State govt committed to fulfilling demands of Marathi community: Min

Mangaluru: State govt is committed to fulfilling the demands of Marathi community, said social welfare minister HC Mahadevappa. The minister said the legitimate demands of the coastal Marathi community will be reviewed within the framework of the Constitution and law, and efforts will be made to bring them to the attention of chief minister Siddaramaiah, Mahadevappa said this while inaugurating ‘Gaddige', a convention of the Marathi community, held at the Alva's College auditorium in Moodbidri on Sunday.
He said the elected representatives must work beyond politics to fulfil the aspirations of the Constitution."Economic stability is possible through education. The govt's guarantee schemes, without political motives, are a boon for the economically backward," he said.
Mulki-Moodbidri MLA Umanath Kotian said the convention has created a new history and efforts will be made at govt level to fulfil the community's legitimate demands. Dr M Mohan Alva, president of Alva's Education Foundation, speaking at the release of the ‘Gaddige' commemorative issue, said Marathis who migrated from Maharashtra constitute about 6.9% in Karnataka.
H Rajesh Prasad, principal secretary of Jammu and Kashmir and president of the convention, presided over the event. He said even after seven decades of Independence, the Marathi community remains backward and emphasised the need to focus more on education to achieve higher positions.
Former minister K Abhayachandra Jain and businessman Shashidhar Shetty Baroda were the chief guests. Padma Shri awardee Amai Mahalinga Naik was honoured. Ramachandra Kembare, chairman of the convention, read the appeal. Dr K Sundar Naik, honorary president of the convention, welcomed the gathering.
Later, Dr M Mohan Alva spoke on education and youth, lawyer NS Manjunath on Marathi customs, thoughts, and culture, physical education teacher Rathi Prabhakar Naik on preserving and promoting the Marathi language, and lawyer Praveen Kumar on the problems and challenges of the Marathis.