JOIN US“Do not take education for granted. Education helps a person to develop, in turn the community progresses,” said World Konkani Centre (WKC) President Basti Vaman Shenoy.
He was speaking after inaugurating a workshop for Kudubi representatives to discuss the growth of Kudubis in social, educational and cultural sectors at World Konkani Centre (WKC) in Mangalore on Saturday.
“We are all Konkanis. However, there are some communities which have progressed and some are struggling. WKC, tries to fill this gap, as it's main intention is to ensure that all the Konkani communities are developed,” he said.
He also informed that WKC is providing scholarships to Kudubi and Kharvi students. “We may speak different Konkani dialects and may have several diversities due to religion and caste. However, we should not drift away due to these differences. Konkani language unites us and we should be identified as Konkani people,” he said.
World Institute of Konkani Languages Assistant Director Gurudath Bantwalkar said that only 10 per cent of students from the Kudubi communities had applied for scholarships. Scholarships have been distributed to 162 students. Students studying in PUC received Rs 2,500 and degree received Rs 5,000, he said.
Kudubi Samaja Association Vice- President K S Gowda said that Kudubis are hard working people. However, they lack knowledge. Superstitions, illiteracy, alcohol are reasons for the community to lag behind, he said. Kudubi Samaja Education Committee President Bella Naik said that many stop their education after completing SSLC. Many work as daily wage labourers.
Kudubi community members should make use of scholarships and pursue higher studies, he said. The State Kudubi Samaja President Ramagowda presided over the programme.
The workshop was jointly organised by Karnataka Rajya Kudubi Samaja Sangha, Kudubi Kudukattugala Ookutta, DK District Kudubi Samaja Seva Sangha (Kompadavu), Kudubi Samajodhkara Sangha (Udupi District).
The workshop will also focus on preparing a developmental roadmap for the community for the next five years.