Vice President Dhankhar expresses concern over influencing faith through charity
Mandya (Karnataka), Oct 25: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said that the structured use of charity to influence the faith of the beneficiary has serious consequences in a democracy.
According to him, assistance to the needy, marginalised, and vulnerable should be without any strings attached.
"Charity, assistance, or such handholding needs to be with no strings attached. Our civilisational ethos tells us never speak of charity. Charity is never to be claimed. You do it, and you forget about it," Dhankhar said.
He was addressing students at Adichunchanagiri University in BG Nagara in Mandya.
Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, Jagadguru Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswami and Swami Parmatmananda Saraswati were among those who were present on the occasion.
"Charity putting freedom of faith in captivity is a cause of concern. When you influence the faith of the needy, the marginalised, the vulnerable, things become really very critical," Dhankhar opined.
He added that such actions could have serious consequences on the spirit of nationalism and constitutional values.
The VP hailed Adichunchanagiri Shikshana Trust saying that with 26 Shakha Maths across the world and over 500 educational institutions under it including schools for the blind, deaf, and dumb, this institution’s service to the marginalised is exemplary and it indeed is a befitting response to critics of Sanatana Dharma.
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KSDL invites innovative technology to check sandalwood theft
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has invited farmers, scientists and organisations to come up with innovative technologies to prevent sandalwood theft in the state.
The state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), which manufactures Mysuru Sandal Soap has also planned sandalwood cultivation, state Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil said on Thursday.
"In a bid to promote sandalwood cultivation, the KSDL has planned a major initiative. As part of it, farmers, scientists, and organisations possessing information on advanced equipment or innovative technologies to prevent sandalwood theft have been invited to approach KSDL and share the details," Patil said in a statement.
Those interested in this initiative will be given an opportunity to demonstrate such technologies before the organisation, the minister said, adding if the proposed solutions are found suitable and effective, steps will be taken for consideration and implementation.
Patil stated that the cost involved in deploying technologies aimed at preventing sandalwood theft would be borne by KSDL.
Further, with a view to encouraging sandalwood cultivation, four farmers who have supplied the highest quantity of sandalwood to KSDL will be honoured with awards on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar on June 4, he said.
On the same occasion, police personnel and forest officials who have made notable progress in apprehending sandalwood thieves and registering cases, along with members of the public who have provided credible information leading to such action, will also be recognised and rewarded, the minister added.
Patil observed that farmers cultivating sandalwood trees on their lands have been facing increasing threats due to theft in recent years. Illegal felling and theft of sandalwood trees have continued for decades.
Although stringent laws are in place to curb such activities, the number of cases resulting in convictions remains very low, he noted.
"In this context, it becomes the responsibility of the organisation to extend both legal and technical support to farmers and encourage them to take up sandalwood cultivation on a larger scale," he said.
According to him, over the past three years, KSDL has procured 174.5 metric tonne of sandalwood directly from farmers across the state and transferred Rs 6.08 crore to their respective accounts.
