Mangalore : Zilla Panchayat in association with district administration and the SC/ST Welfare Department celebrated the 97th birth anniversary of former chief minister late D. Devaraj Urs at Nethravathi Hall on August 20, Monday.

ZP president K. T. Shailaja Bhat inaugurated the event and paid a floral tribute to the portrait of late D. Devaraj Urs. She also said that during the power of Urs, land reform and equalized land distribution were given the top priority.

She also said that Urs had played a significant role in launching land re-distribution programs in the country, which made the Vokkaligas and Lingayaths, weak who were dominating as land owners in Karnataka.

Shailaja Bhat also said that Ur had also made a huge contribution to the society such as shelter construction for migrant workers, forgiveness of rural debts, and schemes to have light bulbs in all houses and others.

The dignitaries on the dais also distributed the prizes to the winners of an essay competition held on the topic ‘Life of Devaraj Urs’ for students of all age groups.

MLA U. T. Khader, Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat, ZP CEO Dr. Vijayaprakash, Janardhan Gowda, Chennappa Kotian, , ADC Dayananda, and others were present.