Udupi, Jun 19: Young BJP leader George Gerald Fernandes, who hails from Moodubelle near here was unanimously elected president of Udupi zilla panchayat (ZP) on Friday June 19.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Gerald said, "I have been working for the people and the post is an add on responsibility. I will try my best to meet the expectation of the people."
 
Gerald has been in politics since 15 years. His foray into politics was through Congress in 1994. But differences with former minister Vasanth V Salian forced him to join BJP in 2000.

A grassroot level worker he has been helpful to the people of Moodubelle and surroundings irrespective of their caste, creed and religion.

Byndoor, Jun 17: People of Byndoor have been spearheading an agitation since the last four decades, demanding the formation of a new Byndoor taluk, as Kundapur, present headquarters of the taluk, is far away. The fact that the recent recommendations of M B Prakash Commission do not contain a favourable recommendation of a separate Byndoor taluk has angered the people of this town.

Cutting across political affiliations, caste considerations and ideological differences, people recently came together under the leadership of the Taluk Action Committee convener Riyaz Ahmed. Leaders like U C Holla, zilla panchayat president Raju Poojary and others staged a protest programme against the M B Prakash Commission, by burning the effigy of Prakash. Later, they presented their demand for a separate taluk, to the tahsildar, for being forwarded to the state chief minister.

The Committee has decided to follow up the issue through agitations and awareness programmes till the demand for separate Byndoor taluk is met. A permanent pandal was erected in front of the taluk office. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and Jaya Karnataka organization have pledged their support and active cooperation to the activities of the Committee.

It has been decided to depute a delegation to meet the district in-charge minister, revenue minister, members of parliament and try through them, to bring pressure on the Chief Minister on the issue.

U C Holla welcomed the gathering. Riyaz Ahmed monitored the programme.

Dubai, June 12: The members of the Karaval Milan, Dubai have recently chosen their new office bearers for the year 2009-2011.  Eric D’souza of Perampalli Parish, a founder member of the association, a dyamic leader, a well organiser & enterprenure in Dubai has been unanimously selected as the President.  The other committee members selected are as below:

Director                          : Mr. Wilson D’sa, Kallianpur

Founder President          : Mr. Charles Mascarenhas, Kolalgiri

President                        : Mr. Eric D’souza, Peramaplly

Vice President                : Mr. Clarence Fernandes, Thottam (Nanu Marol, Thottam)

Secretary                        : Mr. James Pius D’souza, Barkur

Joint Secretary                : Mr. Naveen D’souza, Kolalgiri

Treasurer                        : Mr. Ronald Nazareth, Byndoor

Auditor                           : Mr. Sunil Fernandes, Kota

Cultural Secretary           : Mr. Staney D’Cunha, Kemmannu

Joint Cultural Secretary   : Mr. Prakash Baretto, Kundapur

Sports Secretary             : Mr. Glen Mendonsa, Tallur

Joint Sports Secretary     : Mr. Prakash Rebello, Basrur

Media In charge             : Mr. Naveen Sequeira, Brahmavar

Public Relation Office r:  :Mr. Wilson D’souza, Basrur

                                      : Mr. Lawrence D’almeida, Kundapur

The handing over ceremony of the new office bearers was held at Shezan Restaurant in Dubai on 12^th June. All the members along with their family members were present during the occasion. Karaval Milan’s Patron St. Antony’s feast also celebrated during the occasion.

The programme started with a welcome speech by Clarence Fernandes, Thottam followed by prayer conducted by Prakash Baretto, Kundapur.  Naveen Sequera, Brahmavar introduced all the new office bearers. Outgoing President Ronald Nazareth handed over the charges to the new President Eric D’souza. Accordingly all the other outgoing office bearers handed over their charges to the respective new office bearers. A cake has been cut together by all the members as a symbol of unity.

Outgoing President Ronald Nazareth in his speech expressed his gratitude towards all the members for giving him the support during his tenure. New President Eric D’souza in his speech thanked all the members for choosing him as the president for the coming two years and requested for full support from the members.

