District In-charge and Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad underscored the necessity to bring the underprivileged into the mainstream society.
Speaking after inaugurating a five-day training programme on street plays, organised by the theatre repertory Rangayana and Department of Public Relations and Information, Prasad opined that the state would progress only when the poor and deprived classes are part of the development and the onus was on the government to bring them into the mainstream.
The minister said that the governments spend crores of rupees and implement various schemes to ensure social security. But, many a time, the eligible are unaware of the government benefits. He advised the people belonging to the lower strata of the society to be alert and utilise the programmes introduced for their welfare.
“Street plays are helpful in attracting rural and deprived classes and is an effective communication tool, which can be used to highlight various issues, be it crime or development activities,” the minister added.
With an intention to make Karnataka a ‘poverty-free’ state, Congress-led government in the state introduced ‘Anna Bhagya’ and other prominent schemes.
‘Ksheera Bhagya’, free milk to students, is a boon for both schoolchildren and farmers, Prasad said and asked Department of Public Relations and Information authorities to educate people more on the various schemes.
Speaking on the occasion, Rangayana Director H Janardhan said that plays are a powerful medium to create awareness and instil confidence. The training programme being held is to create awareness about various government schemes and not to popularise them, he clarified.
Earlier in the day, a group of artistes rendered a song on the popular ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme, composed by Manjunath Balakere, who is also the director of the training programme.
Department of Public Relations and Information Director N R Vishu Kumar, Rangayana Deputy Director Nirmala Mathapathi and others were present.
Published 12 June 2016, 18:06 IST