Shivamogga: The Manasa Trust is organising its annual Late Kateel Appu Pai memorial lecture and Conferment of Dr Ashok Pai memorial Manasa national awards on February 20 at the State govt. employees’ association building.
The event will be divided into two parts consisting of the oration by Dr Harini Nagendra, director, Azim Premji University’s centre for climate change and sustainability. The lecture will be on the topic ‘thinking ecologically about development in India’s cities’.
“Since 2006, every year we have been conducting this lecture where we invite eminent personalities so that the people of Shivamogga can get an opportunity to interact with them,” said Dr Preethi V Shanbhag, Trustee of Manasa Trust. “It was started in my grandfather’s name by my father and now this programme has taken a crystallised form,” she added.
The second part consists of the conferment of awards on Dr Swaminath Gopala Rao, consultant Psychiatrist and Dr Jagadisha Thirthali, professor, department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS. “In 2016 we started giving the awards in my fathers’ name to two deservings in the field of community psychiatry and has helped the people to overcome the prejudices associated with mental health issues,” said Dr Preethi. She further added that this award is given as a recognition of the work that they have done for the people in the community.
Dr Swaminath Gopal Rao has worked with the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) and contributed to the building of a new society through its grassroots to polity level action in health, education and community development. Through the NGO Chittaprakasha Charitable Trust, he has worked for the reintegration of homeless persons with mental illness into the community.
Dr Jagadish Thirthalli has been instrumental in offering mental health services through his community research and treatment programmes in Thirthalli. Hundreds of individuals suffering from schizophrenia have benefitted from his dedicated service.
“Since 2016, we have modified the programme in such a way that all the schools in Shivamogga can also participate in the lecture. We ask the students to prepare questions and the students with the questions we pick can attend the event and interest with the guest,” said Dr Preethi.
The inauguration and confirmation of awards will be carried out by eminent writer Jayant Kaikini.
