Develop border areas of K'taka: Minister

Mangalore, Mar 31 (UNI) Karnataka Fisheries Minister B Nagaraja Shetty today stressed the need for chalking out programmes for the development of border areas of the State.

Inaugurating the three-day 'Gadi Samskrithika Utsava' (Border cultural festival) and 'Ahaarotsav' (Food festival), jointly organised by the Kannada Development Authority and Department of Kannada and Culture at Kadri Park near here, he said there was a need to repose faith and trust in the minds of the Kannadigas living in the border areas, particularly in the neighboring Kasaragod district of Kerala, that they were not neglected by the Government. There was a growing feeling among the people living in Kasaragod that they have been neglected by the Karnataka Government, while the Kerala Government was not treating them well, he added.

''Through proper development programmes, we should show our deep concern to the Kannadigas living in the bordering districts that they are our own people,'' he said.

UNI