Mangaluru/Udupi: The coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi came alive with colourful processions and cultural performances, as students and artistes marked Karnataka Rajyotsava with great enthusiasm.Speaking at the celebrations held at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru on Saturday, district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao urged people to uphold the state’s rich heritage, history, and culture. “By setting aside differences of caste and religion, everyone should work with a spirit of brotherhood to maintain harmony and lead the district on the path of development,” he said.Reaffirming the govt’s commitment to citizen-centric governance, the minister noted that a majority of people are now direct beneficiaries of various welfare schemes. Under the Amrit Nagarothana Phase-4 scheme, Rs 110 crore has been sanctioned for 13 urban local bodies in Dakshina Kannada, with 144 projects already completed. Additionally, 19 Indira Canteens have been approved in the district to provide affordable meals, while seven more are in the pipeline.To ease traffic congestion in Mangaluru city and along the national highway, plans are under way to construct a ring road from Thalapady to Surathkal, he added.‘Akka Pade’ initiative At the Rajyotsava celebrations in Udupi, district minister Laxmi Hebbalkar announced that the proposed ‘Akka Pade’, an initiative to support women and children in distress, will be launched in Bengaluru on Nov 19. The project, a joint effort by the women and child development department and police, will soon be operational in Udupi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, and Belagavi.Highlighting the impact of the govt’s welfare programmes, Hebbalkar said the five guarantee schemes have improved the living standards of 70 to 95% of poor and backward women across the state. “Karnataka, known as the Silicon Capital, is now progressing towards becoming the Innovation Capital of the world,” she said.She also lauded the Karnataka Police for topping the India Justice Report, enhancing the state’s prestige. The govt, she added, is focused on worker welfare, promoting investment, and implementing the Karnataka Tourism Policy 2024–29, aimed at positioning Karnataka as India’s leading tourism destination.As Karnataka celebrates 50 years of the Anganwadi initiative, Hebbalkar announced that the golden jubilee will be celebrated on Nov 19 with grand celebrations.On the occasion, achievers and organisations from diverse fields in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi were honoured with the District Rajyotsava Awards for their contributions to society.
