CAUVERY SWALLOWS THREE CHILDREN;

Madikeri April 28, 2006

In a bizarre incident three children got drowned in Cauvery as they ventured into the river near Siddapur.

Farook 16, Saju 13 and Fiaz 13 met with a watery grave yesterday evening in the river at Valnur Tyagathur near Siddapur. The three victims went for a swim with two others. The two others survived as the three breathed their last in the ten feet deep Cauvery.

The children were returning from a Madrasa and walked to the river, 2 kms away from their house. The villagers rushed to the spot and removed the bodies using boats and swimmers. Among the three dead, Yusuf and Saju are brothers.

DALITHS MARCH IN PROTEST;

Members of the Dalitha sangarsha Samity took out a protest march in the town yesterday.

State convenor Guruprasad karagodu addressed the crowd which assembled at Fort premises and demanded partnership in the field of finance. He alleged that the government is ignoring the interest of the Daliths in implementing programmes beneficial to them. He also demanded to increase housing assistance of rupoees 25 thousand to rupees sixty thousand.

District convenor Govindappa and others were present.

JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES SILVER JUBILEE;

The district journalists association today celebrated silver jubilee and honored past presidents.

Addressing the function, forest minister Chennigappa , who represented the chief minister, who was supposed to inaugurate the meeting stated that the burning forest land issue, bad roads and other major problems would be solved in phases. Replying to the demands by the earlier speakers to set right the forestland problem being dealt with old British law, minister assured to hold a high level meeting to resolve the issue. He agreed that the officials have misguided the government about the rules.

He also replied to a demand and said that he will strive to provide journalists the facilities like housing being enjoyed by journalists in cities.

Inaugurating the function, district in charge minister Ramachandra Gowda appreciated the efforts of the Journalists association in Kodagu and said that journalism in the country has proved that it is no lesser to any other countries. Quoting that Pen is mightier than the sword, he said that the other three pillars of the nation are maintaining their balance due to the fear of Press. Appreciating that the journalism has survived the powerful entry of televisions, the minister advised that the competition within the media should be healthy and not cutthroat.

President of the state working journalists association, Venktesh called upon the government to reserve a seat for a journalist in the Legislative Assembly. Tackling the cutthroat competition given to small and medium newspapers by the state and national newspapers, he appealed to the government to reserve advertisements for them to survive.

Zilla parishath President Ashok, MLC Arun Machaiah, MLAs K.G.Bopaiah, B.A.Jeevijaya and H.D.Basavaraju, G.Rajendra, H.M.Annappa, T.P.Ramesh and others spoke on the occasion. People’s representatives explained the hurdles being faced by Kodagu in developmental aspects.

Past presidents of the Association, U.M.Poovaiah, G.Rajendra, B.G.Anantha Shayana, T.P.Ramesh and mrs.Madure Shetty were honored in the function.

K.K.Shashidar presided over the meeting. G.Chidvilas compered. Kuttappa welcomed the gathering and Sridhara Hoovalli proposed the vote of thanks.