Journalists do go on village stay to solve society’s problems

Focus Canara:

Mangaluru, Jan 30, 2021: It is common for the elected representatives and officials to go on ‘Grama Vastavya.’ But in Dakshina Kannada district, the Journalists are religiously holding such a program for the last three years.

Many feel Journalists just hold mikes and ask questions without having any knowledge about the real situation. Journalists have to cover various events on a single day and due to time constraints cannot visit the remote villages.

But Dakshina Kannada Working Journalist Union (DKWJU) president Srinivas Nayak Indaje along with his office bearers came out with the unique idea of ‘Grama Vastavya.’

Grama Vastavya was an initiative where journalists would select a remote village and stay there for an entire day. The journalists would invite officials from all departments and ask the public to submit the works they need to be done in their villages. If the problems are simple the officials would redress the problem on the spot and in others would take necessary action later.

The Grama Vastavya was not just a program for the journalists to understand the problem but to take the Legislature and Executive to the village and solve the problem.

The program had received great appreciation from the then Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy who inaugurated it at Dr. T M A Pai Convention Hall in Mangaluru in 2018.

Kuthlur:

The first Grama Vastavya was held at Kuthlur, a village in Belthangady considered as ‘Naxal infested.’

The local Malekudiyas and others who attended the program had submitted their problem. Of the 164 applications, the officials solved 102. The best impact was on the Govt School at Kuthlur.

The journalists had brought the lack of basic amenities to the notice of the officials. With the help of donors like Mangaluru Special Economic Zone (MSEZ), Dharmasthala, Ailala Harish Shetty, and MLA Harish Poonja the school received Computer, library, paint, and also a small garden.

The school with 42 students that was facing the danger of closure now has 80 students!

Madappady:

In January 2020 the second ‘Grama Vastavya,’ was held at Madappady in Sullia Taluk.
Of the 94 applications, 30 have been solved. COVID has delayed the sorting of applications. However of the pending applications, many are related to the forest and revenue department and need their attention which needs some time.

Kombaru:

This year too the journalists will go on ‘Grama Vastavya.’
Kombaru Panchayat of the newly formed Kadaba Taluk has been selected for Grama Vastavya.

It is really interesting to see that the Journalists of Dakshina Kannada are involved in a program that helps society. Journalists serve society by highlighting the issues and dragging the attention of the administration. But the journalists of DK have gone one step ahead and are taking the administration to the remote villages.

DKWJU president says:
“Journalists are aware of the most remote villages with the problem. We discuss it and then finalize the village. The program has proved to be a success. While it is an experience for journalists to realize the problem and to serve the society, it helps the local people,” Journalists Union president Srinivas Nayak Indaje told The Canara Post.
“This time we have decided to have the program at Kombaru Panchayat. Our attention is on Kombaru and its nearby Siribagilu village. We are holding various programs including the Aadhaar registration which needs an internet connection. As there is no proper network at Siribagilu we are holding the program at Kombaru,” he added.

What will the ‘Grama Vastavya,’ have

• 9 am: Yoga by Yoga Guru Dr. M Jagadish Shetty Bejai.
• 9.30 am: Magic show by Rajesh Mali.
• 9 am to 1 pm: Free medical camp by AJ Hospital.
• Blood donation and awareness program by Indian Red Cross Society, DK Unit
• Clean environment, Plastic Free village campaign.
• Receiving applications from the people related to government departments.
• Aadhaar registration and correction.
• Ayushman Bharath and Arogya Karnataka Card application.
• 12.30 pm: Information on various facilities of Postal Department by Postal Department Assistant Superintendent (Puttur) Joseph Rodrigues.