By Rons Bantwal 
Daijiworld Media Network—Mumbai (RD/CN)
 
Mumbai, Sep 23: The second annual general body meeting of the Kannadiga Patrakartara Sangh Maharastra ® was held under the chairmanship of its president Chandrashekar Palettady at Karnataka Bhavan auditorium, Matunga (West), on Wednesday September 22. 
 
Speaking on the occasion, Palettady said that many journalists owing to the lack of financial stability and lack of opportunities to explore their talents, are being lured by corrupt forces.  “A few such forces threaten the reporters to twist the reports in their favour.  The journalists should not worry about such cases since they have the freedom to act”, he said.
 
Palletady urged the journalists to serve society and live peacefully.  “There are many Kannadigas serving as journalists in dailies published in English and Marathi besides national language Hindi.  If all of them join the Kannadiga Patrakartara Sangh Maharastra, it will emerge as a powerful association in the metro”, he added.
 

The Sangh’s advisors and lawyers Kadandale Parari Prakash L Shetty and B Mohiuddin Mundkoor, Dr Sunitha M Shetty, senior journalist lawyer Vasant S Kalakoti, and Karnoor Kiran Rai Pune were felicitated on the occasion.
 
Executive committee members Lawrence Coelho, Premanath Shetty Mundkoor, Suresh Acharya, Savitha Suresh Shetty and senior journalist and columnist Ravi Ra Anchan were present on the dais.
 
The Sangh’s honorary chief secretary Rons Bantwal, in his introductory address, said that it is a reality that a journalist’s life is filled with uncertainty and without any financial security.

“There were serious attempts to form an association of Kannadiga journalists in the past; however, it has been fruitful only in the past few years.  The need for a Sangh was strongly felt to connect with all journalists and build a strong bond for betterment of the community that should grow as one family”, he urged.
 
Lawyer I R Shetty said that journalists enjoy a better status in society as they safeguard democratic values.  He urged them not to compromise the reports for self interest, but to stay committed to core values of their profession and contribute to nation building.
 
Condolences were offered on the recent demise of veteran journalist K J Kadandale, K T Venugopal, D K Mendon and others.
 
The Sangh’s vice-president Sadanand D Nayak welcomed the gathering.  Treasurer G P Kusuma presented the annual accounts.  Secretary Dayasagar Chowta presented the annual report and proposed the vote of thanks.