Swacch Bharat on; three civic workers get due credit

When ‘Swacch Bharat’ has turned into a concept with the who’s who of the society taking to streets to keep the city clean, three Poura-karmikas (civic workers) of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) were honoured on Saturday, in a novel manner.

Civic workers Gulabi, Monappa and Nagesh were weighed along with 60 kg of rice bags each making for the unique ‘Tulabhara’, a ritual considered as the preserve of elites in temples involving religious heads. The three were handpicked for the honour, considering their three decades long service in keeping the city spic and span.

The brain behind the novel concept was M G Hegde, a progressive thinker and trustee of Mangalore Institute of Fashion Technology (MIFT) College as part of its annual day celebration. Hegde, in his address, told the gathering that the motive behind the honour is to send a message to the younger generation to continue with such noble deeds to ensure egality in the society.

Vice chancellor of Mangalore University K Byrappa said, “It is indeed a matter of pride that the Pourakarmikas are being honoured, when the concept of Swacch Bharat has created a vibration in the country.”

Multilingual actor Kasargod Chinna said when the word fashion creates a set ripples in the otherwise conservative society, one should think of fashion for a cause.

Chinna recalled an incident in his native place, when a section of people were divided in their opinion on F TV, a dedicated channel on fashion. When the cableman stopped relaying the channel, there were mixed reactions, he said.

Complimenting Hegde for honouring pourakarmikas, Chinna said one should always think with a difference to come out with different ideas.

The inaugural session was followed by the release of audio CD of  ‘Arjun Weds Gee-tha’, a Tulu film and a fashion show by the students of the institute.

Chairman of MIFT and former minister B Nagaraj Shetty, former chairman of Karnataka State Minorities Commission Anwar Manippady, Tulu theatre person Vijaykumar Kodiyalbail, Principal Dr Muralidhar, Chandrakala Gowda and others were present on the occasion.
DH News Service