The Hindu

Udupi, Aug 18: Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes said on Sunday that Japan had come forward to share its technology on the production of blue tuna.

He was speaking after distributing the Manipal Arogya Cards to 2,000 poor people at a function, organised by Mogaveera Yuva Sanghatane, G. Shankar Family Trust and Manipal University, here.

Fernandes said that the Union Government was in talks with Japan on the issue. There was a lot of demand for blue tuna in Japan. His Ministry would organise a discussion on the blue tuna issue with fishermen at Malpe shortly, he said.

The Minister said that education, healthcare and employment were important for the people. Manipal University, along with the trust and sanghatane, were working to provide education and healthcare to poor people and it was a laudable endeavour.

He said that the founder of modern Manipal, the late T.M.A. Pai, had given importance to social welfare. It was in pursuit of this goal that he founded SyndicateBank and opened educational institutions, Fernandes said.

MLA K. Raghupati Bhat said that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would visit Malpe soon to discuss the problems of fishermen.

Satish Amin welcomed the gathering. President of the trust G. Shankar presided over the function. Chancellor of Manipal University T. Ramdas Pai, Pro-Chancellor H.S. Ballal, MLA Lalaji Mendon, former MLA U.R. Sabhapathi, former MP Vinaykumar Sorake and president of the sanghatane M.S. Sanjeeva were present.