Udupi: Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr Veerendra Heggade inaugurated the two-day Karavali Shettigar Conference-2016 organised by AK Padhmashali Mahasabha, Mangaluru at Ammanni Ramanna Shetty Hall on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Veerendra Hegade said that basic facilities should be given first preference by the government. Everything has become commercial and fashion has become faith to the people.

“We are in an era of liberalization, Privatisation, globalization and modernization, but we need to turn from these to humanization. To bridge the gaps between humans we need to promote love and affection towards one another,” he said.

“Expecting everything and every time from the government is waste. We expect the government to make our future better than today. Some times that hope makes us hopeless,” he added.

He further said that some demands should be kept in front of government so the needs of community may get fulfilled. Youth needed to be united and should bring the community to the mainstream.

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje said that society can be developed only by peoples’ contribution. Education is universal it has got no religion and community.

“Public speeches won’t bring development in the society. We need to get down from our posts and should work hard to bring the change,” she said.

During the conference, people urged the government to include ‘Shettigar’ as caste in its caste list and provide all governmental benefits like other castes.

They demanded five acres of government land for constructing Karavali Shettigar Bhavan along Rs 3 crore of government funds.

M Pran Konchady, ICAS, Dayanand D Shettigar, S Srinivas Shettigar, Mangaluru, President of Rajata Mahotsav samiti, B Srinivas Shettigar, Sarojini H Shettigar, leader, Padmashali mahila group, Mumabai, Vittal Shettigar, Katipalla, president, D K zilla padmashali Vidyavardhaka Sangha and others were present.