by Divvy Kant Upadhyay, Manipal
Daijiworld Media Network

Manipal, Oct 13: The much awaited annual Diwali fireworks show by Kasturba Medical Colleges at Manipal and Mangalore have been cancelled to express solidarity with the flood victims of Karnataka. The decision to this effect was taken by authorities last week. The budgeted amount expected to be spent on the fireworks show will now be diverted to the corpus relief fund being collected by Manipal University which will be forwarded to the Karnataka CM Flood Relief Fund. It is estimated that the popular annual Diwali Fireworks show used to cost both KMC Manipal and KMC Mangalore close to Rs One Lakh each.

Plans are also afoot within Manipal University and the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG) to donate one day’s salary of the employees for the flood relief fund. Sources indicate that since many employees are also donating more than one day’s salary, presently it is tough to estimate the amount that could be generated by the employees of the Manipal University and its constituent colleges.

Interestingly, the entire amount that will be collected by the employees and staff of the Manipal Group will be matched by an equal grant from the Manipal Foundation – so literally every rupee being donated at Manipal by the students, teachers and staff is worth donating 2Rs for the flood relief fund.

Students of Kasturba Medical College- International Centre for Health Sciences in association with Rotaract Club of Manipal dedicated this year’s fund raising Chairty event- Dhol Baaje which was held on Saturday- to the same cause. The MSAID foundation managed by students of the same college is planning to hold a marathon and generate funds by selling tickets and T-shirts early next month. Students are excited as the matching grant by Manipal foundation is applicable to their collections as well.

Collection boxes for clothes and other necessary items have been set up at different locations in Manipal – Students, teachers and campus residents can contact MU Estate Officer Mr Jai Vittal for more information at 9845540293.