A hostel was dedicated for public use, seminars were held and programmes organised to distribute title deeds for the families living below poverty line (BPL) in the district on Sunday to mark the birth anniversary of the former Chief Minister late Devaraj Urs.
Addressing the programme organised by the district administration at Kuvempu Rangamandir in the city, Kagodu Thimmappa, Minister for Revenue, said that the late Chief Minister displayed exemplary commitment to implement land reforms and to provide land ownership rights for the families from poor and marginalised sections of the society.
The title deeds were conferred on the occasion under section 94 CC of Karnataka Land Revenue Act for 20 BPL families in Shivamogga city over the land belonging to Department of Revenue on which they had constructed houses.
The portrait of Urs was taken out in a procession in main streets of the city to mark the occasion. Veeragase and dollu kunitha folk art troupes performed along the procession.
Later in the day, Mr. Thimmappa inaugurated Devaraj Urs Post-metric Hostel for Girls constructed by Department of Social Welfare at the cost of ₹5 crore near M.R.S. Circle in the city to mark the birth anniversary programme. The hostel has the capacity to accommodate 300 students.
A seminar titled ‘Urs Habba’ to commemorate the contributions of Urs was held under the aegis of Malenadu Abhivrudhi Pratishthana at L.B. and S.B.S. College in Sagar city. A seminar was also held at the office of Shivamogga District Congress Committee to mark the birth anniversary.