From Our Special Correpondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Feb 24: Veteran Gandhian and an ardent campaigner against alcohol and drug abuse, Sachidananda Hegde of Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district, assumed charge as the new chairman of Karnataka Temperance Board in Bangalore on Tuesday.

``Mahatma Gandhi is the brand ambassador of the Temperance Board because the father of the nation relentlessly campaigned against alcohol and the evil of drinking,” he said after assuming charge of the new responsibility.

``Fire burns the body, but alcohol burns the body and the soul,’’ is the slogan of the Board.

Admitting that the challenges before him in translating the Board’s objectives into reality were enormous, he said the Board proposed to hold interactive sessions with all educational institutions across the State. This would create awareness against alcohol consumption among children and would build a strong foundation for the future.

Besides, he would also involve non-political leaders and prominent religious leaders for the purpose. He indicated that he would involve the media in a big way as they were in an ideal position to educate and enlighten the people, especially the youngsters and rural masses.

Hegde himself had started his career as journalist having represented The Indian Express Daily in Sirsi and Uttara Kannada district.

Noted Gandhian Ho. Ve. Srinivasaiah, many veteran journalists like the former bureau chief of The Hindu, P Ramaiah, former MLC, Garudanagiri Nagaraj of Kannada Prabha, who is also a fromer chairman of Karnataka Media Academy,  S V Jayasheela Rao of Samyukta Karnataka and D P Parameshwar of Prajavani and present chairman of the Karnataka Media Academy and Editor of Vijaya Karnataka Vishveshwar Bhat, Western Ghats Task Force chairman Anant Hegde Ashipur, and Karnataka Information Department’s joint directors M G Kelagade and K S Bevinamarad were present.