Udupi: Dr V S Acharya Inaugurates Patrika Bhavan
by Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jul 11: President of Karnataka Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), Gangadhar Mudaliar, hailed the state government for its media-friendly approach. He said KUWJ has put forth some more demands before the government and hoped that they will be favourably considered.
Mudaliar was delivering the key note address at a function organized on the occasion of inaugural of the newly built Patrika Bhavan and observation of Press Day on Sunday July 10. The function was jointly organized by the state information department and Udupi District Working Journalists Association.
Mudaliar compared the problems faced by journalists to the problems of the common man. He informed that three crore rupees each had been set aside during the years 2009-10 and 2010-11 for construction of Patrika Bhavans in district headquarters. “In the case of new Patrika Bhavans, a sum of Rs 25 lac is being sanctioned, whereas the amount eligible for renovation of existing Patrika Bhavans is limited to Rs 12.5 lacs,” he explained. Recalling that the Chief Minister had promised to extend assistance to build Patrika Bhavan in Bangalore, he hoped that the government will extend wholehearted cooperation towards making this a reality. He also sought permission for the union to open a college of journalism.
Minister, Dr V S Acharya, after inaugurating Patrika Bhavan, noted that the Patrika Bhavan in the district was the first among those which availed of the benefit of the scheme of releasing funds for their construction. He informed that Varta Bhavan will be built by the side of Patrika Bhavan at a cost of Rs 50 lac in near future. He noted that out of five crore rupees sanctioned for building media house in Bangalore, Rs 1.5 crore has already been released.
Udupi-Chikmagalur MP, D V Sadanand Gowda, felt that an affective media is necessary for good governance, as media brings out cases of corruption, nepotism, and other such follies in the administration, and helps government to ensure that the government’s schemes reach the needy. He urged the media to adopt the policy of the media in USA, where prominence is given to issues of larger significance.
President of G Shankar Family Trust, G Shankar, said his trust is always prepared to extend help for noble projects. A G Kodgi, MLA, Lalaji Mendon, MLC, Kota Srinivas Poojary, zilla panchayat president, Katapadi Shankar Poojary, taluk panchayat president, Devadas Hebbar, municipal president, Kiran Kumar, district deputy commissioner, Dr M T Reju, superintendent of police, Dr Ravikumar Y S, and many other dignitaries were present.
Former presidents and general secretaries of the association, K Damodar Aital, N Gururaj, Dinesh Kini, Gokuldas Pai, Ramachandra Acharya, Suji Kurya, Kiran Manjanabail, Mohammed Arif Padubidri, Sushilendra Kudupady, photographers, Janardan Kodavoor, Austro Mohan, Santosh Kundeshwar, Hemanath Padubidri, journalists, Puttige Padmanabh Rai, Sukumar Muniyal, apart from Arun Kumar of Nirmiti Kendra, who was in charge of building construction, were felicitated.
President of the association, Kiran Manjanabail, presided and welcomed. A R Prakash, deputy director in information department, Mysore division, delivered introductory address. District information officer, M Junjanna, read out messages. General secretary, Jayakar Suvarna, presented the report.