Former Lokayukta N Santhosh Hegde gives clarion call to be contented with legitimate means of earning

Mangaluru: Former Lokayukta Justice N Santhosh Hegde stressing upon need to bring in change in society, said that every individual must be contented with their legitimate means of income.

Former Lokayukta Justice N Santhosh Hegde addresses the gathering

Inaugurating the new offices of Spearhead Media Private Limited in City Gate Building, Kadri, on Monday, May 30, Justice Hegde opined that the society has reached a point where greed is overtaking everything else and in such situation, media has a huge role to play.

He said that though the constitution spoke of only three pillars, media emerged as the fourth pillar and people believed and loved it, but of late there have been incidents involving the media, which have raised questions at the integrity and credibility of the forth estate.

“The media at present needs to do some repair work to restore the integrity,” he said adding that his stint as Karnataka Lokayukta changed himself personally and today he feels that society respects only money and power and qualities of hardwork and honesty has no place.

“When I look around, I know that the problems that exist today in the society have been created by people of my age and hence, I now make it a point to appeal to the youth to be catalysts of change and be contented. I have visited as many as 790 colleges in Karnataka as well as other places and implore upon youth to have qualities of contentment,” he said adding that the nation has seen a startling graph of growth in scams and corruption.

In the 50s, he said there was a Jeep Scam, where the country lost Rs 52 lakh and then in the 1980s there was Bofors where India lost Rs 64 cr. Every year the zero in the amount stifled increased and the scams in 2010 and later speak of Rs 70,000 cr and more being swindled.

“How can there be development when a couple of people are swindling this amount of money,” he questioned adding that when the country is divided on lines of religion, culture and language, there is a need for one binding force and ‘contentment’ can be that binding force bringing people together.

The Guests of Honour for the programme were General Manager of Karnataka Bank, Mangaluru – Dr Meera L B Aranha, Akshara Santha, Social Reformer – Harekala Hajabba, Managing Director of Al Mazroui and Clevy Auto Services, Abu Dhabi – Clevy Leo Rodrigues, Seer of Sri Kshetra Kemar – Sri Sri Esha Vittaldas, Vice-Principal, St Aloysius College – Rev Fr Francis Almeida SJ and Zenath Baksh Kendra, Juma Masjid, Mangaluru – Sadakatullah Faizy Khateeb.

Prominent entrepreneurs from the city like Spas Infrastructure, General Manager – Joseph Fernandes, Ideals, Chiarman – Mukund Kamath, Deputy Director of Information Department – Khadar Shah, Suraj International, Chairman – Manjunath Revankar, Chairmen of Harsha Electronics – Ashok and Harish along with actor Shashiraj Kavoor visited the new premises on the occasion.