Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, May 2: “Karnataka, which was earlier used to be placed at 12th, eighth, and such other spots as far as effective implementation of poverty alleviation programmes are concerned in the past, has now been elevated to the second spot in the country behind Gujarat,” said state minister for higher education, Dr V S Acharya. He was speaking after inaugurating the district level youth conference and workshop for the youth organized at Ajjarkad district stadium here, under the aegis of the district administration, district youth services and sports department on Sunday May 1.
He said that the number of below poverty line families in the state stands at 84 lac out of 1.17 crore families. “Out of this, the union government provides ration items only for 31 lac families. The state government is compelled to buy food grains and other items by paying higher prices for being distributed to the remaining families. The number of poor families has swelled because of competition between different political outfits, and the urge among the individuals to get oneself identified as a person from below poverty line family. In spite of these problems, the state has secured second place in the country in poverty alleviation,” he explained.
He said that the responsibility of ensuring that the benefits of poverty alleviation programmes reach the needy rests on the youth. He exhorted the youngsters to take initiatives in programmes aimed at helping the society, providing basic amenities, development activities and those which augment harmonious relationships.
Zilla panchayat president, Katapadi Shankar Poojary, presided. MP, D V Sadanand Gowda, Udupi town municipal president, Kiran Kumar, and district Kannada Sahtiya Parishat president, Ambatanaya Mudrady, participated as chief guests.
Assistant youth service and sports officers of the three taluks were present. Manohar Kundar, president of the district union of Yuvaka-Yuvati Mandals, was present. Asistant director in the district department of youth services and sports, Seetanadi Vittal Shetty, welcomed the gathering and delivered introductory address.