Media Release

Mangaluru, Nov 7: The Government of Karnataka has appointed H Vasantha Bernhard tHaleangadi, a leading social worker, as member of the Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) committee.

The appointment, together with three other members, was made as part of the reconstitution of the committee.

Vasanth Bernhardt, a former president of Haleangadi Gram Panchayat,is a member of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and has served many organisations in various capacities, while focusing his efforts on the overall development of Haleangadi and nearby areas.

Earlier, he had held positions of general secretary of Mulky Block Congress for over 11 years. He was also the vice president of the District Youth Congress in 1999.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Vasanth said, “I am grateful to our leadership, particularly Abhayachandra Jain and Ramanath Rai, for reposing faith in me and giving me a chance to work for the betterment of facilities in the city through this position. I promise to make all efforts, together with other members and various bodies involved, towards making the model city,” he said.

A leader who has always cared for the welfare of the people, Vasanth began his social activities during his college days, when he was president of the students union of Haleangadi Government College. He was also the general secretary of the All College Students Union. He was awarded the Best Youth Award by Nehru Yuvaka Kendra for his community services in 1998.

He has been the panchayat member of Haleangadi for the last 17 years and for the past 16 years he has been chairman of the 'Drinking Water Supply & Sanitary Committee' of the panchayat. His efforts towards ensuring water supply during the summer months has made him popular in the village. With the support of local MLA and former minister Abhayachandra Jain, Vasanth managed to get water connection to Haleangadi directly from Thumbay and distribute it through residential water pipe connections. Recently, due to his continued efforts and follow up with Jain, MESCOM Section office was opened at Haleangadi.

Vasanth is also known for undertaking several developmental works in the panchayat and is endeared by all, cutting across party lines. He has been instrumental in securing many funds for the development of Haleangadi village, through the local MLA, Jain. Haleangadi - Sasihithlu bridge costing Rs 6 crore; sea protection Wall at Sasihithlu costing Rs 6 crore; fisheries jetty of Sasihithlu costing Rs 4.5 crore; Karithota Road worth Rs 80 lac; building improvement at Government First Grade College at a cost of Rs 2 crore are all part of his vision for the development of Haleangadi.

Recently, Vasanth was appointed as chairman of Sasihithlu Beach Development Committee where the international surfing competition took place. Sasihithlu Beach is being developed by Haleangadi Panchayat with the support of Karnataka Government as a major tourist attraction.

Vasanth has also served as president of Haleangadi Lions Club which contributed to the development of Haleangadi in its own way.

Vasanth Bernhardt is also the chairman of college development committees of two government colleges of Haleangadi for the last seven years. The Government First Grade College and Sri Narayana Sanil Pre-University College are well known for their good standard of education. There is no shortage of staff in both the colleges which has good infrastructure, and results (reaching 85 per cent) speak volumes about his good administration.

For the last 17 years, Vasanth has also been serving as the director of the PCA Bank, a co-operative bank of Haleangadi, which has an annual turnover of more than Rs 10 crore. He was the vice president of the bank in 2010.