CM promises Rs 1,000 cr for welfare of backward classes, urges to remove their 'backward' tag

Mangalore, February 12: In a rare gesture Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Sunday promised the people of backward classes that his government would allocate Rs 1,000 crore exclusively for their welfare in the 2012-13 budget.

Participating in the Billavas convention as part of the centenary year celebration of the All India Billavas' Union at Town Hall in the city, the CM said that Billavas need not feel inferior as many people from the community had now excelled in different sectors, including medicine and engineering.

Reiterating his government's commitment for the overall development of the backward communities, Mr Gowda said that one should not aspire to be identified as 'backward'. People should come to the mainstream of society to ensure that the tag “backward class” was removed, he said.

The Chief Minister said that the Billavas' Union should make efforts to bring Billavas in rural areas, who were dependent on toddy tapping, to the mainstream of society.

Mr. Gowda said that a “medicinal garden” would be developed at the Koti-Chennaya Theme Park which was opened near Karkala recently. He said the Government would promote Enmur, near Panja in Sullia taluk, which is believed to be the birth place of Koti and Chennaya, heroes of the Billava community, as a tourist destination. He, however, did not elaborate on the plan.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the launch of work on a hostel near Kunjathbail for Billava community people.

He said that of Rs. 2 crore announced by the Government for the hostel, Rs. 1 crore would be released. If the project required more than Rs. 2 crore, the Government was committed to sanctioning it, the Chief Minister said.

Presiding over the programme President of the Union Naveenchandra D Suvarna, mentioned the problems faced by the community over the years and how it moved in the path of progress.

On the occasion former minister R L Jalappa released a special edition of 'Brahmashree Guruvani'. Deputy speaker of Legislative Assembly N Yogish Bhat, AICC secretary Vinay Kumar Sorake, Sagar MLA Belur Gopalkrishna and MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, among the present at the dais.