Vinay Kumar Sorake, Urban Development Minister, said on Thursday that the former Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs had brought about a social revolution in the State by implementing land reforms.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 100th birth anniversary celebrations of D. Devaraj Urs organised by the district administration and the Department of Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare, here.
Mr. Sorake said it was Urs who wanted to make the tiller the owner of the soil. He wanted the small and marginal farmers working on the fields of landlords to lead a life of dignity.
Over three lakh tenant farmers had benefited from the land reforms initiated by Urs in the undivided Dakshina Kannada districts.
As many as 150 land tribunals were set up in undivided Dakshina Kannada for proper implementation of the land reforms after they were initiated.
Urs wanted to implement the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi and the architect of Indian Constitution B.R. Ambedkar, he said.
The birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi also fell on August 20. Rajiv Gandhi, the youngest Prime Minister of the country, was instrumental in unleashing technology revolution in the country, Mr. Sorake said.
Computerisation of various government facilities was given priority during his tenure. The telecommunication revolution also took place under his watch. The age of voting was reduced to 18 years to allow the youth to take part in the elections. The Panchayat Raj Act was amended and it provided for reservations in seats in the three tier rural local bodies not just for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes but also women, Mr. Sorake said.
Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA, R. Vishal, Deputy Commissioner, Savita S. Kotian, President of Zilla Panchayat, Sunita Naik, President of Udupi Taluk Panchayat, were present. Later, speaking at the birth anniversary celebrations of Urs and Rajiv Gandhi at the Congress Bhavan here, Mr. Madhwaraj said that Urs had effectively implemented the 20-Point Programme drawn up by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Urs’ implementation of land reforms had uplifted the weaker sections of the society.
Rajiv Gandhi had visited villages across the country in his initial years as Prime Minister. This helped him understand the problems of rural India. His emphasis on computerisation later led to the ushering in of the Information Technology sector in the country, Mr. Madhwaraj said.
The Dakshina Kannada district administration too organised a programme to mark Urs’ birth centenary celebrations.
‘He wanted to make the tiller the owner
of the soil’
