Bangalore: CM Promises More Funds for Christian Development Next Year
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan 29: Promising to ensure that the allocation of Rs 50 crore this year for the newly formed Christian Development Council (CDC), the first of its kind body set up in Karnataka, within the remaining two months of the current financial year, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Sunday assured that higher allocation would be made in the annual budget for the year 2012-13.
Addressing the largely attended annual Federation Day programme of the Federation of Konkani Catholic Christians (FKCA), the Chief Minister said though the formation of the Council, announced in the budget for 2011-12, was delayed, allocations of nearly Rs 35 crore had just been completed and the funds would be released for different purposes like education, churches and other social service organisations within this month itself. The balance amount would be spent within the next two months of the current financial year, he said.
The Chief Minister, who responded to the appeal made by Ronald Colaco, Chairman of the International Federation of Karnataka Christian Associations (IFKCA), for appointing a member of the minority of the Christian Community, preferably belonging to the Catholics as they formed roughly 75 per cent of the Christian population in the State, instead of having it under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, said the decision was taken to ensure that the Christian Development Council functioned in the right direction in the initial stages.
''I assure you that eventually a suitable representative of the Christian community would be made the chairman. The government wants to ensure that the money is utilised properly," he said the 13 representatives for serving as members were chosen from among the community itself. He also explained that the government was keen to ensure that all the budgetary schemes and allocations were utilised properly. Nearly 70 per cent of the budgetary allocations have been spent and steps would be taken to ensure that the balance amount is spent within the next two months, he said.
Bishop of Bellary Diocese Most Rev Dr Henry D’Souza presided over the function due to the inability of the Bangalore Archbishop Most Rev Dr Bernard Moras to attend on account of indisposition.
Catholic be Made Chairman of CDC: Colaco
Earlier, Ronald Colaco warmly complimented the Chief Minister for the government for its gesture of setting up the Christian Development Council and also thanked him for responding the demands of IFKCA and other leaders of the community for withdrawing the cases against the innocent youth in the cases pertaining to the attacks against churches in Mangalore and other places in 2008.
''You have given us the bullocks and also the cart. But the rein that can ensure the bullocks pull the cart are with you. Please give them to a person from the community. We will ensure that the money is properly utilised," he said pointing out that no other government has done so much for the Christians as the present government despite the community’s contribution and service in the fields of education, health care and social service.
Pointing out that the intimations to the courts regarding the State Cabinet’s decision on withdrawal of cases has already reached, according to information available to him, Colaco applauded Gowda for the Government’s prompt action as normally it required at least six months. However, he brought to the notice of the Chief Minister that two cases pertaining to the church attacks against 22 Christian youth in Ullal and Bantwal had been inadvertently left out and demanded that immediate steps be taken for withdrawal of these two cases. The relevant papers pertaining to the two cases were also presented to the Chief Minister.
He also urged the Chief Minister to increase the fund for Christian development to Rs 150 crore in the next budget, to which Sadananda Gowda instantly assured that it would be done.
''Fulfill BSY’s Promise on 2 acre land for FKCA"
Ronald Colaco also urged the Chief Minister to ensure that his predecessor B S Yeddyurappa’s promise of granting 2 acres of land to FKCA when he attended the FKCA Day two years back was implemented immediately by giving appropriate directions to the BDA or the Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner to allot the land.
The Chief Minister, who later conferred the three prestigious FKCA awards for the year to eminent Konkani cultural activist and co-founder of Mandd Sobhann and Kalaangan Eric Alexander Ozario (Life-Time Achievement), leading Kannada writer and Central Sahitya Academy Bal Puraskaar awardee Na (Norbert) D’Souza (Professional Excellence) and leading builder and Managing Director of Lancy Constructions Lancy Mascarenhas (Entrepreneur of the Year), impressed the largely attended crowd by arriving on time and beginning his speech with the opening remarks in Konkani: ''Tumkaam Sakdaamk Mhaje Namaskaar" (My Greetings to All of You). He also spoke a few sentences in Tulu. He also underscored the need for respecting all religions and serving fellow human beings.
