Mangaluru: The International Bunts Welfare Trust was inaugurated at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre M G Road here on February 7.
To mark the inaugural ceremony, a day-long Cultural Programme “Bunta Siri”, Kala Vaibhava 2015 is being held. The programme began with an invocation. Chairman of International Bunts Welfare Trust Sadananda Shetty welcomed the gathering. Chancellor of Nitte University Dr N V Hegde inaugurated the trust by watering the coconut plant along with other dignitaries. Eminent Kannada Litterateur Dr Erya Lakshminarayana Alva launched the website of the trust.
Addressing the gathering Dr N V Hegde said that there are rumours that the International Bunts Welfare Trust will divide the Bunt community, which is wrong. The aim of the trust is to wipe out the tears of the poor people in the society. Bunts have a special place in the society because the Bunt community has brought glory to the entire Hindu community. He also advised the members of the trust not to limit the trust only to the inauguration but reach out to the poor people in the community to provide them education, medical help and moral support.
He also said that the Bunt community has inherited leadership qualities and have made name and fame around the world. We need more such trusts to be formed to strengthen the community.
MLA Lobo congratulated the Chairman and the members for their initiative in forming the trust. Recalling his college days, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader said, “When I was studying in SDM Law College, there was a bike race and I won it. When I started the Mangaluru riders club and Sadananda Shetty was the president of the club. Even when I contested the College election and we needed financial help, Sadananda Shetty supported me financially”. Khader further said that the Bunt community is helping the people without discrimination of caste and creed. He also recalled Kallapu Mahabala Shetty who had donated 1 acre land to the poor to build houses, he had also made sure that the land documents were made in their name. Such people are the real assets of the Bunt community and their contribution to the society is worth praising. He congratulated the entire team of the trust for their good deeds in reaching out to the poor in their needs.
District Minister in-charge Ramanath Rai delivered the presidential address. MLA Moideen Bava, Mayor Mahabala Marla, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLC Ivan D’Souza, former MLC Monappa Bhandary, A J Shetty also spoke on the occasion. Sudheer Shetty from Mumbai donated the first contribution of Rs 25 lakh to the trust. The coconut plant was later handed over to the administrator of Sanidhya Vasanth Shetty by Sadananda Shetty on the occasion. Pusparaj Shetty delivered the vote of thanks.
Navanith Shetty compered the programme. Music Director Gurukiran Shetty, former MLA Jayaram Shetty, Chairman of fortune group UAE Praveen Kumar Shetty and others were also present.