Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Sep 10: The literacy day programme organized at Prajna Counselling Centre in Kankanady in the city witnessed some meaningful discussions and announcements.
Noted philanthropist and ex-president of the state Kannada Sahitya Parishat Harikrishna Punaroor announced, that he would be donating ten acres of land for the purpoe of constructing houses for the poor people of the district, apart from donating Rs 10,000 for providing tiled roofs to each of the houses with thatched roofs, as an addition to the government grant of Rs 30,000 to which the selected beneficiaries are eligible. He also said, he will bear expenses to provide slates and chalks for teaching the illiterates.
MLA U T Khader felt, that even the children of poor people should become engineers and doctors, if the country is to become an affluent country in its true sense. He announced his decision to contribute a sum of Rs 500 per month from his monthly emoluments for the 'Apna Desh' programme that works to educate the poor, without relying on any government grants.
The organizers announced, that the model village project envisaging to provide tiled roofs to the thatched homes, will be initiated from Kinnigoly village. They also announced a reward of Rs 5,000 to those who idenify highest number of illiterates and a scheme to provide information on various grants being received from the union and state governments to the people of all the 203 gram panchayats in the district.
Cheenkra Poojary, who presided over the programme, said that he became a literate at the age of 68, inspired his friends and neighbours to kick the drinking habit and added that he continues to feel sorry for the harassment meted out by him to his wife when he was still gripped by the liquor addiction.
Badila Hussain, yashoda Laila, Namana, Narayan Golikatte, Babu, Patunhi etc., explained their life after becoming literates recently. Zilla panchayat president K P Sucharita Shetty, member Dharanendra Kumar, deputy secretary Shivshankar, Prajna Counselling Centre convenor Prof Hilda Rayappan, taluk panchayat executive officer Kantaraj and others were present.