Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Apr 15: “Uniform civil code should be enforced in the country at the earliest. This was a dream nurtured by patriot, Dr B R Ambedkar, who had far-sighted vision for unity, equality and social concerns,” said higher education and district in-charge minister, Dr V S Acharya. He was speaking after inaugurating the 120th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar and offering garland to the portrait of the father of Indian Constitution.

The programme was organized by dalit organizations from the district as well as the Uion of Koraga Development Associations, in association with the district administration, zilla panchayat, municipal council and social welfare department, at the district Ambedkar Bhavan at Adi Udupi here on Thursday April 14.

“Credit for implementing reservation policy for backward classes, and giving education to them, without interfering with the quality of administration, goes to Dr Ambedkar. But for his efforts, over 65 percent from among the backward classes would have remained illiterate as of now,” he felt. He also explained about funds set aside by the state government for the upliftment of people belonging scheduled castes and tribes. He unveiled a plan to erect a huge statue of Dr Amedkar in front of the district headquarters office.

MP, D V Sadanand Gowda, pointed out that Ambedkar had sincerely tried to implement plans, concepts and ideals in which he believed, as compared to many who believe in preaching these things, without doing anything to bring them into practice.

MLA, K Raghupati Bhat, presided. Zilla panchayat (ZP) president, Katapadi Shankar Poojary, municipal council president, Kiran Kumar, district deputy commissioner, P Hemalata, superintendent of police, Dr Y S Ravikumar, taluk panchayat president, Devadas Hebbar, ZP social justice standing committee chairman, Upendra Nayak, and ZP chief executive officer, N Rajashekhar, were present.

District social welfare officer, Dr M T Manjunath, welcomed and compeered the programme. Taluk social welfare officer, Chandrashekhar Naik, proposed vote of thanks.

At the end of the programme, Dr Acharya handed over a power tiller sanctioned to Dooja, a farmer from Pernankila, under a scheme of government subsidy.