Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Oct 28: The two-day ‘Aarya’ Zone Convention 2026 of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Zone 15, comprising Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts, will be held on October 31 and November 1 at the V.K. Shetty Auditorium, Adyar Gardens, Mangaluru. The event will be hosted by JCI Vittal and JCI Thumbay Elite.
Addressing a press conference, JCI Zone president Santhosh Shetty said the convention would feature formal sessions, cultural programmes, an awards ceremony, recognition of achievements by various JCI units and the election of the next zone president. Around 1,000 JCI members are expected to participate in the two-day event.
The inaugural programme will be presided over by Zone president Santhosh Shetty. Aishwarya D.K.S. Hegde, daughter of Karnataka chief minister D.K. Shivakumar, will deliver the keynote address, while Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister U T Khader will be the special invitee. Y Sukumar, a member of the JCI India National Governing Board, will inaugurate the convention.
The ‘Person of the Year’ award will be presented to Zakaria Jokatte, chairman of M-Friends Charitable Trust and head of Saudi Arabia-based Al Mun organisation, in recognition of his contributions. Former Zone president Sampath B. Suvarna, former National vice president Ishan R. Agarwal, immediate past Zone president Abhilash B.A. and J.A.C. Zone president Jabbar Saheb will also attend as chief guests.
The cultural evening will feature international performers Sheraline Sequeira and her team from Shammi Line Dance Academy. Various expo exhibitions will also be organised as part of the convention.
JCI Zone 15’s community initiatives
Santhosh Shetty said JCI Zone 15 has 60 local units and around 6,000 members across Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. The organisation focuses on personality development and leadership skills through training programmes.
More than 1,200 training programmes have been conducted in 2026 in collaboration with schools, colleges and other organisations. As part of its environmental initiative to promote a plastic-bottle-free India, around 10,000 stainless-steel bottles have been distributed among the public.
Under its Community Impact initiative, JCI Zone 15 has supported the construction of houses for homeless people, provided bus shelters and medical testing equipment to hospitals, distributed wheelchairs and contributed basic facilities to several schools. Members have also donated around 2,000 units of blood.
Under the ‘Kabil’ programme, various training initiatives have been organised to promote self-reliance among women. Other initiatives include educational assessments for selected schoolchildren across the three districts, entrepreneurship and business development programmes through the JECOM Table initiative, death-benefit coverage for members under a welfare fund and the development of national and international trainers.
The organisation also provides permanent scholarships to around 150 children annually and supports educational scholarships at the local-unit level. It organises six to seven conventions every year to create leadership opportunities for members.
Convention Director and former JCI Vittal president Rasheed Vittal is overseeing the preparations. JCI Vittal President Sandeep and co-host unit president Samatha Kishore are coordinating the arrangements.
Zone president Santhosh Shetty, Convention director Rasheed Vittal, JCI Vittal president Sandeep and Zone president’s executive Lewis Mascarenhas were present at the press conference.