Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Apr 19: Even five years after the formation of Ullal taluk, several crucial public infrastructure facilities remain unavailable. A fully-equipped mini Vidhana Soudha, Sub-Registrar's office, taluk-level stadium, well-planned auditorium, town hall, and a taluk court have yet to be sanctioned or constructed. The development of Ullal has been skewed towards providing basic amenities benefiting private education, healthcare businesses, and capitalists, reflecting the current developmental policy of the taluk, according to the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
In protest of this and to demand essential public infrastructure, CPIM will organise a ‘Rights Convention’ on April 29 at 10:30 am at Deralakatte Junction, informed Sunil Kumar Bajal, secretary of the Ullal area committee of CPIM, during a press meet held at the Thokkottu Press Club on Saturday.
As a prelude to the convention, two massive rallies will be taken out at 10 am from KS Hegde Hospital Junction and Nautical Junction. The convention will be inaugurated by CPIM Dakshina Kannada district secretary Muneer Katipalla, with CPIM state committee member Yadav Shetty participating as the chief guest.
The convention aims to highlight the pressing concerns of the people from various communities and seeks overall development of the Ullal taluk. CPIM is raising its voice unitedly against unequal development and calling for basic government infrastructure such as a 100-bed hospital, a full-fledged market, taluk court, sub-registrar office, stadium, auditorium, town hall, government degree college, ITI, and polytechnic college—none of which have been approved so far for Ullal.
Despite being home to an unprecedented number of private medical colleges, corporate hospitals, and professional colleges, Ullal taluk continues to face severe developmental challenges. Land has been acquired from farmers at low prices to create a new class of landowners, and due to the rise of medical education businesses, land prices have skyrocketed. The rental market has also shot up, making it extremely difficult for common people to purchase small plots or afford housing.
The taluk is also grappling with rampant sand and red soil mafia operations. The islands in the Netravati River are being destroyed by illegal sand mining. The absence of a centralized taluk office has resulted in uncoordinated departmental operations.
Further, Mangalore University is reportedly facing a financial crisis. The CPIM stressed the need to shift focus from unequal development to balanced growth addressing the needs of ordinary people.
To publicize the convention, around 150 teams have been formed to deliver the message to every household. A two-day vehicle campaign will be launched across Ullal taluk from April 21, beginning at 9:30 am at Mudipu Junction. The campaign will be inaugurated by CPIM district secretary Muneer Katipalla and will conclude at 6 pm near the Harekal bridge with a speech by CPIM district secretariat member Dr Krishnappa Konchady.
On April 22 at 9:30 am, the campaign will resume from Kuthar Junction, inaugurated by CPIM State Committee member K Yadav Shetty, and will conclude at 5:30 pm with a closing address by CPIM district committee member Santosh Bajal. Over two days, the campaign will cover around 25 locations. District leaders including B M Bhatt, Jayanti Shetty, B K Imtiyaz, Yogeesh Jappinamogaru, Manoj Vamanjoor, J Balakrishna Shetty, and Eeshwari Beltangady will participate as key speakers.
The grand convention on April 29 will witness participation from people representing various sectors, voicing their specific issues. Workers from the beedi, construction, and midday meal sectors, auto-rickshaw drivers, street vendors, farmers, students, youth, women, Dalits, Adivasis, and residents of island areas are expected to attend.
CPIM district secretariat member Sukumar Tokkottu, senior leader Krishnappa Salyan, CPIM Mudipu area secretary Rafiq Harekal, CPIM district committee member Shekhar Kundar, and CPIM Mudipu area committee member Rizwan Harekal were also present at the press conference.