Mangaluru, Feb 29: Member of Legislative Council Manjunath Bhandari unveiled the invitation card and the jersey for the 'Hombelaku-2024' programme scheduled on Saturday, March 2 with the theme "local government's celebration."

Addressing media persons at a press meet held on Thursday, February 29 at Ocean Pearl Hotel, Manjunath Bhandari said, “Today we are going to release the invitation and Jersey of Hombelaku-2024 . According to me, panchayat is the root of Indian democracy and both Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts have nearly 340 panchayat offices which consist of more than 6,000 members and we are anticipating around 5,000 people to participate. We are keen on creating awareness among the public and we are receiving good response to it. The expenses of this event is being borne by the panchayat office itself. We have realised that the panchayat heads and workers are in stress hence we are organising this event."

 

He said, "In the last three terms Pratap Chandra Bhat and Kota Srinivas have started this initiative at Kundapura and since I am from here I had to bring it here at our district. Getting the permit was difficult. We talked to chief minister of Karnataka and Priyanka Gandhi Wadra and today this programme is possible only because of their support. Now, we have plans of organising similar events every month. The invitation has been sent to all grama panchayat offices and we have also asked them to participate in this. Majority of our games are traditional. Only volleyball and throwball are not traditional games."

 

On this occasion,  Speaker U T Khader, minister Dinesh Gundurao, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA Bharat Shetty and others will be present, he said.

 

"This is the first time we will be arranging such an event in our district. The event will start around 8 am and at around 10 am the march past will start and the winners in this will get a cash prize of Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000," Bhandari said.

"On this occasion we will be felicitating all those who have won thrice in Zilla panchayat and six times at grama panchayat level. The newly elected members did not have a clear idea regarding the panchayat system. Hence, we have sent some people to help them," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mamatha Gatty, zilla panchayat member added that "Grama panchayat members lead difficult lives, and to be where they are they have sacrificed a lot. Hence to thank them and to encourage them this event is being held. We will organise the Hombelaku event every year on the second Saturday of January," she said.

On this occasion, Praveen Chandra Alva, Santhosh Kumar Shetty and Mamatha Gatty were present.