K'taka: Plea to mass media on co-op movt

Mysore, July 22: The mass media which touched almost every field of human activity should strive to strengthen the co-operative movement which served farmers and weaker sections of society.

Karnataka Cooperation Minister G T Deve Gowda said.

Inaugurating a day-long seminar on 'Role of media in co-operative movement'here yesterday, Mr Gowda cautioned the cooperative movement against the danger due to government interference which began during Devaraj Urs Regime.

The minister felt the media was also suffering similarly and was losing its sanctity 'which should not happen.' He wanted the media to overcome such teething troubles and protect the co-operative movement.

In Karnataka nearly a third of the population of six crore were were members of co-operative societies, he said the sector was facing severe crisis due to lack of publicity for their good achievements. There was rather more focus on the lapses, he added.

In his address, Media Akademi Chairman V N Subbarao suggested the Co-operative Department to constitute a fellowship to encourage journalists to take up reserach work in co-operative movement.

The minister readily agreed and sanctioned Rs one lakh for the purpose.

More than 200 mediapersons from Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajanagara, Hassan, Kodagu, Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts participated.

UNI