Rs 9,448 Cr current loan in coop societies to be waived: CM Kumaraswamy
Cabinet takes decision
Bengaluru, August 9: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that the Cabinet has decided to waive off current loan up to Rs 1 lakh availed from cooperative societies till July 10, 2018.
Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting at the Vidhana Soudha here on Thursday, the CM said that out of Rs 10,734 crore loan in cooperative societies, Rs 9,448 crore would be waived off. This decision would help 20.38 lakh farmers who are members in the cooperative societies, he said.
There was no paucity of funds to waive off the farmers loans. But during the renewal of loans, the Finance department would release the amount based on the demand of the Cooperative department to be submitted every month. In the next Cabinet meeting, a decision would be taken to waive off Rs 6,500 crore loan availed from nationalized banks in the second phase, for which necessary process was taking place and discussions with the bankers were going on, he added.
Exuding confidence that instead of four phases, the loan waiver process could be completed by next year, the Chief Minister said that the guidelines being followed to waive off the loans were also discussed in the Cabinet meeting and it was decided to drop the norm that each family would get waiver of loan benefit up to one lakh, he said.
“The government is committed to empower the farmers financially. It is our priority to protect you. Don’t commit suicide and push your families on to the streets”, he said.
Reports were appeared in newspapers on cutting of funds for Shaadi Bhagya and dropping of Matru Poorna scheme. No programmes announced in the Siddaramaiah government in the Budget presented in last February were dropped in the Vote-on-account. Additional programmes were included, he clarified.
Mekedatu project
Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi and appealed him to convene a meeting of the concerned states regarding implementation of Mekedatu project. This project would help Tamil Nadu farmers, for which, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, political leaders and farmers would be taken into confidence to implement the project, he said.
Cooperative Minister Bandeppa Kashempur said that the Cabinet has approved to purchase shoes, socks, tie and belts for the students of schools and colleges run by the State Residential Education Institutions Association at a cost of Rs 10.36 crore. It was also decided to constitute a Cabinet Sub Committee led by Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar on recommending the Cabinet regarding dropping various criminal cases at the time of trials in various courts. The Cabinet also approved the construction of railway upper bridge and connecting road on Holenarasipura-Mavinakere road at a cost of Rs 39.93 crore with the help of the central government, he said. Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh was also present.
Under trials to be released
To mark the Independence Day, the Cabinet has decided to recommend the Governor to release 93 under trials serving their life imprisonment in different jails of the state following their virtuous conduct.
- Bandeppa Kashempur, Cooperative Minister
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Mangaluru Konkani writer H.M. Pernal wins 2025 Sahitya Akademi Award
Mangaluru: Noted Konkani writer and journalist H.M. Pernal (Henry Mendonca) from Mangaluru has been selected for the 2025 Sahitya Akademi Award for his acclaimed literary criticism work Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam (2021).
The Sahitya Akademi Award is one of the highest literary honours given by the Government of India. Every year, the Akademi recognises outstanding literary works in 24 languages, including 22 scheduled languages along with English and Rajasthani.
Konkani has been a scheduled language since 1992 and is spoken in five states — Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The language had received recognition from the Sahitya Akademi in 1975. From 1977 onwards, the Akademi has been presenting awards to notable works in Konkani literature.
From Mangaluru, Cha. Fra. D’Costa (1992) and Melvyn Rodrigues (2011) had earlier received the Sahitya Akademi Award for their poetry collections, while Edwin J.F.D. Souza was honoured with the award in 2016 for his novel. With this recognition, H.M. Pernal becomes the fourth Konkani writer from Karnataka to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award.
His book Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam has created a historic milestone as the first Konkani work in the literary criticism category to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award. Earlier, the book had received the Best Book Award from the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2021 and the Best Book Award from the Goa Konkani Akademi in 2023.
The book carries an extensive foreword written by Jnanpith award-winning Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo and has been published by Kavita Publications of Mangaluru.
Henry Mendonca was born in Pernal in Udupi district. He completed his schooling at Hindu Junior College in Shirva and pursued his degree at MSRS College, before obtaining his postgraduate education in Mumbai. Professionally, he is a commercial accountant.
He began his writing career in Kannada through magazines such as Taranga, Sankramana and Shudra. In the early 1980s, he entered Konkani literature as a cartoonist in the magazine Yuvak. Over the years, he has established himself as a short story writer, poet, critic, editor and publisher.
In 2011, he founded the literary online magazine Kitaal, which has been publishing continuously for the past fourteen years and has become a prominent platform for both senior and emerging writers in the digital Konkani literary space.
In 2013, he started the literary magazine Arso as a fortnightly publication. It is now being published as a monthly magazine in its twelfth year under the editorship of poet Wilson Katil. The annual special issues of Arso have gained special recognition in literary circles.
Through his own publishing house Kitaal Prakashan, Pernal has published more than 15 original literary works.
So far, he has published four poetry collections — Chalyank Chatray (1999), Kaydyacho Kavita (2004), Bhamunanchem Chedum (2006) and Janel (2025). He has also published two short story collections — Devak Sodullo Pado (2002) and Beeg Ani Bigat (2016), along with the award-winning literary criticism work Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam (2021).
His short story collection Beeg Ani Bigat received the Shrimati Vimala V. Pai Best Literary Work Award in 2017, presented by the Vishwa Konkani Kendra in memory of the mother of noted entrepreneur T.V. Mohandas Pai. For his contribution to Konkani poetry, he received the Mathayas Family Endowment Poetry Award from Kavita Trust in 2018.
He was also honoured with the Best Book Award by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2021 for Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam, the Konkani Sahitya Gaurav Award by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2022, the Dakshina Kannada District Rajyotsava Award in 2023 for his contributions to Konkani literature and journalism, and the Best Book Award from the Goa Konkani Akademi in 2023 for the same book.
Pernal has written more than 850 poems, over 100 short stories and more than 2,000 articles. Through print and digital media, he has consistently contributed to the growth of Konkani literature.
Since 2012, he has been identifying and encouraging emerging writers by presenting the Kitaal Yuva Puraskar every year. The award is sponsored by the family of Abu Dhabi-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Leo Rodrigues and includes a citation and a cash prize of Rs 25,000.
At present, Pernal is the chief editor of the Vision Konkani Book Grant Project initiated by Michael D’Souza. Under this scheme, Konkani writers are provided financial assistance of up to Rs 40,000 for the publication of a book.
The project, with a total budget of Rs 40 lakh, is fully sponsored by NRI entrepreneur and Konkani language patron Michael D’Souza. It is being implemented under the supervision of the Vishwa Konkani Kendra and aims to support the publication of 100 books over a five-year period.
A committed leader in the Konkani literary community, Pernal served as the working president of the All India Silver Jubilee Konkani Literary Conference held in Mangaluru in 2023. He is currently serving as the treasurer of the All India Konkani Parishad.
He has also served as the president of the Konkani Writers’ Union and is presently a member of the Konkani Language Advisory Board of the Sahitya Akademi.
