Udupi : N. Santosh Hegde, former Lokayukta, said on Sunday that well-off Bunt community members should help their economically weaker counterparts.

He was speaking at the inaugural function of the one-day ‘Vishwa Buntara Sammilana – 2018’ organised by the Federation of World Bunts’ Associations and Association of Udupi District Bunts Sanghas here.

Mr. Hegde said the Land Reforms Act in the 1970s had posed a challenge to the Bunt community. But the members had faced it and come up by hard work. The bank started by the late Mulki Sunder Ram Shetty had also provided loans to the Bunts to start up enterprises.

The erstwhile Dakshina Kannada district had given three judges to the Supreme Court, all from the Bunt community. The community had also produced many political leaders. It was essential that the community maintained its unity, he said.

Guru Devananda Swami of Odiyoor Mutt, said that as long as people spoke in their mother tongue, they could save their culture. The Bunt community followed a matrilineal system, he said.

Santosh Guruji of Barkur Samsthan, said ‘Bhootaradhane’ and ‘Nagaradhane’ should be done in a traditional manner. Ostentation during the performances of these rituals should be avoided. The younger generation should be told about spirituality, culture and tradition, he added.

B. Jagannath Shetty, Vittal Hegde, B. Appanna Hegde, Narayan Shetty, Dasanna Alva, Prabhakar K. Shetty, Maina Subbanna Shetty, Sarvotham Shetty, Kaup Vishwanath Shetty, A. Sadanandaha Shetty, Yerya Laxminarayan Alva, members of the community, were felicitated. Aikala Harish Shetty, chairman, Federation of World Bunts’ Associations, presided over the inaugural function. Ajith Kumar Rai Maladi, president of Buntara Yane Nadavara Mathr Sangha, was the chief guest.