Mysuru:  Pejawar Seer Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji will release the book “Soorilladavarige Sooru – Asha Mandira” penned by former CITB (City Improvement Trust Board) Chairman and former MLC D. Madegowda, at a programme to be held at the Town Hall in city at 4 pm, said retired Professor K.P. Basavegowda.

Addressing a press conference at the Pathrakartara Bhavan here this morning, he said that the book release function is organised by Asha Mandira Okkoota, Mysuru, in association with Samvahana Publications. Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama President Sri Muktidanandaji will preside. Educationist H.L Satish will speak on the book.

Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha, MLAs S.A. Ramdas, Tanveer Sait and L. Nagendra will be the chief guests. Litterateur Dr. CPK (C.P. Krishnakumar), Scholar Prof. K.B. Prabhuprasad will be present, he added.

When Madegowda was the CITB Chairman about 35 years ago, he had thought of the Asha Mandira Scheme for the poor and financially weaker section of the society so that they can have a roof over their head. As part of this Scheme, he was instrumental in developing Ramakrishanagar, Vivekanandanagar, Sharadadevinagar, Aravindanagar, Kyathamaranahalli, Dattagalli, Rajivnagar and Hebbal where Asha Mandira houses were constructed and nearly 50,000 people benefitted, recalled Basavegowda.

Unfortunately, none of the people who came later followed in his footsteps and thus there are thousands of applications for sites and houses pending before the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) today, he regretted.

In fact when Madegowda introduced Asha Mandira Scheme, it went on to become a model for other States in the country to follow, he added.

Madegowda, who is also the former YHAI State President, said that he was influenced by Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi who always said that one should have clothes to cover the body, a roof over the head to live and proper education and  hence he conceived the Asha Mandira project.

Every family whether rich or poor always aspires for a roof over one’s head as it is a matter of self-respect to own a house and he began the project as an experiment. He has also penned the book so that the next generation can get some idea on how to implement such far-reaching ideas and projects, said Madegowda.