Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 15: Shalet Pinto, the newly appointed chairperson of the Karnataka Ecotourism Development Board, formally assumed office on Wednesday at the Board’s headquarters in Bengaluru.
The event turned into a show of strength for the Congress party, with several senior leaders and office-bearers in attendance to congratulate the new appointee.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by a host of political heavyweights including MLC Manjunath Bhandary and working president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. He was joined by former ministers Ramanath Rai and Abhayachandra Jain, who lauded Pinto’s commitment to public service and expressed confidence in her leadership.
Also present were MLC Ivan D’Souza,; Harish Kumar, president of the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee and chairman of MESCOM; and A Ghafoor, chairman of the Coastal Development Authority.
“This is a proud moment not just for Shalet Pinto, but for the entire coastal Karnataka region. Her dedication to sustainable development will be a valuable asset to the Board,” said Ivan D’Souza at the event.
Several other key Congress figures added their support, including T M Shaheed, chairman of the Minimum Wages Board; Lavanya Ballal, chairperson of the Organic Farming Corporation; and Vishwas Kumar Das, chairman of the Ganiga Development Corporation. Blossom Fernandes, KPCC general secretary, was also present.
The ceremony also saw the participation of Padmaraj Poojary, Rakshit Shivaram, Pratibha Kulai, Ravishankar Shetty, and Sumanth Rao, a member of the Backward Classes Commission, who were among those to personally offer their congratulations.
Shalet Pinto’s appointment is being viewed as a strategic move by the government to bolster eco-conscious tourism initiatives in the state. With Karnataka's natural reserves, forests, and biodiversity hotspots drawing increasing attention, the role of the Ecotourism Development Board has become more vital than ever.
Speaking after taking charge, Pinto said, “Ecotourism is not just about travel—it is about protecting what we have, educating people, and creating livelihood opportunities through sustainable means. I am honoured to take on this responsibility.”
The Karnataka Ecotourism Development Board, tasked with promoting responsible tourism in forest and wildlife areas, has played a key role in balancing environmental conservation with tourism growth. With Pinto now at the helm, stakeholders are optimistic about renewed focus on community-based and conservation-led initiatives.