Mangalore, Aug 21, 2013: Late Devaraj Urs, the former chief minister of Karnataka had played a very instrumental role in helping farmers lead a life of dignity, said DK District in-charge Minister and State Minister for Forest and Ecology B Ramanatha Rai.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 98th birth anniversary celebration of the former chief minister at a function jointly organized by the DK Zilla Panchayat, District Adminstration and the Backward Classes Department on August 20, Tuesday.
Rai said the Land Reforms Act implemented during the tenure of Late Urs helped several farmers be the owners of the land they tilled.
Rithesh Shetty, Vice President of Zilla Panchayat, presided over the function. Prizes were awarded to the students who won the essay contest on the life of Devaraj Urs. Outstanding students belonging to backward classes were also honoured on the occasion. Meritorious students as well as sports talents were honoured. Twenty one engineering students hailing from backward classes and minority communities were provided laptops.
N Prakash, Deputy Commissioner, Tulasi Maddineni, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer and others were present.