Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Jan 31: District in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj inaugurated the annual sports meet for journalists organized by Udupi District Working Journalists' Association (UDWJA), at Mahatma Gandhi Ground, Ajjarkad on Tuesday, January 30.
Addressing the participants, minister Pramod said, “Sports meets get people unite with each other. Politics breaks unity, but sports unite everyone. Recreational activities will help to overcome boredom and refresh minds. It also helps people to release stress.
“A sports kit has been provided to UDWJA by the Sports Department under State Yuva Chaithanya scheme. Please make use of it,” the minister urged.
“Rs 50,000 will be sanctioned to UDWJA immediately under State Youth Empowerment and Sports Department,” he said.
District information department officer Rohini said, “Let the sportive spirit and efficiency increase every year. I wish the very best to all journalists here.”
District commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis said, “We need sports and physical activities to keep our body fit and healthy. It is better to organise sports day once in a year. Bureaucrats and journalists work round the clock and are busy in reporting, completing assignments and field works. A journalist gets very less time to involve in physical activities which is also an important factor in life. If a person is in bad health condition, it is difficult to work. So it is always better to take precautions.”
It was fun filled day for the busy journalists. Games were organized for different age groups like tug of war, kabaddi, shot put, breaking pot, long jump, running race, slow walk, musical chair, basketball, volleyball and many more.
Journalists of various media organisations from Karkala, Kundapura, Udupi participated in the sports meet.
Roshan Shetty, assistant director, Sports and Youth Empowerment Department, Nagaraj Rao, convener, Harish Palechar, sports secretary, and Diwakar, treasurer were present during the formal stage function.
Chethan Matpady compered the programme. President of UDWJA Ganesh Prasad Pandelu welcomed the guests and Santhosh Saralebettu, chief secretary delivered the vote of thanks.