Karnataka Balbhavan Society President Sulochana G K Bhat said that, for the first time the State government has released Rs 55,000 for each taluk to build Balbhavan and government also has a plan to introduce animation courses on every weekends in every Balbhavan from June.
She was speaking during the inauguration of newly built extension and a sit out of Kadri Balbhavan in Mangalore, at a programme jointly organised by State Balbhavan Society and District Balbhavan Committee, Women and Children’s Welfare Ministry and Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat on Sunday. Stating that the government will have a tie up with Reliance for animation course, she said that Balbhavan is an ambitious programme after Srujanotsava. “We are renovating the Balbhavan in Udupi district and spending as many as Rs 15 lakhs in the district for the purpose.”
In Bangalore, the Balbhavan Society has bought about 35 acres of land. The Government is planning to build Balabhavans in four districts- Koppala, Yadagiri, Kolara and Hasan this time, which do not have the facility as of now, she said.
Giving details on the summer camps, she said that this time the summer holiday camps were held in almost every district of the State. “In Mangalore alone, camps were held in three places. For Kadri Balbhavan, the Forest Department had provided Rs 45,000 and Mangalore City Corporation will provide interlock system,” she said and added that the Society wants to develop Kadri Balabhavan as a full-fledged place for the activities of children. “We will work on it with the cooperation of Horticulture Department,” she added.
In her inaugural speech, ZP President K T Shailaja Bhat called upon the parents to motivate children to participate in extra- curricular activities.
State Assembly Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat presided over the valedictory of summer camp and felicitated children who won ‘Kalashri’ State- level award and those who got selected for state- level competitions.
Women and Children’s Welfare Department Deputy Director Shakuntala A, Range Forest Officer (RFO) Clifford D’Souza, Deputy Director of Public Instructions (DDPI) Moses Jayashekhar were present.
The 8 awardees
Eight children from Dakshina Kannada won ‘Kalashri’ award this time. They were Jnana Ithal of Urva Canara Higher Primary School, Mangalore and Megha Kudpaje of St Joseph Higher Primary School for performance art; Shubham Vernekar of St Aloysius High School and Homi Bare of Kalladka Shrirama School, Bantwal for creative art; Shrivatsa C S of Vittal Pre-University College and Deekshita K of Ramakrishna High School for creative writing; Rachana of Bajpe Holy Family High School and Bhashyalaxmi P of VJEM for new innovation in science.