Mangalore : B. Ramanath Rai, Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Inaugurated the Valmiki Jayanti celebrations organised by DK Zilla Panchayath here on Wednesday Oct 08 .

After inaugurating the programme Rai said the celebrations should serve as a reminder to the responsibility of society towards the marginalised Valmiki community and other Scheduled Tribes such as Malekudiyas, Kurubi and Koragas in the district. He too stressed on the importance of education. He rued that though people quoted Ramayana, there was little discussion on the writer and his community.

A portrait of Valmiki was unveiled by K. Abhayachandra Jain, Minister of State for Youth Empowerment and Sports.

Mangalore south MLA JR Lobo, Zilla Panchayath Vice President Satish Kumpala, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim were present on the occasion.

Udupi

Vinay Kumar Sorake, Urban Development Minister, said on Wednesday that the State government had allocated more than Rs. 4,000 crore for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Valmiki Jayanti celebrations organised by the district administration in Udupi.

Mr. Sorake said the members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should give importance to education, which was an antidote against poverty and other social ills.

He said the government had decided to start 100 Morarji Desai Residential Schools in the State this year. An amount of Rs. 75 crore had been allocated to the Vidyasiri Scheme, under which each post-metric student beneficiary would get Rs. 1,500 per month for an academic year to pay lodging charges.

Valmiki was the first poet of the country, who wrote the epic poem Ramayana. “It is essential for people to follow the ideals of Valmiki. His ideals are relevant for all times,” the Minister said.

Mr. Sorake later felicitated Sabita Gundmi, the first Ph.D. from the Valmiki community, and Sneha, the first MBBS degree holder from the community. He also felicitated Mungoli Koraga for attaining self sufficiency through jasmine cultivation.