Funds for massive skills development progm

Karnataka today sought a massive fund of Rs 5,000 crore for skills development scheme to impart necessary training to the children of farming community in the state.

The fund will be employed to not only make those children employable in manufacturing and service sectors but also reduce dependency on the agricultural sector. A suggestion to this effect was tendered by Karnataka at a meeting convened by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who had invited state Finance Ministers for a pre-budget discussions. Karnataka, during the meeting, argued that 55 per cent of the state's population were dependent on agriculture sector which contributed a mere 17 per cent of the state's GSDP, Home Minister V S Acharya told reporters. He had attended the meeting on behalf of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who holds Finance portfolio. Dr Acharya said such massive skill development programme would help make the youths in rural areas eligible for taking jobs in other sectors and reduce dependency on agriculture.

He said among other things he had also sought the Centre to create a national fund in the forthcoming budget for addressing the developmental needs of backward regions of the country to remove the sense of regional disparity.

KANNADA & CULTURE DEPT. GETS RS. 170 CRORE

Mysore, Jan. 17 (ACP&DM)- Home Minister V.S. Acharya informed here that a grant of Rs. 170 crore has been released for the Kannada and Culture Department this year.

Speaking after inaugurating the Book Exhibition jointly organised by Hampi Kannada University and District Kannada Sahitya Parishat at a function organised in front of Kote Anja-neya Swamy temple on Friday, Acharya said that the previous Governments released only Rs. 18 crore for the Department.

"But this year, the Government has released Rs. 170 crore and this has provided an opportunity for doing more Kannada work. Kannada has a vast literary treasure. But unfortunately, not much interest is being shown towards Kannada," he regretted while observing that libraries have existed at home because of educated women.

Recalling his reading habits while in jail during emergency, Acharya said that Indira Gandhi provided him an opportunity to read more books.

"My 19-month stay in jail was the best part of my life, wherein I got an opportunity to read books that I could not study for the past 25 years," he explained.

Dr. Acharya released 12 books brought out by Hampi Kannada University on the occasion. Kannada University Vice-Chancellor Dr. V. Muni-gappa presided. Karnataka Ratna Dr. Dejagow, Nadoja Hampa Nagarajaiah and Kan-nada University Prasaranga's Advisory Committee member Dr. A.K. Hampanna were the chief guests. District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal welcomed. Prasaranga Director Dr. A. Mohan Kumar delivered the keynote address.