UNI
Pics by Ganesh Perla - Daijiworld Media Network
Mangalore, Aug 5 : Maharastra Governor and former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna underscored the need for voluntary organisations to play crucial role in eradication of major diseases like AIDS by taking up extensive awareness programmes in the country.
Speaking after inauguration of Cabinet installation of Lions District 329 D5 here, the Governor expressed his concern on Karnataka being considered as an AIDS-prone state.
Mangalore, Udupi and some other parts of the state were badly affected by this disease. Without depending much on the government, social and other voluntary organisations like Lions and Rotary Clubs should come out with programmes to create awareness among youngsters about the gravity of the disease and try to eradicate it from the country.
Mr Krishna said India which had achieved a GDP growth rate of eight per cent in the last three years was projected to attain ten per cent growth during the current year. To achieve this goal, voluntary organisations should initiate plans for underprivileged.
The challenges and commitment in community-oriented service activities undertaken by the Lions Club, especially in the area of health and education, was laudable.
The country needed urgent solutions to major problems like illiteracy, poverty and major diseases like AIDS.
He called for a concept of exclusivity in which deprived sections of the society, who had no access to basic amenities, were brought into mainstream.
''On one side, we have an India where we see the GDP growth, advancement in several fields, including the information technology while we have another India where we see the major challenges like poverty,illiteracy and diseases,'' he said.
Replying to queries on the sidelines of the function, Mr Krishna who declined to answer to the question on whether he would enter active politics, said as the Governor of a State he would not make any comment on the issue.
On the controversial NICE project taken up during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Krishna said it was immaterial who approved or sanctioned the project.
''What we require today is infrastructure for the development of the state,'' he said.