Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada Congress president Padmaraj R Poojary has welcomed the decisions taken at the state cabinet’s first meeting in Mangaluru, saying they would give fresh impetus to development in coastal Karnataka.
Poojary said the decisions under the leadership of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar marked a shift towards addressing development needs rather than merely using the sentiments of coastal people for political purposes.
The cabinet on Friday approved Tulu as the state’s second additional administrative language for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, fulfilling a long-standing demand for greater official recognition of the language.
Tulu recognition welcomed
Poojary described the recognition of Tulu as a matter of pride for the people of the coastal region. He said the language’s long history and rich literary, Yakshagana and folk traditions made the decision particularly significant.
He said the move would fulfil a long-standing aspiration of people in Tulunadu and provide greater institutional recognition to the language.
Focus on infrastructure
Poojary also welcomed the reported emphasis on transport, connectivity and infrastructure, including improvements to highways, rural roads and bridges, port development and drinking-water projects.
He said better connectivity and basic infrastructure would have a direct bearing on the lives and economic opportunities of people in the coastal districts.
Tourism push
The cabinet has also decided to formulate a separate tourism policy for coastal Karnataka, with the region’s coastline, cultural traditions and religious and heritage sites identified as key tourism assets.
Poojary said greater focus on beach tourism, water sports, backwaters, eco-tourism and religious tourism could create opportunities for local businesses and strengthen the coastal economy.
He also welcomed the emphasis on employment opportunities through sectors such as IT, seafood, tourism and port-linked industries, besides support for the development of religious and heritage sites.
Poojary described the cabinet decisions on Tulu, employment, infrastructure and tourism as the beginning of what he called a “new chapter” for the people of coastal Karnataka.
