Mangaluru: Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade announced a series of health, education, and infrastructure projects at his 59th Pattabhisheka Vardhanthyotsava at Mahotsava Sabha Bhavana in Dharmasthala Saturday.The projects include construction of a girls’ hostel in Shravanabelagola and a sports hostel for female students in Ujire, launching a nursing college and a physiotherapy college in Ujire, renovation of old buildings across educational institutions, construction of a synthetic track in Ujire, introduction of ATM facilities for beneficiaries under the Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, dialysis services at SDM Hospital in Ujire and rejuvenation of lakes/water tanks.Heggade said the state-of-the-art cath lab facility at SDM Hospital in Ujire will be set up in collaboration with Narayana Health, Bengaluru, at an estimated cost of Rs 11 crore. Through this local facility, essential diagnostic and treatment services for cardiac conditions, such as angiograms and angioplasties, will be accessible locally.Additionally, the bank will provide assistance to those who visit Dharmasthala Sundays and Mondays seeking financial or medical aid for healthcare treatments.Heggade also honoured 26 senior employees on the occasion.Raghavendra Srinivas Bhat, MD & CEO of Karnataka Bank, said the services of Heggade, who, in accordance with the history and tradition of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, preserves and fosters the fourfold charity tradition of ‘Annadana’, ‘Vidyadana’, ‘Abhayadana’ and ‘Aushadhadana’ with a selfless spirit, are globally revered.Bhat said the community-oriented initiatives undertaken by Heggade, guided by social awareness and built on the foundation of Dharma, are extraordinary, making the title ‘Rajarshi’ conferred upon him truly fitting and meaningful.Recalling the deep-rooted relationship between Dharmasthala and Karnataka Bank, Bhat gratefully acknowledged the support and encouragement provided towards the bank’s progress by Heggade and his brothers, D Surendra Kumar and D Harshendra Kumar, as directors.Former MLC K Pratapasimha Nayak and former Minister K Abhaychandra Jain were present.
