Be cultural ambassadors, Rai to Kannadigas

 The state government has stressed upon the usage of Kannada in the administration. In this context, every Kannadiga has to work as the cultural ambassadors of Kannada culture, said District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai.

Speaking after unfurling the flag on the occasion of Kannada Rajyotsava at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru on Tuesday, he said that the government has provided special grants to the Kannada and Culture Department in the budget. Steps are being taken for recruitment of teachers and providing of basic amenities in schools.

He expressed a need to create awareness on Kannada among the young generation. Along with preserving Kannada language and culture, the magnanimity of the land must be kept aloft, he advised.

Laptops were distributed to government high school students who excelled in SSLC examinations. Kannada institutions with 100% results were also felicitated.

A cultural procession was taken out from Jyoti circle to Nehru Maidan prior to the formal function. Various folk troupes and tableaux took part in the procession. Students presented cultural items after the formal programme.

Dist Rajyotsava awards

The district Rajyotsava awards were presented to 22 achievers from various fields: Prabhakar Mayya (Agriculture), S M Aboobakar (Education), B Seetarama Tolpadittaya (Yakshagana), M Sumitra Kumar (Sports), Talent Research Foundation (Social Work), Bhaskar Kulal Barke (Literature), Sathya P (Folk art), Ramakrishna R (Journalism), Dr Alonans Suresh Joseph Aranha (Fine arts), Gopalakrishna Bangera (Fine arts), Khalid Tannirbavi (Music), Jayanti S Bangera (Theatre and Tulu Literature), Narayana Kotian (Sports), P Sadhu Poojary (Education), Modambail Ravi Shetty (Social work), S Jagadishchandra Anchan (Sports writeup), Yogish Kumar K S (Social work), Brahmashree Narayanaguru Seva Sangha (Social work), Swastik Kala Kendra (Social work), Sri Sharadamba Bhajana Mandali (Social work), Jagadish Shetty (Yoga) and Hamid (Visual media).

Government Chief Whip in the Legislative Council Ivan D’Souza, Legislative Council Opposition Chief Whip Capt Ganesh Karnik, Zilla Panchayat president Meenakshi Shantigodu, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA J R Lobo, Mayor K Harinath and Deputy Commissioner Dr K G Jagadeesha were present among others.

Yettinahole activists arrested

Activists of Sahyadri Sanchaya attempted to demonstrate with black flags at Nehru Maidan during Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations. The police, who had prior information about the activists’ plan, took them into preventive custody near the Mini Vidhana Soudha. Some activists tried to demonstrate with black flags and shout slogans at AB Shetty Circle during the programme and got arrested by the police.
The activists were released later.

National Anthem ignored

As the audio by the tableaux was being played in a loud volume, the National Anthem played by the police band troupe after the unfurling of the National Flag could not be heard to the audience.

The sound from the tableaux continued to play even after the completion of the anthem, while the minister, elected representatives and officials stood as mute spectators.

Govt schemes

Rs 25 lakh grant sanctioned for international-level swimming pool in Emmekere; Rs two crore project chalked out for a stadium in Benjanapadavu, Bantwal.
Rs 12.31 crore sanctioned under SFC to urban local – Rs 3.14 crore already released.
20-km rural roads selected in every Assembly constituency to be developed as transport roads.
Rs 32 lakh released for endosulfan victims.
Rs five crore 29 lakh released towards development of basic faculties in temples.
Rs 29.5 crore allocated and Rs 11.84 crore released towards Grama Vikasa scheme.