Mangaluru: Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister U T Khader has appealed to people, organisations and political parties across the coastal region to come together and welcome the Karnataka Cabinet, which is scheduled to hold a special meeting in Mangaluru on September 18.
Addressing a press conference at Praja Soudha in Padil on Thursday, September 17, Khader said the Cabinet meeting would provide an opportunity to discuss development-related issues concerning Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada and the wider Tulunadu region. Several proposals and representations relating to tourism, healthcare, education, transport and connectivity are expected to be considered.
The special Cabinet meeting is being held at the District Administration Office complex in Padil. The government has said that local development requirements and long-pending demands from the coastal region will be among the issues receiving attention.
Khader calls for collective participation
Khader appealed to leaders of different communities, organisations and political parties to extend a warm welcome to the Cabinet.
He said the Cabinet meeting would allow ministers and senior officials to examine local issues directly instead of people having to travel to Bengaluru repeatedly to follow up on their demands. According to Khader, the meeting would enable the government to consider representations from the public and local elected representatives in the context of broader development requirements.
The minister said the meeting would focus on the comprehensive development of Karnataka, with special attention to the coastal region. However, he also noted that the outcome of individual proposals would depend on the agenda and the nature of each proposal, with some matters requiring further deliberation before a decision is taken.
Tourism, healthcare and connectivity among key areas
Several sectors are expected to feature in the discussions surrounding the Cabinet meeting.
Khader said proposals concerning tourism, healthcare, education, transport and connectivity would be placed before the Cabinet. Representations received from members of the public and local representatives are also expected to be considered.
Earlier discussions with representatives from the industrial, fisheries and tourism sectors had also highlighted issues involving roads, industrial land, fisheries infrastructure, tourism facilities and coastal connectivity.
A proposal seeking ₹28 crore for road development in the Baikampady Industrial Area has already been submitted to the state government, while officials have also been asked to prepare proposals relating to other infrastructure requirements.
Chief Minister had discussed coastal development issues
Khader said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had recently held a detailed meeting with MLAs from Mangaluru, Udupi and Uttara Kannada.
According to the minister, department-wise requirements and development-related issues concerning the coastal districts were discussed during the meeting. The representations gathered through these discussions are expected to feed into the issues placed before the Cabinet.
The proposed meeting comes amid several demands from the coastal region concerning infrastructure, tourism, fisheries, industrial development and connectivity.
Khader appeals against planned protests
Khader also appealed to organisations planning demonstrations during the Cabinet’s visit to reconsider and withdraw their protests.
He said Tulunadu was known for its culture of harmony and hospitality and urged organisations to cooperate with the arrangements for the Cabinet’s visit. His remarks came amid plans by some groups to protest over concerns relating to mobile jammers in prisons.
On the prison issue, Khader said the concerns were not new and argued that shifting the existing prison to Mudipu could provide a permanent solution to both the jammer-related concerns and the shortage of space.
The proposal to shift the prison has been discussed by the government, with budgetary provisions and related planning being considered, according to Khader’s remarks reported by Times of India.
Khader explains private hospitals’ role
Khader also spoke about the participation of private medical colleges and hospitals in supporting government healthcare facilities.
He said poor patients were not being charged for treatment under the arrangement and that private institutions were providing doctors and staff through their own resources and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
According to Khader, a similar model implemented in Ullal had increased daily patient attendance from around 60 to nearly 600. He defended the arrangement as an effort to improve access to healthcare services at government facilities.
The minister’s comments come as healthcare is expected to be one of the areas considered during the special Cabinet meeting.
Coastal hospitality planned for Cabinet ministers
The Cabinet’s visit is also accompanied by programmes showcasing the coastal region’s culture and cuisine.
Khader said a coastal festival would be organised at Tannirbhavi as part of the Cabinet visit. A special dinner featuring traditional coastal cuisine has also been planned for the visiting ministers.
According to reports, the Chief Minister and ministers are expected to participate in the scheduled programmes, with arrangements being made for their movement and accommodation. The government and district administration have been coordinating security and logistical arrangements ahead of the meeting.
Cabinet meeting to focus on coastal development
The September 18 meeting is significant as the state Cabinet is travelling to Mangaluru to consider development issues relating to the coastal region.
Earlier, Khader had said the meeting would give priority to infrastructure and development requirements, including roads, fisheries, tourism and industrial development. Officials have also been examining proposals concerning tourism infrastructure, coastal roads and other projects.
The Cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held at Praja Soudha in Padil, with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expected to chair the proceedings. Senior officials and ministers are expected to attend, while local representatives and stakeholders have submitted various demands for consideration.
The decisions on individual proposals will depend on the Cabinet agenda, the nature of the demands and the government’s subsequent administrative process. Khader’s appeal comes ahead of the meeting as authorities prepare for the Cabinet’s arrival and related public programmes in Mangaluru.