Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
Udupi, Oct 14: “The conferring of awards at the state and national levels is common, but a gram panchayat that has been conferring an award on a native of extraordinary qualities seems to be the first of its kind in the country,” said state rural development minister Jagdish Shettar.
He was speaking after conferring the ‘Dr Shivaram Karant Award’ on Timmakka of Salmara in Hulikal village, Magady taluk, Bangalore, by Kotatattu gram panchayat during a function held at Shambavi Vidhyadayini School, Giliyar, near here, on Wednesday October 12.
Shettar urged the people to follow the ideals of Dr Karant to bring about change in the society.
“In order to strengthen the Panchayat Raj system of governance, priority will be given to releasing more state funds to gram panchayats, taluk panchayats, and zilla panchayats,” added minister Jagdish Shettar.
“The state administration will be pressurized to grant state funds of Rs 9 lac, Rs 12 lac, and Rs 15 lac each to gram panchayats with populations of 5,000, 10,000, and 15,000, respectively. The state ranks first in decentralization of local governance and implementation of Panchayat Raj,” emphasized Shettar.
Timmakka’s dream to be fulfilled:
The message from chief minister (CM) D V Sadanand Gowda, said that Timmakka who planted thousands of saplings in her native village of Salmara in Hulikal, dreams of setting up a modern hospital in her village and this will be realized.
Gowda also announced the allotment of a housing plot in Bangalore for Timmakka and a fixed deposit of Rs 5 lac for her.
Kota will be developed as cultural hub:
“Dr Karant Memorial Theater that was constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore by Kannada and culture department and inaugurated by state higher education minister Dr V S Acharya, will have a reading room, continuing education programmes, summer camps, and special programmes during festivals; with plans to make Kota a cultural hub,” added Shettar.
The state’s Third Economic Commission task force committee chairman A G Kodgi unveiled the statue of Dr Karant.
Kotatattu gram panchayat president Tingalaya presided over the programme.
MLA Raghupati Bhat, deputy commissioner Dr Reju, state Tobacco Development Board chairman B N Shankar Poojary, ZP president K Shankar Poojary, vice-president Jyoti S Shetty, taluk panchayat president Devdas Hebbar, zilla panchayat member Sunita Rajaram, taluk panchayat member Raghavendra Kanchan, zilla panchayat CEO D Manjunatayya, and educationist K H Hande were present on the occasion.
Dr Karant birth anniversary committee president Anand C Kundar welcomed the gathering. Narendra Kumar Kota proposed the vote of thanks. MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary delivered the introductory address. Revati J Shetty and Prakash Handattu compered the programme.