CM too says, 'Love Thy Neighbour’
''If everybody followed the single-most important teaching of Jesus Christ to love thy neighbour, the country and the world will be a much better place to live. There will not be any differences of caste, religion or colour," he said.
''Language is an important tool that brings all people together. While Tulu and Konkani speaking people bond together when they hear their languages in the coastal region, Kannada brings people of Karnataka nearer in the national capital of Delhi while Hindi brings all Indians together in foreign countries. The mother tongues brings people of different region together and serves as a forum for unity and cultural bonding," he said pointing out ''Unity in Diversity" is India’s greatest strength in spite the differences of culture, languages, ethnicity and regions.
Gowda complimented Na D’Souza for his contribution to Kannada literature and environmental concerns while Eric Ozario had enriched the Konkani language and culture through music and singing and Lancy Mascarenhas had made all Konkani speaking people proud with his accomplishments as a renowned builder.
Bishop Henry D’Souza appreciated the gesture of the FKCA in honouring the eminent personalities of the community for their service to society, the language and culture and the state. The differences of language, religion, culture or castes should not be allowed to become barriers and whatever artificial barriers that divide mankind must be broken and demolished through the self-less service like the contribution of Ronald Colaco and the persons like the awardees, he said pointing out that humanity will be able to attain its quest for divinity when all human beings learn to truly love their fellow human beings, especially the less fortunate sections.
''We need to dream big and strive to fulfill these dreams. We need to have high values and utilise our knowledge and skills for the well-being of society," he said adding: ''Yesterday is like a waste paper, today is like the newspaper and tomorrow will be a question paper while life is an answer paper before God. It is how we answer that is most important."
Ronald Colaco Thanked
FKCA Chairman Valerian R Fernandes, in his welcome address, profusely thanked the chief minister for the government’s gesture of setting up the Christian Development Council with an allocation of Rs 50 crore and for withdrawing the cases against innocent Christian youth in connection with the Church attacks in 2008. He also warmly complimented IFKCA Chairman Ronald Colaco in taking the lead in exerting pressure on the government in connection with the withdrawal of the cases.
Eric Ozario, the past chairman of the Konkani Sahitya Academy, said he was honoured to receive the life-time achievement award from FKCA and requested the FKCA to be part of the Jagotik Konkni Sanghotan formed in Mangalore to foster world-wide unity among all Konkani speaking people and also to take steps to ensure that at least one person known for exceptional service to the Konkani language, culture or any other field from Bangalore was honoured in future along with the other awardees. He also disclosed that he proposed to bring out a good Konkani film in collaboration with Dubai-based Konkani entrepreneur Frank Fernandes, who has already produced two Konkani and Kannada films.
Na (Norbert) D’Souza from Sagar in Shimoga district said he was extremely happy that FKCA had recognised him for his Konkani roots even though his literary work was mostly in Kannada. But there were many Kannada stalwarts like D V G (D V Gundappa), Panje Mangesh Rao, Masti Venkatesh Iyengar and Gaurish Kaikini, who had contributed a lot for Kannada literature even though their mother tongue was different. Even Yeshwanth Chittal or Jayant Kaikini represented this rare breed of writers who excelled in Kannada language even though their mother tongue was Konkani and said it is these writers who enriched the languages and fostered links between people speaking two different languages and their culture, he said.
Eminent builder Lancy Mascarenhas said he was grateful to the recognition given to him by the FKCA for his service and urged youngsters to make use of opportunities to serve society and excel in their respective fields.
The FKCA Day function was preceded by a solemn mass concelebrated with the Bellary Bishop Most Rev Dr Henry D’Souza as the main celebrant. IFKCA Chairman Ronald Colaco, the Bellary Bishop and FKCA Chairman Valerian Fernandes honoured the Chief Minister by presenting a shawl and a memento.
FKCA Secretary Robert Cutinha presented the annual report of the Federation. Ms Ida D’Cunha introduced the Chief Minister, while Lionel D’Souza, who ably compered the entire programme, also introduced Ronald Colaco and Bishop Henry D’Souza. The three eminent awardees were introduced by Alwyn Mendonca (Lancy Mascarenhas), Edward D’Souza (Eric Ozario) and Anita D’Souza (Na D’Souza). Naveen D’Souza proposed a vote of thanks.