U T Khader gets 'Gandhi Darshan Award' for rural health

November 13, 2013

Mangalore, Nov 13: Minister for Health U T Khader has to his credit of being class apart in performing his duties. His style of working has been appreciated by many and now his style is recognized by the reputed Media Research Institute, part of the famous Gandhian Organisation, Thiruvananthapuram.

The organization will confer on this young minister the prestigious 'Gandhi Darshan award', recognizing his efforts aimed at improving rural health facilities.

Mangalore has a reason to rejoice because along with Mr Khader veteran journalist T P Rajeevan too will be receiving the award.

Both, Mr Khader and Mr Rajeevan are settled in Mangalore and it is for the first time in the five year long history of the award that it is being conferred on achievers outside Kerala.

It is worthwhile to note that while two persons from Mangalore will bring home the prestigious award, they will also share the stage with veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare who will be receiving the'Special Gandhian Award'.

On behalf of the chairman of the award committee, famous Gandhian Sri Gopinathan Nair and the committee members Justice Sreedevi and Padmabhushan Kavalam Narayana Panikar, the head of Gandhian ashram MitraNikethan, Padmasri K Vishwanathan and the former vice chancellor of Kerala University Dr. N A Kareem announced the award winners on Wednesday at Thiruvanathapuram press club.

Details of the awardees

U T Khader (For Rural health): U T Khadar is the honorable health minister for Karnataka, who has already made a mark due to his dynamic leadership quality. Striving for welfare of the poor, Mr Khader has already implemented several health schemes for the welfare of the rural masses.

T.P.Rajeevan(For literature)

Rajeevan is a well-known writer from Kerala. A journalist by profession, he works for Mathrubhumi national daily based at Mangalore.

Known for his literary work'Upanayanam', Gandhian ethics are evident in his writings. He has bagged the prestigious Azad memorial literary award in his college days.

M K Raghavan (For Politics)

Raghavan is a native of Payyanoor and at present he represents Kozhikode constituency in Lok Sabha. Mr Raghavan had developed Gandhian qualities as a child because of the role Payyanoor played during freedom struggle and due to this influence, Mr Raghavan is seen standing by the poor at all times.

Professor G Balachandran( For Rural employment)

G Balachandran is the present chairperson of the National Coir Board. A retired professor, Balachandran has strived to develop coir sector, understanding its potential. His efforts have generated good employment opportunity for the rural masses.

C R Neelakantan (For social work)

Mr Neelakantan is a well-known social worker from Kerala. Over the last several years he has been fighting for the cause of the Adivasis and Dalits. His participation and leadership in the well-known struggles like Moolampalli made him a hero in Kerala.

He was at the forefront in the fight Kudankulam atomic power project situated at costal Tamil Nadu.

Dr. Kunjali( For his lifelong commitment and dedication in the treatment of the poor)

Dr. Kunjali is a well-known heart specialist not only in Kerala but also in Middle East. As a doctor he is very famous for his charitable work. He is praised by the mass for his dedication in the treatment of the poor.

Metro Muhammad Haji (For Business)

Sri Muhammad Haji is a well-known businessman from north Kerala. He is famous for his kind-hearted humanitarian work. He upholds honesty and ethics in his ventures.

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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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