Harekala Hajabba arrives in Mangaluru to grand welcome by locals at airport
Mangaluru: Padma Shri recipient Harekala Hajabba arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport on Tuesday morning. A massive crowd was reportedly seen pushing and pulling outside the airport in a bid to welcome the Padma Shri awardee.
‘Akshara Santa’ Harekala Hajabba received the fourth most prominent civilian Padma Shri award presented by the Central Government on Monday. He was seen accepting the award in his usual simple attire during the award ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Harekala Hajabba was recognized by the Central government and nominated for the Padma Shri award on January 25, 2020, for his contribution towards educating 100’s of poor children using the money that he earned selling oranges. The date for the award ceremony was also reportedly announced during the month of March of the same year. However, due to the onset of COVID-19, the ceremony was postponed to a later date.
After his arrival to the city he was warmly received and honoured at the District Commissioner’s office by the D.C Dr. Rajendra K.V, and other officials of the D.K. district administration.
Several officials were present during the occasion.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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