News and Pics by Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network—Karkala (RD/CN)
Karkala, Nov 20: Laxman Savadi, state co-operative minister, inaugurated the All India Co-operative Week at Patna Shetty Maidan on Wednesday November 19. It has been organized under the aegis of the state co-operative department, Bangalore, state women’s co-operative societies, CAMPCO, Mangalore, DKMUL, Mangalore, DK, and Udupi districts co-operative unions, Navodaya Grameen Vikas Charitable Trust, and Navodaya Vividoddesha Souharda Sahakari Nigam, Mangalore, led by state co-operative authority, Apex Bank, and SCDCC Bank. Mangalore.
The chief objective of the programme is to alleviate poverty, create employment opportunities for women, and empower youth. A branch of the Navodaya Vividoddesh Souharda Sahakari Nigam was also inaugurated on the occasion.
Savadi said that with the efforts of co-operative movement veteran M N Rajendra Kumar, the dream of ‘Ramarajya’ envisioned by Gandhiji will soon be realized. The seeds of the co-operative movement were sown by veteran S M Patil in his native Kanakinahala, Gadag district, 104 years ago, and these have now grown to become a reckoning force in the state, he said.
The rural, illiterate, women are saving Rs 160 crore through self-help groups (SHGs). The state government has begun advancing loans to agriculturists at three percent interest rate for the first time. Undivided DK district ranks first in the state for significant contributions through Stree Shakti and SHGs, while Bidar ranks second, said Savadi.
The state has announced Sahakari Ratna award for five veterans this year for their contributions to the co-operative movement in the state. Accordingly, the awards will be presented to Anantapadmanabha Shastry from Bangalore town, Sonnappa from Bangalore division, G S Doreswamy from Mysore, Ramesh Vaidya from Gulbarga, and Rao Saheb Anna Saheb Patil from Belgaum, at Shimoga by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday November 20, he added.
The programme was presided over by state Apex Bank president M N Rajendra Kumar.
Karnataka Housing Board chairman G T Deve Gowda felicitated veteran farmers. MLA Gopal Bhandary felicitated veterans of women’s co-operative societies. Former MLA Sunil Kumar felicitated veteran’s of women’s milk producers’ co-operative society.
Co-operative department secretary N C Muniyappa, co-operative societies controller T N Nayak, CAMPCO chairman S R Rangamurti, DKMUL president Kaup Divikar Shetty, DK co-operative union president P B Divakar Rai, Udupi co-operative union Kishan Hegde Kolkabail, SCDCC Bank chief executive officer Narayan Kamath, SCDCC Bank directors Appanna Hegde and Ramesh Shetty, Basave Gowda Mysore, M A Ramesh, Zee TV business development officer D Anuf, Parameshwar Guntkal, and B Jayasri were present on the dais.
Earlier, municipal councilor Sitaram flagged off the procession from city centre to the venue. The shooting of ‘Jogula’ was also held on the occasion. Devaraj welcomed the gathering while Manohar Prasad and K C Rajesh compered the programme.