Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (NM)

Udupi, Dec 30: "Empowerment of youth and women is necessary in order to bring about rural development," said Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes.

He was addressing the gathering during the 38th Giants International Convention organized by Udupi Giants here in Kadekar Sea View Resort on Saturday December 29.

"The youth should be empowered with education and technical knowledge for socio-political and economic development," he said.

Condemning the recent brutal gang-rape and subsequent death of the paramedical student in Delhi, Nana Chudusama, world organizer of Giants International said, "Those people who traumatized the 23-year-old student unto death should be publicly hanged. Our organization has initiated programs intending to support and safeguard women and asked the members to take active part in these programs," he said.

Briefing about the works of Giants International, N C Shaina, convener, said, "Giants International originated in India 40 years ago and today has more than 500 centres and about 25,000 members. The organization has been actively involved in eye and blood donation, helping women empowerment and about 1,500 students are given scholarships for education."

MLA K Raghupati Bhat, Jayakrishna Shetty, Muneera Chudusama, Ashok Kumar Kudavoor, Dinesh Puthran, Udupi Giants president B Chidanand Pai, Jyothi Venkatesh and others were present.