Mangaluru: In an effort to promote self-reliance among people with disabilities, a significant event was organized in Mangaluru on Sunday.

The 32nd annual day celebration, medical aid, and scholarship distribution program was organized by the Dakshina Kannada, Udupi District Differently Abled People's Association, Indian Red Cross Dakshina Kannada Branch and Mangaluru University Youth Red Cross Unit.

Dr. M. Shantarama Shetty, Co-Chancellor of Nitte University and a renowned physician, spoke on the importance of encouraging individuals with disabilities to become self-reliant. He stressed the need for collective efforts from society to provide permanent assistance to enable them to live independently.

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The program, which marked the association's three-decade-long commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities, was inaugurated by CA Shantarama Shetty, Chairman of Indian Red Cross Dakshina Kannada District Unit.

MLA Vedavyasa Kamath, speaking as the chief guest, lauded the association's efforts to integrate disabled individuals into mainstream society, alongside the support extended by organizations like the Red Cross.

Key figures including Dr. Ganapathy Gowda, Principal of Mangalore University College, Dr. KR, Chairman of Wenlock Red Cross Disability Cell, and Dr. Gayathri, Nodal Officer of Mangalore University Youth Red Cross Division, graced the event with their presence.

Dr. V. Muralidhar, President of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi District Differently Abled People's Association, extended a warm welcome to all attendees. General Secretary Jayaprakash provided details of the beneficiaries, and the ceremony concluded with guests assisting disabled individuals in completing the scholarship program. Dinmani Rao anchored the program and Nagesh Shetty proposed the vote of thanks.

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Ahmedabad (PTI): The Ahmedabad police have arrested a 29-year-old man who allegedly posed as a senior revenue official and used fake letters claiming to be from various government departments to cheat people, an official said on Sunday.

Mehul Shah, an engineer who manages two schools at Vankaner in Gujarat’s Morbi district, is accused of making lakhs of rupees with bogus documents and false claims, said inspector (crime branch) JK Makwana.

Shah had forged an appointment letter from the Ahmedabad district education officer (DEO) to offer a computer operator’s job in a government office to a complainant’s son. He also introduced himself as a trustee of a school and did not pay a man Rs 7 lakh due to him over the painting of a school building, the official said.

“Despite holding no official position in the state or central government, he used fake work permits and NOCs to cheat people of lakhs of rupees,” the police official said.

One complainant alleged that Shah identified himself as a top revenue department official and produced a fake letter from the chairman of the “department of science and research development” to make him install a siren and curtain in a hired vehicle but did not pay for the job, he said.

Bogus letters claiming to be from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ahmedabad DEO were used by the accused to cheat the complainants, the police official said.

Police have recovered from his possession fake identity cards and letters with headings like “bharat gaurav ratna shri samman council”, “chairman of department of science and research development”, “health and family welfare department”, and “road and building department”.

“The FIR is based on complaints by three victims. We appeal to the people to come forward and submit their complaints if they have been cheated by Shah in any way,” Makwana said.