Set up directorate of Christian community to bring CDC under its purview, says Karnataka MLC

The MLC thanked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for announcing the budgetary allocation for the Christian Development Corporation and also for appointing post holders.

Mangaluru: Karnataka MLC Ivan D’Souza on Satuday urged the state government to set up a separate directorate for the Christian community to bring the Christian Development Corporation (CDC) under its purview for better utilisation of funds meant for the Corporation.

He said that at present, the CDC comes under the Directorate of Minorities. If a separate directorate is set up for the Christian community, then the decision can to subsume to the CDC under it can be taken fast. The state government has appointed Dr S Japhet, retired Vice Chancellor of Bengaluru City University as the President, and Vinish Nero and Sanjiv Kumar Jagirdar as the Vice Presidents of the CDC in its order on March 7, he told mediapersons on Saturday.

The state budget has earmarked Rs 250 crore for the Christian Development Corporation. Henceforth, the scholarships, loans for self employment and other welfare programmes that were implemented through Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation will be implemented through the CDC for the Christian community beneficiaries, he said.

The MLC thanked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for announcing the budgetary allocation for the CDC and also appointing post holders.

“The BJP government in the past had earmarked Rs 50 crore annually for the Christian Development Committee. The outlay of Rs 250 crore will also be used for the renovation of churches, graveyards as well,” he added.

Upgradation of Wenlock Hospital

The MLC said that Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao has announced in the Legislative Council to upgrade Government Wenlock Hospital to a regional hospital.

“When I brought the attention of the government to the need for upgrading Wenlock Hospital as patients from 15 districts including neighbouring Kasargod from Kerala are dependent on the hospital, the Minister promised to upgrade it. Further, the CM has announced Rs 650 crore for development of 10 hospitals including Wenlock Hospital. I am hopeful that Wenlock Hospital will get a minimum of Rs 250 crore as all other hospitals announced except Davangere are taluk hospitals. A superspeciality cancer wing should also be developed at the Wenlock Hospital, to cater to the needs of the poor patients,” said D’souza.

Condemns assault

Condemning the assault on Congress worker after the stage programme at Brahmakalashotsava at Shri Krishna Bhajana Mandira at Padavu Shaktinagara on March 2, the MLC said that MLA D Vedavyasa Kamath has been insulting and disrespecting Congress workers repeatedly. The MLA had provoked his associates to assault Congress worker, who in turn had questioned the MLA over his remark.

“In the floor of the Legislative Assembly, the MLA had claimed that he had not assaulted Congress workers. The complainant too had claimed that the MLA had provoked his associates. The MLA should stop telling lies. We all have respect for MLA. He is an MLA for all of us and not for BJP workers alone.”