Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Jul 11: The 45th founders’ day of Campco Ltd was celebrated at Campco headquarters in the city.
L T Thimmappa Hegde, founder director of Campco Ltd inaugurated the 45th founders’ day event by lighting the lamp.
Dr Vighneshwar Varumbudi, economist and principal of Nalanda College and Shree Padre, founder editor, Adike Patrike were the chief guests. S R Sathishchandra, director, Campco, Suresh Bhandari, director, operation, Campco Ltd, Shankarnarayana Bhat, vice president were present on the dais.
In his inaugural speech, L T Thimmappa Hegde said, "Campco is celebrating its founders’ day after 45 years. This is a good initiative taken by the management and very appreciable. Remembering an institution's past always helps us plan ahead. So in my opinion this Founders Day is very significant. Varanashi Subraya Bhat, founder of Campco had a dream. Today, that dream has become a reality in the form of Campco. It is protecting areca farmers from every downfall in the market. In its initial days, Subraya Bhat put in a lot of effort to make it an institution for farmers. He travelled thousands of miles on foot to meet the farmers. I am one of the lucky guys who got a chance to work with him.
"After the establishment of Campco, areca farmers got life and slowly the economy of the southern parts of Karnataka concentrated on areca business. However, in the recent days, areca farmers are faced with many other challenges. It is my request that these events should change to discussions on challenges faced by the areca farmers."
In his keynote, Dr Vigneshwar said, "False information on areca is a major challenge faced by farmers today. A few one sided agencies are trying to crush the areca business by spreading wrong information on areca consumption. Till date, nowhere is areca found to be leading in cancer or any other disease. Even the World Health Organisation has not yet come to the conclusion that areca is harmful. Certain lobbies are scheming to crush the customers and the areca market. To defend health allegations and one sided arguments, Campco should take on effective initiatives. It should also encourage research to prove that areca is not harmful to health. Marketing is another great challenge faced by the farmers. The invention of new value added products only save the market. Campco is the only organisation which can seriously look into the matter."
In his presidential speech S R Sathishchandra said, "It is our duty to remember our founders who are our role models. We can only move forward by staying on their path. Their vision, commitment toward farmers and society is an inspiration for us. The age 45 shows the maturity of a person. So Campco will advance with its maturity."
Shankarnarayana Bhat welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering. Along with the former directors their family members, office bearers of various branches, members and employees were present in large numbers.