Gandhiji gave equal importance to all religions: Somanna

Mysuru: By giving equal opportunity to every religion during prayer sessions, Mahatma Gandhi became a model to the world. “Today’s and next generations should follow his principles in life,” said V Somanna , district incharge minister at Gandhiji’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations here on Wednesday.

The district administration, Mysore City Corporation and department of information and public relations organised the event at Town Hall.

Inaugurating the programme by garlanding Gandhiji’s portrait, he said that priests belonging to various religions participated and read from Gita, Quran, Jain’s and Buddha’s philosophies at prayer meetings held at Gandhiji’s Ashram. He also said that Gandhiji propagated equality and we should all follow that.

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi, under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Mysore City Corporation organised Angikar Andolana to spread awareness about cleanliness, water conservation, environment and health. V Somanna flagged off the programme. Under this scheme, resource people will pay door-to-door visits and spread awareness about the scheme and its mobile application. It will be held until December 10. Shivananda Murthy, assistant officer, MCC, urged people to cooperate with the process.

‘Bapu Papu’ book was released by department of information and public relations on the occasion.

MLA Tanvir Sait, Mayor Pushpalatha Jagannath, DC Abhiram G Shankar and R Raju, assistant director, department of information and public relations were among those present.

Over 800 join human chain

Mysuru: As part of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, the Mysuru railway division along with the postal department, Vani Vilas water works, Akashvani, women’s welfare organisation, the officers and staff formed a one kilometre long human chain on KRS Road from railway hospital to Vani Vilas water works. Nearly 800 people joined hands to create awareness on Swachhta and single use plastic through slogans and display of placards.

The Mysuru division has also taken a novel initiative to transform an unused garbage dumping area between railway sports ground and Vani Vilas Water works into a green space. Plastic waste to the tune of 1,000 kilogrammes have been cleared from this area and 3.2 acre of waste land is being developed into eco-space, named as ‘Gandhi Vana’.

MP Pratap Simha inaugurated the event by garlanding the newly installed bust of Mahatma Gandhi. He also administered swachhta pledge to all participants. He lauded the efforts of the divisional railway manager Aparna Garg for being in the lead for many path-breaking initiatives undertaken recently.

He also praised the dynamic leadership of AK Singh, general manager, South Western Railway for his decisiveness in implementation of various projects and services.

On the occasion, one plastic bottle crushing machine was also installed in platform number 6, sponsored by SBI.

The Mysuru division has also developed four green track-side nurseries at Mysuru station, Mysuru New Goods Terminal, Arsikere & Hassan at a cost of 5 lakh per nursery. Swachata awareness and cleanliness drive was conducted on a massive scale across all stations and trains in Mysuru division.

‘Edu dept failed to introduce Gandhiji to everybody’

Mysuru: The education department has miserably failed in introducing Gandhiji to everyone, said S Tukaram, in a tone of dissatisfaction at Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations on Wednesday organised by Maharani’s Arts College for Women, Nehru Yuva Kendra, National Service Scheme and department of information and public relations. A discussion on education, women empowerment, and administration from Gandhiji’s point of view was also held.

“Gandhiji had said that inequality, gender inequality, caste differences etc. should be completely removed from the society, but we see a lack of that education in the society,” he said.

B Chandrashekhar, NSS officer, University of Mysore, BT Vijay, prinicpal, S Siddaramappa, officer, Nehru Yuva Kendra were present.