Media Release

Mangaluru, Feb 7: Venkatesha Nayak submitted his doctoral thesis titled ‘Financial Inclusion in Koraga Community – A Case Study of Dakshina Kannada District’. The study analyses the extent, challenges, and outcomes of financial inclusion initiatives among the Koraga community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), and offers policy-relevant insights for inclusive development in Dakshina Kannada district.

The research was carried out under the guidance of Dr Jayavantha Nayak, professor of economics, University College, Mangaluru. The thesis was evaluated by the external examiner Dr S N Yogish, professor and chairman, department of PG Studies in Economics, Kuvempu University, who also conducted the viva voce examination and one more external examiner was Dr Rajendran, senior professor and department of economics head, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Tamil Nadu. 

The award of the doctorate was announced following the successful viva voce held in the presence of Dr Jagadeesh T, professor and chairman, department of economics, Mangalore University; Dr Muniraju Y, professor and former dean of Commerce and Management, Mangalore University; Dr Ramakrishna B M, professor and head, department of economics, University College, Mangaluru; Dr Subhashini Srivatsa, professor; Dr Jagadeesh, professor from the department of commerce, University College; Dr Madhava, associate professor, department of Kannada; Rajesh Kumar; along with other faculty members and research scholars.

Venkatesha Nayak is the son of Gopalakrishna Nayak and the late Jyothi Nayak. His wife, Kavya P Hegde, assistant professor, department of commerce and international studies, Central University of Kerala, Kasargod, was also present on the occasion.

The doctoral research is expected to contribute meaningfully to academic literature and policy discussions on financial inclusion and tribal development, particularly in the context of Karnataka.