Udupi: Social Welfare Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary announced the setting up of three centres to impart training for youth keen on enrolling in the armed forces in the coastal districts.

He said that the training centres will assist aspirants in understanding the requirements of the army, navy and airforce and will be set up by the department of backward classes.

Naming of centres

Dakshina Kannada training centre will be named after Rani Abbakka, Udupi training centre after brothers Koti Chennaiah and Uttar Kannada training centre after Hinja Naik, a freedom fighter. The training duration will last for six months and will be restricted to men only. In a year, training will be imparted to 50 to 100 youths, he added.

In response to a question, the minister said that the instability in Kashmir demonstrates the government’s inability to combat Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

Suicide rate

He bemoaned the district’s rising suicide rate and promised to meet the district in-charge minister in order to find a solution.

Suicides occur for various reasons, including family and personal issues, as well as financial hardships, he said.

According to Poojary, the increase in the prices of essential commodities are a natural phenomenon caused by situational demands.

He said that the state has 2,400 hostels, with 1.20 lakh people on the waiting list to get admission to the hostels.

About 50 Kanakadasa Nilaya and 100 hostels in Ambedkar’s honour will be set up. A hostel will be built in G Shankar Government Degree College at a cost of Rs 6 crore, he added.

Five Deendayal hostels will be built in the state, each with a capacity of 1,000 inmates. About 200 wardens have been appointed in the state. There are 38 vacant warden positions in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, he said.

The minister said villages that do not practise untouchability will receive additional funding. The programme ‘Vinay Samarasya’ will be launched in July.

Vinay, who had been subjected to untouchability in a temple in Koppal, had been adopted by the ministry to fund his education, said Poojary.