Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/SB)
Mangalore, Jun 12: Dr B R Ambedkar’s statue was unveiled at the Town Hall premises on Sunday June 12.
District in-charge minister Krishna J Palemar unveiled the statue and said that for the betterment of people of scheduled caste and tribes category, a project will be initiated where in the private lands coming under Mangalore City Corporation limit will be developed as sites and handed over to SCs and STs.
Demand for the Ambedkar’s statue was longstanding. Now after about 15 years the dream has realized, he said and added mere erection of statue which is just a symbol will not fulfill the motto. Only when people follow the ideals of Dr Ambedkar the real cause reaches its purpose. He also said that with the expenditure of Rs 18.2 crore by the MCC, several projects have been initiated for the development of SCs and STs.
Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat presiding over the programme said that efforts will be put to bring up Ambedkar Bhavan with an estimated cost of Rs 9 crore.
On the occasion three persons who worked in the making of the statue, B C Shivakumar, Gopalswami and R Shrinivas were felicitated.
Earlier a procession was carried out from Jyothi circle to Town Hall. Leaders and members of Dalit Sangharsha Samiti took part.
MCC mayor Praveen, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Coastal Development Authority chairman B Nagaraj Shetty, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, deputy commissioner Dr N S Channappa Gowda, deputy mayor Geetha Nayak and MCC commissioner Dr K N Vijayprakash were the chief guests.