Rony Nazreth and team entertained the gathering by melodious Konkani songs and some jokes.

The program was compered by Staney D’cunha, Kemmanu. The programme concluded with a dinner.

Manipal, June16:  The special children in and around Manipal have a new home for themselves, courtesy Manipal University and Archana Trust. The home christened “Asare”, has the facility to accommodate 32 inmates and was formally inaugurated here on Monday, June 15, 2009.

Home Minister, Dr V.S. Acharya, Junior Pontiff of Pejawara Adhokshaja Mutt, Udupi, Manipal University, Chancellor, Dr Ramdas M Pai, Pro Chancellor Dr H.S.Ballal, Vice Chancellor, Dr Raj Warrier, Registrar Dr G.K. Prabhu and other officials of the University and Archana Trust were present at the dedication function.

Dr Acharya praising the efforts of all those who helped Asare become a reality, declared, “Of the 156 such centers in the State which look after the mentally challenged, this one is the best in terms of facilities.” He assured all support to Archana Trust to see the home grow. Further he said that Women and Child Welfare department has already been told to make grants available for Asare. However, as per rules, the grants in such cases can only be made available after 24 months.  “Our culture is known for service and sacrifice. Special children should be treated specially and provided more facilities,” Acharya said.

Including Asare, there are 156 such centers in the State, four of them are under the State government, 30 centers are managed by NGOs and the remaining 121 are under the Centre's block grant. Raghupathi Bhat, MLA praised Manipal University and Archana Trust for opening a home for special children.  He said 'It is a much-needed facility and I am happy, Asare has been set up” and promised to provide all help for it going forward.

The chairman of Archana Trust, Jai Vittal thanked everyone who extended help and support in the venture.  He said the Trust was particularly grateful to Dr Ramdas M Pai and Dr H.S. Ballal. “Without their support, it would not have been possible to realize the dream”.  About the future plans Vittal said, “ The Trust expects to start a pre-school for special children next year. And, a website on Archana Trust would soon be launched by Tech Epsilon, giving all details about the Trust and Asare,” he informed.

Udupi June 15, 2009: The people in this temple town had a tough time when members of Mahila Congress gathered in big numbers at the Head Post Office here to buy postcards resulting in traffic jam. They were protesting against the BJP Government's alleged inaction in arresting culprits behind the sensational suicide incident of Padmapriya, wife of Udupi MLA.

The body of the young woman, who had gone missing from the temple town last year, was found hanging in a service apartment in New Delhi, a week later.

More than 200 women members came to the post office and parked their vehicles hapazardly in front of it. Police arrived at the scene and asked the workers to remove their vehicles. This led to a verbal duel between them.

When the postcard campaign was on, a police party asked the workers to immediately vacate the place and took away their vehicles parked on the road.

The District Mahila Congress President Veronica Carnelio and State Women Congress Committee member Shamala Bhandary intervened and started arguing with the police.

This led to heated verbal exchange between the agitators and the police. The former Minister Vaasanth V Salian was present at the scene but remained silent.

Later, male activists of the District Congress also jumped into action with the women activists. However, a senior police official, who visited the spot, brought the situation under control by pacifying the agitators.

District Mahila Congress President Veronica Carnelio, speaking on the occasion, alleged that one year had passed after the death of Padmapriya in an apartment, but the police made no headway to solve the case by nabbing the wrong-doers. The Congress demanded the State Government to hand over the case to CBI for impartial probe.

Ms Carnelio said despite the State Home Minister V S Acharya's assertion that local police were capable of doing the job, no progress had been made so far. She said in the next 15 days, the district-unit of Mahila Congress, assisted by the District Congress Committee(DCC) and other women associations would sent 15,000 cards to the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, demanding the Government to hand over the case to CBI.

Shamala Bhandari, the State Mahila Congress Committee member said the Government's refusal to hand over the case to the CBI, had raised doubts about its seriousness in bringing justice to the issue. The BJP Government was trying to protect the legislator at any cost, Ms Bhandari alleged.