Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP) 

Bantwal, Jul 29: An industrial training centre that was being operated by the department of industries of Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat at Kadeshivalaya near here has virtually turned into a haunted place, as the dilapidated structure sans any activity, has been covered with bushes now. 

The building has turned into a shelter for beggars, godown for scrap dealers, and hideout for the thieves and boon to people involved with illegal activities. 

This centre had been established in 1989 when Sankappa Rai was the president of the zilla panchayat. Initially the centre was being run well. Official of the department of industries in the taluk panchayat here, Subrahmanya Tantry and assistant, Balakrishna Rao, had evinced lot of interest in running the centre. Teaching staff which included Jacob and Vincy D'Souza of Venoor Manjunatheshwara Industrial Training Institute had provided training to about 30 students of the first batch. Training was provided in courses like repair of vehicles, general engineering, and pump repair. 

The zilla panchayat, set up with the purpose of creating self employment opportunities for the students from the rural areas, successfully trained the first five batches. Thereafter a controversy arose on the issue of a photo having been mounted on the wall of the institute by a teacher. After skirmishes between locals and training centre management grew on this issue, the centre stopped functioning, some locals say. A hostel that had been built for the students coming for training here has also become fragile because of non-maintenance. 

The centre was equipped with things worth lacs of rupees meant for providing training to the students. After the centre ceased to function, things inside the centre were stolen by thieves. A jeep provided to the centre by forest department for the workshop has gathered rust and many of its parts have been stolen. As the doors of the centre are open, they have helped the cause of scrap merchants and beggars. People living in the area say that at night illegal activities are carried out here. 

Villagers had approached the concerned authorities many a time with a request to either hand over the training centre to the gram panchayat or to resume training programmes at the centre. But the zilla panchayat has failed to respond, the locals have alleged. 

Veerappa Naik Gandibagilu, says that this training centre can serve rural students in a big way if it becomes operational. He has asked the government to take initiative to re-establish the centre here. Noting that the centre was closed down about two decades back and that it is covered with thick bushes, and that the centre has over an acre of land, he urged the government to make up its mind to see that the centre begins to serve the rural youngsters again. 

It is learnt that a student who was in the first batch of general engineering course at this centre is now working for Suntech Solar Company.