Udupi: Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes said on Sunday that citizens could play a vital role in preserving nation’s security.

He was speaking at a function to inaugurate the “Sundara Udupi, Subhadra Udupi” scheme of Paryaya Puttige Math here.

Mr. Fernandes said that the blasts in Jaipur, New Delhi and Gujarat showed that some forces were working against the interests of the country. People should be vigilant against the designs of such forces.

It was the responsibility of every citizen to work towards the security of their neighbourhood. This would go a long way in enhancing the security of the country. The responsibility of security could not be left to deputy commissioners and superintendents of police, he said.

Udupi was known for its tradition of communal harmony. The land for a church in Udupi had been given by Krishnapur Math, one of the Ashta Maths. “We should preserve this tradition of communal harmony,” Mr. Fernandes said.

Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Math, who inaugurated the scheme, said that security was poor at Sri Krishna Temple and Udupi city. When security was sought for the temple, there was a demand that the salary of security personnel should be borne by the temple authorities. Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Puttige Math stressed the need for better security arrangements in the wake of bomb blasts in the country.

Udupi: Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes said on Sunday that the Union Government was doing all it could to curb terrorism.

Speaking to presspersons here, Mr. Fernandes said that there were intelligence reports about terrorist activities. But even these reports could not exactly pinpoint where the blasts would take place. The Union Government had taken all precautionary measures and when the matters concerned the State Governments, it had passed on the relevant information to them. “In spite of all the measures, the blasts have taken place which is unfortunate. People’s support is also needed to curb terrorism,” he said.

Asked if the Centre would bring back POTA in light of the bomb blasts in Delhi and other places, Mr. Fernandes said that there were enough laws in the States to deal with terrorism. But if the States felt that they required more laws, the Centre would consider the issue.

On the appointment of new president for the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr. Fernandes said that it would take place shortly. All the discussions in this regard had been completed. “It may even happen within a week,” he said.

On the attacks on prayer halls in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Chikmagalur districts, Mr. Fernandes said that he condemned the attacks on certain sections of society. “All efforts should be made to maintain harmony and peace,” he said.

On the coal-based 1,015 MW thermal power project coming up at Yellur in Udupi district, he said that he personally preferred a gas-based power project. But he had learnt that the prices of the gas had shot up.

“The matter is also before the Supreme Court. We have to look into all aspects,” he said.

On the poor condition of National Highway 17, Mr. Fernandes said that he had already taken up the issue with the Union Ministry of Surface Transport. The repair works on the highway would begin after the monsoon, Mr. Fernandes said.

Udupi: The Kerala Cultural and Social Centre will celebrate its 15th anniversary as well as Onam at Town Hall here on Sunday. Addressing presspersons on Friday, president of the centre T.A. Ravindran said the centre had 600 members. It would organise various cultural programmes on the occasion. He said a “Members Directory 2008” would also be released. The impressive part of this year’s Onam celebrations would be the grand feast called “Onasadya”, comprising the best of Kerala’s cuisine.

The centre would also distribute “Onasadya” to the residents of two care-giving homes, he said and added that the celebrations would be inaugurated by Managing Director of Abideep Group of Industries Vincent Pinto. Journalist N. Shereef would be the chief guest, Mr. Ravindran added. Secretary of the centre N. Ravindran Nair, vice-president Mohandas and former president Joseph Mathew were present.

RAISING THEIR VOICE: Members of the Save National Highway 17 Committee staging a dharna in Udupi on Friday.

Udupi: The Save National Highway 17 Committee, an umbrella organisation comprising representatives of political parties and voluntary groups, staged a dharna in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Friday to draw the Government’s attention to poor condition of the National Highway 17.

In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner P. Hemalatha, the convener of the committee B. Govindaraj Hegde said that in spite of several petitions to the Department of National Highways to repair the highway in Udupi district, no action had been taken.

The state of the road was such that it was impossible to travel on it. The condition of the stretch between Sasthan and Santhekatte in Udupi district was worst. Driving vehicles on the highway was an adventure. Many accidents had occurred owing to the potholes and poor state of the highway, the memorandum said.

The committee would close down the National Highway 17 for five days from September 27 to October 1 and its members would themselves take up the repair work of the highway.

