Mangaluru, Oct 4: People of Dakshina Kannada have urged the government to give priority to health, education, science, tourism, agriculture, road and railway infrastructure and communal harmony to see the coastal district comprehensively developed in the years to come.

Participants of the workshop organised by the Dakshina Kannada district administration about 'Nava Karnataka 2025' (Vision 2025), a long-term comprehensive development plan which the chief minister Siddaramaiah-led government has planned to implement in next seven years, also suggested government to empowering the younger generation with rational thinking.
Speaking on the occasion, Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo said that there was a need to understand the strengths of the district and work on improving them. He said that sectors such as tourism, education and healthcare are some of the strengths of the district. In addition to this, Dakshina Kannada is also known for its ports and fisheries, commerce and industries, and horticulture sectors.
District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai inaugurated the consultative meeting in the morning while Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Tushar Girinath gave an overview of Vision 2025 concept. Issues were broadly classified under five themes. Eminent persons from respective fields and students were part of groups, each group having about 20 people. The groups, after detailed discussions, presented suggestions in the afternoon.
The former Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Jeevan Saldanha presented the overview of urban theme and said that there should be all-inclusive industrial townships. Communal harmony is a must for the overall development of the region even as strict compliance should be ensured to building by-laws.
Children should be involved in social service such as the NSS and physical activities right from school and college days, said retired professor in community development Rita Noronha, who led the group on social justice. Education has to be inclusive with gender and social sensitisation. Responding, Mr. Girinath agreed that the higher education sector lacked standardisation and the Knowledge Commission was working on it.
Special Agriculture Economic Zone, green army to address labour shortage, cold storage facility, scientific pricing for produces, value addition to jackfruit, agro-tourism, agro-fest and solar-enabled fish drying were some of the suggestions given by the group on agriculture led by Shivakumar Magada, Professor of Aquatic Biology, College of Fisheries, Mangaluru.
On the other hand, the group on industries led by industrialist Prakash Kalbavi suggested that Dakshina Kannada be made a hub of knowledge activities, including IT and ITES, by providing adequate facilities. More mega industries should come up in the region, it said and urged the government to thoroughly revamp port connectivity. The district has the potential to become the tourism gateway of the State, it said. Prajna Counselling Director Hilda Rayappan speaking for the group on governance said that Sakala should be extended to all departments. Policing should be people-friendly while law and order and investigation should be separated, she said.
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