State Public Education Department in association with Union and District Committee of Seva Dal organised a State Level ‘Bharath Seva Dal National Integration Children’s Conference-2008’ at Mahatma Gandhi District Stadium here on Tuesday.

Delivering the inaugural address, veteran Gandhian S V Manjunath said “untouchability should be eradicated and religious intolerance which is detrimental for the national integration should be plucked from the root to establish communal harmony”.

Regretting over the practice of untouchability which still prevails in many parts of the country, he said that India is the only land in the world which tolerates the practice of untouchability.

Stressing on the need for the eradication of poverty in the country he said that poverty is one danger which neither supports development nor assures equality.  Speaking on the occasion, former speaker V R Sudarshan said that communal harmony should be maintained for the unification and development of the country.

Stating that Gandhian principles are relevant even in this globalisation era, he said that Gandhi and his ideologies can be a boon for national integration and added that reciprocal relationship among humans are possible only when there is no religious space or barriers.

He also said there is a need to establish Seva Dal committees in all the states of the country to propagate Gandhian ideologies among children who make future hopes of India.

Former Minister V S Acharya released the book ‘INA Rama Rao’ written by Belur Krishnamurthy while ‘Bharath Seva Dal-Yoga Shiksha’ written by former MLA U R Sabhapathy was released by Former MP Vinaya Kumar Sorake.

Vice-President of State Seva Dal Dr Shivasharanappa Vali and renowned Columnist and Director of Aarambha Suresh Moon were felicitated on the occasion. 

President of Zilla Panchayath Raju Poojary, Organising Secretary of Bharath Seva Dal Women Wing Uma Shankar and Treasurers of Bharath State Seva Dal Woode P Krishna among others were present on the occasion.