Dharwad: While remembering the great contributions of former chief minister Devaraj Urs, District In-charge Minister Vinay Kulkarni said that the credit of bringing in new land reforms act which is considered a model in the entire country went to Late Devaraj Urs.

Speaking after inaugurating the 102nd birth anniversary celebrations of former chief minister Devaraj Urs in Dharwad, Vinay said Urs was the first chief minister in the history of Karnataka to have conducted survey of Dalits and backward classes and introduced several welfare schemes for their upliftment. Through Land Reforms Act, he helped the farmers earn a decent earning by becoming self-reliant. If this act was not brought into force, the cultivator would had never become the owner of the land, he added.

Some of the anti-social practices like carrying the night-soil on the head was totally eradicated during the term of Devaraj Urs, he said.

Vinay further stated that the state government too was following the path of Urs and this year, it had sanctioned 16 BCM hostels for the district.

Dr Harilal Pawar delivered a special talk on the life and works of Devaraj Urs.

Zilla Panchayat President Chaitra Shirur, Vice President Shivanand Karigar, Deputy Commissioner S B Bommanahalli and others were present.