Bantwal,: The 75th birthday celebrations of former minister B Ramanath Rai will be marked with a series of social initiatives, including scholarships for 75 children, support for children with special needs, planting of 75 saplings and a mega health camp.
The programmes were announced during the release of the logo of the B Ramanath Rai 75th Birthday Celebration Committee and the launch of its series of activities. Prof Tukaram Poojary described the planned initiatives as a meaningful tribute to Rai’s long-standing public service and commitment to society.
Poojary praises Rai’s social commitment
Speaking at the programme, Prof Tukaram Poojary said B Ramanath Rai had imbibed the qualities of a socially committed personality like former Karnataka chief minister Devaraj Urs.
Poojary highlighted Rai’s service to society and his consistent response to the needs of people belonging to different sections. He said Rai had demonstrated a commitment to addressing social concerns and remaining connected with people throughout his public life.
According to Poojary, bringing people together to recognise Rai’s personality and social service through a meaningful 75th birthday celebration would be a fitting tribute to his contribution.
He said the celebrations should go beyond merely marking a personal milestone and instead reflect the values of service and social responsibility associated with Rai’s public life.
Committee announces series of initiatives
Committee president Chandraprakash Shetty, who presented the proposal at the programme, said Rai’s contribution to society was significant and deserved to be recognised through programmes that directly benefited people.
Shetty said the committee had decided to celebrate Rai’s 75th birthday in a special manner, focusing on activities that reflect his socially oriented work.
As part of the celebrations, scholarships will be provided to 75 children, with the initiative aimed at supporting their educational needs. The committee will also provide support facilities for children with special needs.
Another major initiative will be the planting of 75 saplings, symbolically marking Rai’s 75 years. The tree-planting programme is intended to add an environmental dimension to the celebrations and encourage greater awareness of the importance of protecting nature.
The committee has also planned a mega health camp as part of the birthday celebrations. The camp will provide an opportunity for people to access health-related services and is among the social welfare activities planned to commemorate the occasion.
Autobiography of Rai to be released
The celebrations will also include the release of B Ramanath Rai’s autobiography.
The publication is expected to provide an account of Rai’s journey and experiences in public life, offering readers an insight into his political career, public service and association with people across different sections of society.
The committee said the autobiography would form an important part of the celebrations, along with the various welfare-oriented programmes being organised to mark his 75th birthday.
Besides the scholarships, support for children with special needs, tree planting and health camp, several other social programmes are also planned as part of the celebrations.
Rai expresses gratitude to people
Speaking after the announcement of the programmes, B Ramanath Rai expressed his gratitude for the affection, trust and support extended to him by the people over the years.
Rai said he would always remain indebted to the people for the love and affection shown towards him.
The former minister also acknowledged the significance of the occasion and the efforts of the celebration committee in organising programmes centred on social welfare.
The planned initiatives are intended to make the 75th birthday celebrations more meaningful by extending benefits to children, persons with special needs and the wider community.
Leaders and representatives attend programme
The logo release and programme launch were attended by several leaders, social workers and representatives from different organisations.
Those present included Fr Victor D’Souza, M S Mohammed, Ashwani Kumar Rai, working president Padmashekar Jain, Mamatha Gatti of the Cashew Development Corporation, Shalet Pinto, Lavanya Ballal, Mallika Pakkala, Chandrashekar Bhandary, Abbas Ali, Balakrishna Anchan, Sudeep Kumar Shetty, Baby Kundar, Mustafa, Haida Suresh, Lavina Moras, Jayanthi Poojary, Shahul Hameed and Umanath Shetty.
Committee convener Pius L Rodrigues welcomed the gathering, while Baby Kundar proposed the vote of thanks. Balakrishna Alva compered the programme.
Celebrations to focus on public service
The 75th birthday celebrations have been structured around social initiatives rather than ceremonial events alone. The committee’s decision to provide scholarships, support children with special needs, organise a health camp and plant saplings reflects its intention to commemorate Rai’s milestone through community-oriented programmes.
The initiatives are also aimed at recognising Rai’s association with public service and his engagement with people across different sections of society.
With the release of the celebration logo and announcement of the programmes, preparations are now set to continue for the various activities planned as part of the 75th birthday celebrations.