Dubai/Mumbai: The only NGO which has been working for the development of coastal districts of Karnataka for more than two decades, a dream of its founder Tonse Jayakrishna A. Shetty, ” Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti” has already formed committee in the districts and now with the NRIs belongs to the coastal districts residing in UAE, a seminar has been held jointly with Karnataka Sangh Dubai, on August 7 at the Banquet Hall of Fortune Atrium Hotel, Dubai.

In the meeting which was held in the presence of Former President of the Samiti Dharmapal Devadiga, District President of the Samiti D.R. Raju, Karnataka Sangh Dubai President Sashidhar Nagarajappa, General Secretary of the Sangha Mallikarjuna Gowda, Karnataka NRI Forum UAE President Praveen Kumar Shetty, under the guidance of founder of Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti, Tonse Jayakrishna A. Shetty, Samiti President L.V. Amin, and with the best wishes of Samiti General Secretary Mundkur Surendra Salian, Treasurer Tulsidas Amin and all other office bearers of the samiti and the district committee well-known social worker, MD of Masaco Shipping Dr. David Frank Fernandes was unanimously chosen as the first international vice-president of Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti.

Dharmapal Devadiga and D.R. Raju was felicitated by Karnataka Sangh Dubai in the presence of dignitaries of various organizations and businessmen.

Dharmapal Devadiga, the former president of the Samiti, thanked the Dubai Karnataka Sangh for honoring him and making Dr. David Frank Fernandes as international vice president of the Samiti. Explaining about the samiti formed in the year 2000, under the leadership of Tonse Jayakrishna A. Shetty, he said 29 different community associations were brought together to form the samiti. The name of this samiti was given by the then Swamiji of Udupi Pejawara Mutt. He clarified that the name of the founder has nothing to do with the name of the organization. He spoke about initial struggle of Kudremukh, about the contribution of Senior leader George Fernandes to the samiti, about the development of the coast including the Nagarjuna Power Project, creation of jobs along with the establishment of pollution free industries on the coast, he has informed with examples about the various projects undertaken and implemented by the samiti. On the occasion, he recalled that the Jayasreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti had played a major role in night landing at Mangalore Airport and in converting Mangalore Airport into an International Airport.

He said that the samiti which started in Mumbai has expanded to Karnataka Coastal Districts and now because of the support they received from various organisations and community leaders for their continuous strive to protect the environment; have planned to take the it to international level and thus Dr. Devid Frank Fernandes has been chosen. Now the International committee headed by Frank will further arrange a meet after deciding on the Team whereby the Team of India will join the next meeting in Dubai for the final formation of the International committee.

D.R. Raju also spoke on the occasion and thanked Karnataka Sangha Dubai, Praveen Shetty, Frank Fernandes and all those who have supported in their effort in forming an international program of the samiti in Dubai. He added that there were too many obstacles Samiti had to face in various occasions fighting for the environmental issues in maintaining the oppose against the environmental maintenance. Maintaining the coastal areas from landslide and also the highways from landslides are some of the important agenda wherein the Samiti work with the state government to protect the areas and the people of coastal Karnataka thus protecting the environmental. He also said the opening of the International Samiti will enhance and strengthen their agenda towards current activitie

Praveen Shetty of NRI Forum welcomed the efforts of the samiti in setting up an international committee. We need to take up this in our country where the concerned government is not bothered to support NRIs who are willing to develop their state or region. A lot of problems have to be faced when we want to make hotels a tourism center in our coastal Karnataka. Although nature is supporting the project, our government is not bothering.

Dr. David Frank Fernandes spoke about the program and thanked all those who selected him as the International Vice President of the samiti. He thanked the Managing Committee of Karnataka Sangh Dubai and all those who participated in the meeting. He said that in these 23 years, the roots of Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti have gone firmly in the ground and no storm can uproot it. Together with the support of local members, local community organizations and international organizations we can fight positively. He stressed that once international organizations are involved, there will be opportunities for local people to get employment opportunities.

Speaking on behalf of the audience, Industrialist and social worker Harish Sherigar said that the samiti is doing a wonderful job and we are ready to support whatever the Samiti needs from NRIs.

Shashidhar Nagarajappa, president of Karnataka Sangh Dubai, said that many people came to this program and discussed the environmental issues raised by the Samiti. Karnataka Sangha Dubai will always will be joining hands with the Samiti in these Karnataka related programs anytime in the future and all those related issues in the near future. Vice president of Karnataka Sangha Dubai Daya Kirodian welcomed, Nagaraj Rao, Treasurer of Karnataka Sangha Dubai concluded the event with the vote of thanks.