Billavas Hold Mega District Convention in Brahmavar
Udupi: A district-level mega convention of the Billavas was organized on Sunday, February 3 at the Gandhi Maidan in Brahmavar.
The programme began with an invocation by Suresh Karkada, B N Shanker Poojary president of Vishwanatha Temple Katapadi and also president of the Billava Convention welcomed the gathering. Dr Jayamla Minister for women and child welfare department and district minister in-charge inaugurated the convention by lighting the lamp.
Sri Brahmananda Saraswati Swamiji of Lord Rama Temple in Kanyadi, Sri Vikyathanada Swamiji of Hosmar Math in their benediction, urged the Billavas to adhere to the principles preached by Brahmasri Narayana Guru. “Draw inspiration from the guidance he provided to us. Let the Billavas develop a balanced approach and unite. Then alone they will be able to effectively tackle the problems the community might encounter in their path towards total development.” “Come together, discuss all the issues with an open heart. Then alone will you be able to achieve inclusive growth of the Billavas,” they said.
In her inaugural address minister Jayamala said that Sri Narayana Guru was a social worker and saint from Kerala. He was born in the Billava community, he helped uplift the community and other backward communities with his preachings. Sri Narayana Guru had called to continue the unending fight against ignorance prevailing in the society.
Community leaders should help people to get government schemes. The state government has introduced various pro-people schemes in last 7 months. Women can start various vocations under the self-employment schemes since there are many institutions providing finance to them. Women need to play a greater role in the families as well in the wake of gradual disappearance of the joint family system. The State government wants women to be self-reliant. The ‘Udyogini’ scheme of the government intends to make women self-employed. The government has also introduced many other schemes like the Kiru Sala, Samraddhi yojana and many more. The community leaders should help the people to avail such schemes, she said.
Dr Jayamala, a Billava herself, called on the members of the community to emerge as a force to reckon with, in all spheres — educationally, politically and socially. She also called on them to work harmoniously with other communities and castes to achieve egalitarianism.
Billava community leaders handed over a memorandum to the chief minister through the District minister in-charge Dr Jayamala. The demands included, Billava community to be consider as category 1 and the government should form Sri Naryana Guru Corporation or board which will help the community members to avail government schemes easily.
Billava leaders B K Hariprasad, Rajya Sabha Memeber; Dr Jayamala, District minister in-charge; Kota Srinivas Poojary, opposition leader in council were felicitated on the occasion.
A number of leaders including V Sunil Kumar MLA Karkala, Umanath Kotian MLA Moodbidri, Vinay Kumar Sorake former minister, Gopal Poojary former MLA Byndoor, Madhu Bangarappa former MLA Soraba, Jaya C Suvarna president Billava Maha Mandala Mumbai, Shobha Karandlaje, MP Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, Ragupathi Bhat MLA Udupi, Lalaji R Mendon MLA Kaup, Sukumar Shetty MLA Byndoor, other billava leaders like Achutha Ameen, Praveen M Poojary, Naveenchandra Suvarna, Suresh Poojary, N T Poojary, Sathyajith Surthkal, Vishwanath Sanil, Harikrishna Bantwal and others were present.
