The worth of a community is measured not in terms of its numbers but its contribution to society, said Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda.
He was speaking at Kudal Deshasta Adya Gowda Brahmana Samavesha 2012, an event organised by members of the Adya Gowda community, here on Sunday.
He said that the members of the community might consider themselves small in number. However, what counted in measuring the worth of a community was the thoughts propagated by it, how well it was organised and its contribution to society. The “tiny community” (of Adya Gowdas) had produced individuals whose contribution in various fields was evident. He said that Medha Patkar belonged to the community as also the former Lok Sabha member Eknath Nayak and Air Marshal A.V. Nayak.
Praveen Nayak, Vice-President, Kudal Deshasta Adya Gowda Brahmana Sangh, said that the community should be included in the list of castes in Karnataka. Without the inclusion, members found it difficult to identify themselves. Students from the community study in the general category with difficulty and were able to do only diploma courses.
Mr. Gowda said that representatives of the community could visit Bangalore, where he would direct officials concerned to consider the community's issues.
He said that India was a country of various of communities, castes, languages, and ways of living. All these identities flourished in the country. However, the identity of a community should not become a challenge to its development. He said he hoped the community's youth would be confident and independent.
Every community, including those that were small in number, should be able to grow. Therefore, the State had earmarked an amount of Rs. 1,000 crore in the budget for the development of SCs and STs.
