Mangaluru : “The time for debates and discussions are over and it is now time to act. We need to take the first step. Will you join me. It is time to dream and see that the same is realised,” exhorted the tenth standard Kripa Rasquinha of St. Gerosa School in her prize winning elocution at Vision 2020, inter-school elocution event held at Lions Seva Mandir in the city on Thursday. The event was organized by Centre for Integrated Learning in association with Lions Club Mangalore and Department of Public Instruction, Dakshina Kannada district to mark the birth anniversary of former president Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.

Sixty Two students from 25 schools from in and around the city echoed the thoughts of Kalam where they eloquently put forward their opinions both in Kannada and English about “Our Role in Realising Kalam’s Vision 2020” which was the topic for the elocution event.

Distributing the prizes of the event, Chief Executive Officer of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, P I Sreevidya reminisced her childhood days as a speaker and her tryst with books that helped her evolve as a good human being. It is not important what profession one chooses but it is very important to become good human beings, she remarked. Terming Kalam as a role model for every Indian, she mentioned that our former president is not great because he was a good scientist, academician or administrator, but was a good human being.

Nonagenarian Joe Gonzalves, who has been recently designated as the Chief Traffic Warden of Mangalore City called on the students to muster courage to grow up as responsible citizens so as to transform the society. He said that students can play a significant role in nation building.

Executive Director of Centre for Integrated Learning, Sachitha Nandagopal welcomed the gathering and Lions Club Mangalore Secretary Monappa Shetty proposed the vote of thanks. Lioness Club President Hema Rao was present on the occasion. Ahima Shetty compeered the valedictory function.

The day long deliberation was inaugurated by Senior Journalist Chidambar Baikampady in presence of Lions Club President Aravind Shenoy, journalist Pushparaj Shetty, Creative Director of Tarjini Creations Bharati Shevgoor and Professor at University College Suhasini Srinivas.

Prize Winners of Vision 2020
Kannada : I – Smrithi Shetty (Sharada Vidyalaya), II – Harsha (St. Ann’s School), III – Karthik (Vidya Jyothi School) ; English : I – Priya Rasquinha (St. Gerosa High School), II – Ashlyn Pinto (St. Agnes School), III – Reesha Shenoy (St. Ann’s)