District Congress alleges bias in temple funding by BJP government

September 8, 2011

Mangalore, September 9: President of Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee B. Ramanatha Rai alleged here on Thursday that the State government was anti backward classes as it released meagre amount for the development of small shrines in the district under 'aaradhana' scheme for 2010-11.

Addressing presspersons here he said that backward classes people worshipped the Almighty of their belief in small shrines (gudi and gopura). The government released only Rs. 71,428 for their development for each Assembly constituency in the district for 2010-11. It was not enough as MLAs got many demand applications from people seeking funds. Each MLA got more than 25 demand applications, he said.

Mr. Rai, who is Bantwal MLA, said that the government did not release any fund under the scheme in the district for 2008-09. He released details of funds released to each Assembly constituencies under the scheme in the district for 2007-08, 2009-10 and 2010-11. The details had been provided by the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

He said that each Assembly constituency got only Rs. 89,284 in 2009-10. The government had released Rs. 11.25 lakh for each Assembly segment in 2007-08.

Mr. Rai said that the Congress had launched the scheme when it was in power in the State.

Mangalore MLA U T Khader said that he had received 40 applications seeking funds under the scheme. Moodbidri MLA K. Abhayachandra Jain said that he had received 25 applications.

Mr. Rai said that the government should release more funds for developing roads in the district. Many doors in the district were in poor condition, he alleged.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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