Linguistic harmony makes coastal districts special, says Acharya

Udupi: Higher Education Minister V.S. Acharya on Saturday said that linguistic harmony was one of the unique features of the coastal districts.

He was speaking at the inaugural function of the Konkani women's literary and cultural festival organised by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, here.

Dr. Acharya said Kannada, Tulu, Konkani and Beary languages co-existed in perfect harmony in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The State had 11 academies and four were related to the coastal districts — Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy and the Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy.

The specialty of Konkani was that it was spoken by some Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities. Hence, it was befitting that the headquarters of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy was located in Mangalore. It was due to the efforts of the academy that Konkani had been introduced as an optional language in schools. This had also helped in Tulu being introduced as an optional language in schools in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The State government provided Rs. 200 crore this year to the Department of Kannada and Culture as against the annual grant of Rs. 20 crore provided by successive governments, Dr. Acharya said. President of the zilla panchayat Katapady Shankar Poojary, Chairman of the Udupi CMC's Standing Committee Sumitra R. Nayak, and priest of Udyavara St. Francis Xavier Church William Martis were present.

Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Math inaugurated the festival. TheHindu

Distribution of 30 cars

(Photos: Janardan Kodavoor)

CM visit

CM Mr BSY visits Dr VSA, today

Photo: Janardan Kodavoor

Mandavi Emerald, Manipal

Photos: Janardan Kodavoor

Mangalore University: Mangala Auditorium inaugurated

Mangalore April 29, 2011: Hon'ble Union Minister for Law and Justice, Dr Veerappa Moily inaugurated the "Mangala Auditorium" on Friday 29 April 2011 at Mangalagangothri, Konaje Mangalore. Hon'ble Minister for Higher Education, Karnataka and Pro Chancellor, Mangalore University, V S Acharya inaugurated the main entrance of the auditorium which has been built at the cost of Rs. 40 lakhs.

In his inaugural speech Dr. Moily said that Karnataka is the hub of Education, but Mangalore and Udupi have highest number of educational Institutions. Every Indian, Dr Moily said was talented in one or the other way and every human being is a perfect creature of the nature. Calling on the audience to encourage the talents, Dr Moily said parents, teachers and the institution have a major role in molding the future of children when they are in school. He urged the Institutions to provide a world class infrastructure to the students to support their studies and said quality education only can produce world class man power in our country. “When we have world class man power and world class infrastructure, the entire world will look up to India with respect,” said Moily adding that there was a urgent need for building the knowledge of economy and integrity in our work, and if we do so now, within 20 years India can be the superpower.

Dr Moily said that the University must take the leadership and encourage the students to pursue higher studies. He urged the faculty, administration and the parents to motivate the students by making education more interesting and maintain the excellence. University should acknowledge good colleges based on the development and quality of education in the colleges, because development of the college is the development of the University. He also said that the syllabus should be revised every year to include latest information as part of the education.

Dr. V S Acharya in his Presidential address said that Karnataka has created history in higher education. He also agreed with Dr Moily on the need for constant update in the syllabus. He said Mangalore University is only 30 year old compared to other universities in Bangalore and Mysore. Mangalore University is the youngest university and it has shown tremendous growth in higher education. He said while following the gross enrollement ratio we have to keep in mind the three things - they are Inclusive growth, retaining quality in education and quality product. In inclusive growth everyone should get opportunity for higher education. To retain quality in education, we have to teach the attitude with the help of counselors. And finally we have to see what we are producing, and the product must act as a catalyst and work for harmony. The government is spending 12,324 crores for education he said. While concluding he urged the students to inculcate the positive attitude within and become the strong pillars of the society. “You have better opportunities, better courses and better colleges to pursue your education,” he said and urged the students to utilize every opportunity which comes their way. Mangalorean

23/24 April 2011

Artist U Ramesh Rao, presents an oil painting as memento!

Photos: Janardan Kodavoor

Private Schools which completed 20 years to receive Govt. Grant

Katapadi, Mattu, 24 April 2011: “State BJP Government has come forward to give block grant to all Private Schools in the State which existed since 1987 to 2007” said Higher Education Minister Dr. V. S. Acharya. He was speaking during the felicitation program for the various representatives and achievers at Mattu Sandipani High School premises on Friday. He said that, the BJP Government upon coming to power in the state, has allotted rupees 128 crores in the first year and rupees 125 crores in the second year to the schools which established since the year 1987. During the cabinet meeting on Thursday the reservation issue on the recruitment of Teachers in Private Schools has been discussed and the approval on the same has been just received, said Dr. Acharya.

Kaup MLA Lalaji R. Mendon presided over the program. Udupi Shri Kaniyoor Mutt Seer Shri Vishwavallbhatheertha Swamiji performed Ashirvachana. On this occasion Mattu Vidhyavardhaka Sangha Founder President T. V. Rao, Udupi Jilla Panchayath President Katapadi Shankara Poojary, Taluk Panchayath Member Shrikar Anchan, Kavitha and also the donors who donated land for the Mattu Road were felicitated.

Manipal Indian Vikas Trust Administration Officer K. M. Udupa, Entrepreneur Pramod Madhvaraj, Nilavara Govardhanagari Trust Vishwasta Raghavendra Acharya, Jilla Panchayath Former President Sarasu Bangera, Kote Grama Panchayath President Pushpalatha, Vice President Dayananda Bangera, Lawyer Matti Ramachandra Rao, Lakshminarayana and Udupi Vasudeva Bhat were present on the occasion. Bellevision

Solar power target: 200 mw in 5 years

In a bid to comply with the Union government’s direction that at least 2.4 per cent of total power consumed in the state should come from renewable sources, the cabinet on Thursday decided to set up 200 mw solar power plants over the next five years.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the cabinet, higher education minister Dr V.S. Acharya said the cost of power generation by such solar plants would be shared by ESCOMs and would not be a burden on consumers. “We have decided to go in phased manner and set up 40 mw units every year. At the end of five years, plants for production of 200 mw will be set up,’’ he added.

The government has made the estimation based on a similar unit set up near Kolar by the Union government. The 3 MW project was set up at a cost of around Rs 58 crore. Besides, the project had consumed a lot of place.

“We require a place which will have 245 days sun shine and there are many places in north Karnataka, which are suitable for such projects,”’ Dr Acharya said.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also decided to increase the share value of Karnataka State Minorities Development Corporation from Rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore. This would help students from minority communities to make use of educational loan up to Rs 50,000 at a rate of two per cent rate of interest.

Besides, the cabinet also extended administrative consent to the corporation for raising internal resources to the tune of Rs 25 crore, for Haj Bhavan at Tirumenahalli, near Yelahanka. The government had already sanctioned Rs 15 crore and allotted 3acres for the building.