Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Feb 21: Hours after the BJP-led state government announced Narayana Guru Development Corporation for the welfare of Billawa, Ediga and 22 sub-communities, the state president of Sri Narayana Guru Vichara Vedike, Satyajith Surathkal, termed it as a success for the immense effort various Billawa organizations.

Addressing media on Tuesday February 21, he said, “For the past several years, a demand to establish a corporation was kept unfulfilled. Hence, on the behalf of all Billawa organisations, we thank the government for its decision. The government has budged to the demand of the community after several pending protests and agitations.

“Various Billawa communities demanded the state government to allocate Rs 500 crore for the corporation for various welfare programmes for the development community. The government had not announced this in the budget. But the government took the decision at the last moment after seeing the reaction of the community. In particular, the government is not clear about the funds that is to be allocated to the corporation. Nor, it has been said announced verbally.

“As the state assembly elections will be held soon, the election commission will announce the election code of conduct. Though the government announces various development programmes through corporations, it is not easy to implement those in a short span of time,” he said.

He also said, “Efforts are going on to suppress our community. The person who insulted Brahmashree Narayanaguru by removing lessons from school text books should not take part in any programmes in the undivided district.”

R Padmaraj, advocate and treasurer of Shri Gokarnanatha Temple Kudroli and president of Guru Beladingalu Kudroli Mangaluru said, "Through immense efforts of various Billawa and its sub-communities, the government has finally budged to announce a separate Narayana Guru Development Corporation.

“Irrespective of parties or organisations, people of the community should be aware that due to sincere efforts from many, the Narayana Guru Development Corporation was announced. Though the government announced Narayana Guru Development Corporation, it is not easy to materialise various programmes and demands of the community. To form a corporation, there certain legal producers as the election code of conduct will be implemented ahead of assembly polls in the state,” he said.

Both Satyajit Surathkal and R Padmaraj denied getting into politics but said that their fight is for the welfare of the community’s education, economic and social needs.

"In case of our requirements in politics, with permission of the leaders and the people in the community, a decision will be taken in favour of development of community,” they said.

Answering a question from media that the government had failed to announce the corporation in the last four years and now done at the last moment, Satyajith said, “There is a possibility. This might be done with an eye on the forthcoming elections as there is a huge population of community members in the state.”