakshetra, the venue of the programme. A.C. Munivenkate Gowda, noted physician; G.L. Mudde Gowda, president of Hassan Vokkaligas’ Association; H.S. Prakash, MLA, and others complimented Dr. Hebbar and offering him a memento and a shawl, along with a Mysore peta. Speaking after the felicitation, Dr. Hebbar said his service to society was nothing significant. It was his duty as a citizen.
“Earning money should not become a one-point agenda of any individual. If everyone starts contributing a bit of their earnings towards the welfare of the poor, then wonders can be achieved. Setting up of Sanjeevini Hospital on a cooperative model in Hassan succeeded because of the contributions of hundreds of people. Housing had become a big problem in the recent years. “The government should initiate measures to tackle this problem,” he said.
H.S. Prakash, MLA, who is also chairman of the Sanjeevini Cooperative Hospital’s governing body, said that Dr. Hebbar was one of the best selections for the Rajyotsava award.
Owing to the efforts put in by him and many others, several organisations had come up in Hassan and they were all serving the public. “We want to set up a medical college as well on a cooperative model,” he said.
