Kesarugadde Grameenaa Kreedotsava at Surathkal

Media source
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 10 August 2010: ‘Kesarugadde Grameenaa Kreedotsava’, a rural sports event, was held at Pragathi Nagar, Suratkal, on Sunday, August 8. JC Sridhar Shetty, President, JCI Surathkal, inaugurated the event.

 

Speaking on the occasion Krishna J Palemar, District in-charge Minister, said that farmers are the backbone of the environment. Nature worship was the key in protecting nature, he opined. Stressing on the significance of rural games, he said that they are symbols of harmony. If villages posses good environment, our country will be strong and green. 3 lakhs saplings will be planted in the districts, he said.

 

Palemar distributed power tillers to farmers and coconut on the occasion as well. A Padmayya Naik, Joint Director, Dept of Agriculture, Mangalore, said that encouragement of rural games is an appreciable step towards saving culture and agriculture. But it shouldn’t be conducted as a mere celebration.

 

 

“We have sold most of our lands. It’s true that we get good money but if this goes on, there will be shortage of food soon”, he warned. He also said that agricultural skills need to be taught to the younger generation along with their formal education.

 

About 3,000 to 4,000 people were reported to be participating in various games such as treasure hunt, beedi rolling, packing rice (Mudi Kattuvudu), weaving the coconut leaf, tug of war, kesarugadde Ota (sprint in slush), ‘paddana’, planting rice saplings, blindfolded pot breaking, and the like.

 

Nearly 2 lakh rupees have been spent on the entire programme and nearly 40 sponsors have supported this venture financially. Rajani Dugganna Mayor MCC, Uday Kumar Shetty, General Manager, Shashi Exports, Bangalore, Lekshmi Kumaran, DGM MRPL ONGC, Damodhar Shetty, President, SVSS Bank, Surathkal, and many prominent personalities were present.