City celebrates 119th birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar

City celebrates 119th birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Apr 14: District-in-charge Minister Krishna J Palemar inaugurated the 119th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar at Town Hall on April 15, Wednesday. 

 

 

 

 

 

Stressing on the importance of following the principles of Dr Ambedkar, Palemar said that the governments have implemented several schemes, including educational schemes, for the development of the backward classes. For instance, the Bhagyajyothi Scheme can be used to give electricity connections to the houses of the backward classes. The government has also earmarked a sum of Rs 238 crore for their welfare, he said. 

Speaking about the efforts of the government to transform the backward classes into the forward classes, Chairman of the Coastal Development Authority Nagaraj Shetty said that the government does not lack money, but lacks clean hands to work for social welfare. He said that celebrating the birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar is not as important as working for the development of the backward classes in all towns and cities. 

President of the Zilla Panchayat Santhosh Kumar Bhandary suggested that the people of the backward classes must utilize the schemes and facilities provided for them. MLA U T Khader said that this programme is not meant for backward classes alone, but for people of all castes and religions, adding that Dr. Ambedkar worked for the welfare of all of us by giving us the precious constitution. For this reason, we must work for social welfare, he declared. 

Lauding Dr. Ambedkar for his great achievements, Professor of Political Science of Mangalore University Dr. P L Dharma said that identifying Ambedkar as the leader of the backward classes is an insult to this great national leader; therefore, he must be referred to as “Father of the Constitution” or just “national leader.” He said that development can take place only if social change takes place through programmes such as these. People are mandatorily required to participate in these programmes because they are organized by the government; however, few people participate voluntarily, he pointed out. 

The professor also observed that most parents focus on getting their children trained as doctors or engineers, but very few try to train them as good political leaders who can work for the welfare of the country. 

DC V Ponnuraj, MLA Yogesh Bhat, Mayor Rajani Dugganna, Deputy Mayor Rajendra Kumar, P Shivashankar, Ramachandra Kumpala, and MCC Commissioner Dr K N Vijayaprakash were the dignitaries on the dais.