Karnataka CM assures Rs 50 crore more for Christian welfare
Enlarge this picture Enlarge this picture
A gathering at Diocesan Post- Centenary Silver Jubilee Celebration, at Neharu Ground in Mangalore on Sunday.
(The Hindu)
Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Sunday assured that Rs 50 crore would be offered for the welfare of Christians in the state.
Speaking at the post centenary silver jubilee celebrations of Mangalore Diocese, Gowda said his government will allot Rs 50 crore for the development of schools, church and community halls.
A committee of 13 members headed by the Chief Minister will oversee the grant-making.
According to reports, the state government has allotted Rs 276 crores for the minorities and an additional Rs 50 crores will be given as a special focus.
The grant would be spent on improvement of church buildings, orphanages, charity homes, construction of new houses and skill development and vocational training.
Over 300 priests and 50,000 people joined the 125 years celebration of the Mangalore Diocese on Sunday.
While addressing the crowd, the CM hailed the contribution of the Christian institutions in the field of education, health and social services, and appealed to continue the work for the overall development of the society.
The final day celebrations were attended by Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio in India; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay; and M Veerappa Moily, Union Minister for Corporate Affairs, among others.
The Mangalore Diocese covers the geographical area of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in Karnataka and a part of Kasargod district in Kerala. It is made up of roughly 160 parishes.
As part of its celebrations, the Catholic diocese built 160 houses in each of the parishes that came under its jurisdiction.
The diocese had also undertaken the construction of two hostels for boys aspiring for education in Mangalore.
Addressing the crowd at Nehru Maidan on Sunday, Cardinal Oswald Gracias said the Church was committed to work for the welfare of the poor and upliftment of downtrodden.
Till yesterday, news had it that Katrina Kaif was the leading lady opposite Rajnikanth in the film Kochadaiyaan. But now the latest news is that Deepika Padukone landed the coveted part.
source: http://www.SouthAsiaMail.com / Regional / by Babu Thomas / Sunday, February 19th, 2012