All local bodies in the district have decided to jointly contribute at least Rs. 80 lakh for organising the three-day 79th Akhil Bharat Kannada Sahitya Sammelan in Bijapur from February 9.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened by the Minister for APMC and district in-charge S.K. Bellubbi here on Friday.
Mr. Bellubbi said that it is the responsibility of all elected bodies to contribute maximum funds for the sammelan that is being organised in the district after nine decades.
“We all must feel proud and delighted that the sammelan is being held in Bijapur. To make the event a memorable one, we must contribute more funds”, he said.
In response to the Minister’s appeal, each gram panchayat will contribute Rs. 20,000, each taluk panchayat will contribute Rs. 1 lakh and zilla panchayat will contribute Rs. 5 lakh while each of the members will contribute Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh for organising the sahitya sammelan.
“We will take a final call after holding consultations with all the members,” said zilla panchayat president Kavya Desai.
When Mr. Bellubbi questioned about the contribution that the City Municipal Council plans to make, its president Parashuram Rajput said that the CMC has promised to pay Rs. 5 lakh, and added that he would urge all members to contribute for the sammelan in their personal capacity also. Mr. Bellubbi urged the taluk panchayat members to pay at least Rs. 5,000 in their personal capacity, and the members agreed to it.
Later, expressing gratitude to all the members of the local bodies, the Minister stated that the cooperation of the people and the elected representatives was a must for the success of the event.
He appealed to all the people to participate in the three-day event and make it a success. MLAs Appu Pattanshetty and Vithal Katakadonda, district Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Mallikarjun Yendigeri, Deputy Commissioner Shivayogi Kalasad and ZP CEO Gutti Jambunath were present.