The funds need for the repair work would be raised through public donations. Members of student organisations, women’s self help groups, workers from political parties and volunteers from various social organisations in the district would take part in the repair work, the memorandum said.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders P. Vishwanath Rai and H. Vittal Poojary, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader B. Sudhakar Shetty, president of Autorickshaw Operators’ Association, affiliated to CITU, Sadashiva Poojary, general secretary of Udupi District Taximen’s Association Ramesh Kotian and secretary of Udupi Zilla Nagarika Samiti Nityananda Volakadu were among those present.

Udupi: MLA K. Raghupati Bhat said on Monday that Udupi might be declared a fully literate district by January 2009.

He was speaking after inaugurating the International Literacy Day celebrations, organised by the Department of Mass Literacy, District Literacy Committee and Udupi taluk panchayat here.

Mr. Bhat said that although the Department of Mass Literacy was claiming that the literacy in the district was near-total, he did not want anyone to be left out. “The department should check if 100 per cent literacy has been achieved in the next three months and confirm,” he said.

He said that one area of concern was the literacy levels of migrant workers. The department would do well to concentrate on them. “Even if one person says that he is unable to sign a document and prefers to give his thumb impression, the claim of 100 per cent literacy will be belied,” he said.

The MLA said that the motivators in the Department of Mass Literacy were playing an important role in persuading people in rural areas to attend literacy programmes. Yet these motivators were being paid a meagre honorarium. Although the literacy campaign came under the Union Government, the Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would be urged to prevail upon the Centre to increase their honorarium, Mr. Bhat said.

President of Udupi taluk panchayat Geeta Prabhu, vice president Bhagyalakshmi, president of Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) Dinakar Shetty, deputy secretary in zilla panchayat Pranesh Rao, and retired principal of Upendra Pai Memorial College A.C. Tunga were present.

Udupi: The “Akalanka Prashasti – 2008”, instituted by the Akalanka Pratishtana, was presented to H.S. Mohan, writer, here on Sunday for his book “Kannu (Hosanota)”.

Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Bhaskaranand Kumar, presented the award to Dr. H.S. Mohan, who is an Ophthalmologist from Sagar.

Speaking after receiving the award, Dr. Mohan said that medical literature in Kannada language should be encouraged. Reading books on medical topics gave people an insight into health-related issues. Awards such as the Akalanka Prashasti would go a long way in promoting books on medical and health issues.

The book “Sanchaya”, which is a collection of essays and research articles written by scholar Uppangala Rama Bhat, was also released on the occasion by Dr. Bhaskaranand Kumar. Krishnamurthy Nitilapur, writer, introduced the book “Sanchaya” and Gynaecologist Savitri Daithota spoke about the “Kannu (Hosanota)”. President of Udupi district Kannada Sahitya Parishath Ambatanaya Mudrady and principal of MGM College Jayaprakash Mavinakuli were present.

Kundapur, Sep 7: R N Shetty, reputed industrialist, enterpreneur and philonthropist from Udupi District, is a man of varied interests, a multi-faceted personality and a rare individual with a keen sense of duty and obligation towards the society, said state home minister Dr V S Acharya.

Speaking at a function organized to felicitate R N Shetty here recently,  V S Acharya said, that  R N Shetty never sought any help from the government, and  was a self made personality. He is a living testimony to show to the world what an ordinary man from a humble beginning, can do to his community, without hankering for help from outside sources especially the government agencies.

He further pointed out, that the former President of India A P J Kalam, a self-made man of tall virtues, was a role model for the present as well as the future generations. Nitte Vinay Hegde, president of Nitte Education Trust, presided over the function.  V S Acharya on behalf of Kundapur Education Society, felicitated R N Shetty.

Among the guests present, were K Sarvottam Shetty, vice president of Kundapur Education Society, Bhandya Sudhakara Shetty, joint secretary, Dr Rammohan, treasurer, industrialist Solomon soans, Dr M V Kulal and Dr Y S Hegde. B M Sukumar Shetty, chairman of the Society, spoke on the occasion. Seetharam Nakkattaya, secretary, welcomed the gathering. Prof  A P Mithanthaya read out the citation presented to R N Shetty on the occasion. R N Shetty PU College Principal Chitra Karanth proposed vote of thanks. Ganesh and Reshma conducted the programme.

Udupi: The Dr. T.M.A. Pai Hospital has organised a free urology camp from September 8 to 10.

A press release issued by the hospital here on Saturday stated that the camp would be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the above stated days.

There would be free consultation available from Urologists from the Department of Urology KMC, Manipal. Patients could get appropriate evaluation, advice and treatment.