Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Aug 17: Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, Krishna J Palemar, promised to provide more funds to Konkani Sahitya Academy in the coming year. He was speaking after inaugurating Konkani Talent Festival for Children, organized in the city as part of ‘Konkani Manyata Divas’ by Konkani Sahitya Academy on Monday August 16.

“So far, the state government has provided funds to the tune of Rs 45 lac to the Acdemy including five lac rupees towards fellowship. We are prepared to provide additional money in the coming year to enable the Academy to take up more programmes. Academies set up to protect and nurture Konkani, Beary and Tulu languages as well as Yakshagana art form, have been working to enrich and conserve the local culture and refinement. Whenever we have neglected local culture and refinement, we have faced problems,” he noted, and asked these academies to evince more interest towards development of their respective languages and literature.

He also advised the academies to remain vibrant, never to get stagnated, and to work to strengthen the respective languages and art forms, by borrowing finer aspects found in other languages and cultures.

Konkani Sahtiya Academy president, Narayan Kharvi, presided. Researcher, Dr Mukund Prabhu, district institute of education and training principal, Philomena Lobo, Corporation Bank general manager, B R Bhat, Lord Venkataramana Temple trustee, C L Shenoy, Catholic Board of Education secretary, Fr Wilson D’Souza and Canara High School (Main) headmaster, Umesh Mallya, participated as chief guests.

Academy registrar, S H Shivarudrappa, delivered introductory address. Member convener, Mangalpady Namadev Shenoy, welcomed. Pandurang Nayak proposed the vote of thanks. Vasudev Shanbhogue presented the programme.