Kundapur: Foundation Laid for Konkani Kharvi Convention Hall

Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (DV)

Kundapur , Nov 19: It is the state government's dream to recognize backward classes and smaller communities in Karnataka and bring them to the mainstream. Hence, for the first time in the history of India, the state government in its 2011-2012 budget reserved Rs 1000 crore for the development of backward classes," said former chief minister Sadananda Gowda .

He spoke during the foundation stone laying ceremony for Akhila Karnataka Konkani Kharvi Mahajan educational and cultural convention hall which will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 5.85 crore. He also inaugurated the Konkani Kharvi conference on development at Trasi on Sunday November 18.

DVS further said, "Even the very last person in the community should get preference, his own identity, and come into the mainstream. Reserving funds in the budget is not enough, it should be used for providing facilities to the community. When the community gets stronger the last man in the community will advance economically, which in turn will help in the development of the nation. Only revolution in education can change the society."

"The community association is not to compete with other communities but to make itself stable in society. The strength of the organization should be used to eradicate the evils of society. We should respect and mingle with every community," he added.

"The Konkani Kharvi people are hard workers. They continuously struggle in water, but no government has recognized their community. Hence the state government to uplift the entire Konkani community, Kudubi and RSB has reserved Rs one crore for each. For Vishwa Konkani Center Rs 5 crore has been reserved, out of which Rs 1.5 crore has already been sanctioned," he said.

Manipal Global Education Services chairman T V Mohandas Pai, who laid the foundation stone fore the new hall, said the Konkani community has a small presence in the world. "In the next 20 years Indai will develop a lot, the Konkani community should also come forward. It is my wish that no one in the community is be poor, homeless or uneducated. Konkani is our mother tongue and we should never forget it," he said.

A Narayana Swamy, minister for social welfare who inaugurated the name board and plan of the building, said the government has done its duty in strengthening the Konkani Kharvi community and has sanctioned crores of rupees for its development.

Udupi district in charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, Udupi  MLA Raghupati Bhat, Third Finance Commission task force chairman A G Kodgi, Byndoor MLA  Lakshminarayana, Mangalore Vishwa Konkani president Basti Vaman Shenoy, president of Vishwa Konkani scholarship center U Ramdas Kamath, Bhatkal MLA J D Naik, former MLA Gopal  Poojary, Trasi gram panchayat president Rensome Perara,  vice-president of Mohan Banavalikar, chief secretary Umanath Gangolli and treasurer J K Sheena Kharvi were present.

All Karnataka Konkani Kharvi Mahajan association president K B Kharvi welcomed, Vasanth Kharvi Bhatkal delivered the keynote address, and Malini Satish compered the programme .