Daijiworld Media Network – Madikeri (EP)
Madikeri, Oct 28: “An amount of Rs 125 crores is set aside for the development of Christian communities, and they must make the best use of it, ” said Vidhana Mandala Backward Class and Minorities’ Committee president, MLA J R Lobo.
He was speaking during a discussion held with the Christian community leaders, at St Michael School in the city, on Thursday, October 27.
“The government has announced several programmes for the development of society and a special grant in the budget. The amount of Rs 125 crores can be used for several pro community programmes,” he said.
“The government has created Christian Development Committee for community development. It has appointed Bengaluru urban development minister K J George as the president and me as the vice president of the committee. It has also formed a subcommittee and appointed me as its president. Petitions for renovation or repairs of churches, cemetery, boundary wall, skills training and other development work in the community can be submitted,” he said.
“Christians comprise 3.6% of the population in the state. The government has given special importance to their development, but the community lags behind in making use of government released funds,” MLA Lobo said.
“Special camps should be held in various districts to make information on government programmes reach the people. Fund up to Rs one crore in the city and Rs 50 lac in towns is being provided for community halls. An amount is also paid for maintenance of old age homes,” he said.
Community representative, K T Baby Mathew, requested for additional funds for repairs of churches, and donations to poor people and for the district level committee, like in the state. Requests for reservation for Catholics could also be heard in the meeting.
K E Mathew said, extensive details of the government facilities such as scholarships, caste certificates, etc are required.
Committee assistant secretary Amba, additional deputy commissioner M Sathish Kumar, zilla panchayat assistant secretary Vishwanatha Poojary, assistant director of the department of public instruction G R Basavaraju, backward class and minority welfare department district officer K V Suresh, minority development corporation manager Nagendra Prasad, district employment exchange officer C Jagannath Virajpete, St Anns school’s Fr Muthuswamy, and others were present.