Mangalore: Konkani Fest Concludes, Palemar Assures Grant of Rs 1 Cr to Academy
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Nov 26: Former minister and MLA Krishna J Palemar on Sunday November 25 assured that efforts will be made to avail Rs 1 crore to each of the Tulu, Konkani and Beary academies in the state.
He was delivering the valedictory address at the concluding ceremony of the four-day Konkani cultural festival 'Aami Konkani' held at Town Hall here.
He gave this assurance in the backdrop of a demand put forth by Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Kasargod Chinna, who said that Rs 50 lac currently being granted to the Academy was insufficient.
"As there are more than 40 sects among Konkani speakers, reaching out to every community is a difficult task," Chinna said in his introductory address.
Responding to this demand positively, Palemar said that the language academies viz. Konkani, Tulu and Beary have been strengthening the root of their respective languages through various programmes and activities. All the academies promoted by the state government are doing their best, he lauded, and said Rs 1 crore grant will be made available soon. He also asked the Academy heads to submit a memorandum in this matter.
"No one should harbour inferiority complex with regard to one's mother tongue. Love and regard for mother tongue should be sustained," he said.
He also said that blindly following the western culture serves no purpose for the future generation. He wished that academies may get into functioning in rural areas.
Kasargod Chinna, president of Karnataka Konkani Sahithya Academy presided over the programme. S R Rangamurthy, member, KPSC, Bangalore was the chief guest. M Raghunath Shet, president, Konkani Basha Mandal, J R Lobo, retired KAS officer, Prathap Simha Nayak, advocate, M M Prabhu, Ram Kishore Yellore, Shashikanth Nagvekar were the guest of honor. Dr B Devadas Pai, registrar were present.
Murulidhar Kamath led the prayer song. Om Ganesh compered the programme.