Pedalling awareness from Gurgaon to Kanyakumari

August 17, 2011

Mangalore, August 17: A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one, so goes a quote. This goes true with the energy of Daljeet Singh, a resident of Gurgaon, Haryana who is cycling across the nation to spread awareness about man's responsibility towards his planet and environment. He is trying to inform people about the problem of global warming all across the nation.

Mr Singh, who started his journey in Gurgaon, Haryana on 10^th June of this year with a clear aim and not enough money to finance his expedition, arrived in Mangalore last week. After spending two days in this coastal city, he continued his journey southwards towards Kanyakumari.

What drives him to indulge in such a physically excruciating expedition across the nation? He feels that it will result in a change at least in himself. “There is great satisfaction in doing things for a cause”, he says.

Speaking about how unique our planet is, as it is believed to be the only planet to sustain and support life, he feels we have great responsibility towards the planet. “We are the caretakers of our planet. But we are slowly destroying it day by day”, he observes. He feels that minimising the use of motor vehicles and plastics will result in a greener and cleaner environment.

He had gone through a lot of roadblocks during the course of the journey. “Accommodation was a big problem”, he says. “I had started with Rs 20,000 which was not enough to feed. I had to buy a new bicycle for Rs 3,500 as my bicycle broke down in Bhopal”, he recalls. He sleeps in temples as affording hotels to stay is “costly” for him.

Recalling the various kind of cuisine all across the state he says it was hard to adjust to South Indian food.

Challenges were numerous, especially in the ghats he says. Pedalling in the ghats is tiresome for him and says that he pushes his bicycles if there is a steep climb. He feels that he had got great opportunities to enjoy nature as he is not in any rush.

He will visit several cities of South India before culminating his expedition in Kanyakumari. “I'll take a train back”, he says.

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‘Nothing for Karnataka’: DKS slams Union Budget, flags Bengaluru neglect

News Network

February 1,2026

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday criticised the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming it offered no tangible benefit to the state.

Though he said he was yet to study the budget in detail, Shivakumar asserted that Karnataka had gained little from it. “There is no benefit for our state from the central budget. I was observing it. They have now named a programme after Mahatma Gandhi, after repealing the MGNREGA Act that was named after him,” he said.

Speaking to reporters here, the Deputy Chief Minister demanded the restoration of MGNREGA, and made it clear that the newly enacted rural employment scheme — VB-G RAM G — which proposes a 60:40 fund-sharing formula between the Centre and the states, would not be implemented in Karnataka.

“I don’t see any major share for our state in this budget,” he added.

Shivakumar, who also holds charge of Bengaluru development, said there were high expectations for the city from the Union Budget. “The Prime Minister calls Bengaluru a ‘global city’, but what has the Centre done for it?” he asked.

He also drew attention to the problems faced by sugar factories, particularly those in the cooperative sector, alleging a lack of timely decisions and support from the central government.

Noting that the Centre has the authority to fix the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, Shivakumar said the Union government must take concrete steps to protect farmers’ interests.

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