Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Jul 28: State urban development minister and Udupi district incharge Vinay Kumar Sorake, handed over a cheque amounting to Rs 3 lac to the family of Ratna Kottary, a student of Shiroor PU college, who met unnatural death on her way home from college last year. The compensation amount, sanctioned by the government, was handed over at a function held at the college premises on Monday July 27.
Addressing the gathering, the minister concurred that such incidents naturally give rise to concerns in the minds of parents living in rural belt. He said that district administration is taking all possible steps for improvement of facilities in villages, and to take efficient steps to protect women and students in rural places from such incidents. He also said that the concerned have been told to sanction compensation amounts on priority even in cases where people have faced destruction and loss due to natural calamities.
The minister also said that the compensation was possible because of the special initiative taken up by the Byndoor MLA. "The compensation was delayed as the definite cause for Ratna's death was unknown. As compensation from government would be delayed further, the amount has been paid from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund," he said.
"The investigation into Ratna's death is still under way. The police department has been asked to review the investigation. The police department has been asked to take special care of students from rural areas and conduct investigation into rape cases on a priority basis. The government has taken special measures regarding the security of students," he said.
Byndoor MLA,K Gopal Poojary, said that there had been delay in district level examination of medical report and other documents relating to Ratna Kottary's death.
"I had prepared a separate file regarding the death of Ratna Kottary and requested the chief minister to announce the compensation from the CM's Relief Fund during the Belagavi session. The chief minister responded positively and the compensation was approved. Nobody has forgotten Ratna's case. The investigation will continue and the real reason for the death will come out," asserted Poojary.
Zilla panchayat local education committee president Gauri Devadiga, taluk panchayat member Raju Poojary, Savithri Alvegadde, Ramesh Ganiga, gram panchayat president Dilshad Begum, vice-president Nagesh Mogaveera, tahsildar Gayatri Nayak, Byndoor special tahsildar, and Kothari association president were present.
Sridevi of Shirur College conducted the programme while principal M P Nayak proposed the vote of thanks.
At another function held at Byndoor PU College, a cheque for Rs 5 lac, as compensation to the family of Akshata Devadiga, a student who was raped and murdered, was disbursed. Akshatha's family was given another Rs 50,000 from the department of education. Tahsildar of the taluk, Gayatri Nayak, Byndoor special tahsildar, Kiran Gowraiah, zilla panchayat member, Gowri Devadiga, taluk panchayat member, Raju Poojary, and many others were present.