Mysore/Mysuru: Maintaining that Ursu community is a nano community with a low population of about 50,000 spread across the State, Sri Varchasvi Srikanta Siddalinga Raje Urs, Seer of Malavalli, Kappadi and Honnayakanahalli Mutts, has called upon the community members to keep in constant touch for the welfare and development of the community.

He was speaking after inaugurating D. Devaraj Urs birth anniversary celebration organised by  Karnataka Ursu Mahamandali Charitable Trust (KUMC Trust)  and D. Devaraj Urs Endowment, Mysuru, at Venugopalaswamy temple premises on Tyagaraja Road in city here yesterday.

Pointing out that several Seers and elder citizens have been trying hard to bring together the community members who have spread across the State, the country and abroad,  he said that the community members have established their own associations for various reasons.

Lauding the Trust for its efforts to bring together the community members since its establishment two years ago, the Seer said that Devaraj Urs, who became the Chief Minister of the State, made the entire country recognise the Urs community, through his tall stature and leadership qualities.

Stating that Devaraj Urs set up an endowment fund for helping the community students, he called upon the well-to-do community members to donate generously for this fund.

Regretting that the community was facing a communication gap, he called upon the members to connect with each other and work for the welfare of the community. He also called upon youths to utilise their energy for identifying and uniting community members.

Trust President B.S. Sridhar Raje Urs, who also spoke, said that the community is taking every one along in progress and prosperity and that there should be no selfishness in what we do.

 Trust Vice-President Dr. M.G.R. Urs urged the Government to honour Nalwadi  Krishnaraja Wadiyar with Bharat Ratna posthumously.

Pointing out that D. Devaraj Urs Bhavan would come up in a half-acre area near Ramakrishnanagar Circle, for which the Government has sanctioned Rs.1.5 crore, he said that Rs.30 lakh has been released to Nirmiti Kendra for its construction.

Senior Journalist Amshi Prasannakumar released a book on ‘Community Achievers.’

Also, scholarship was distributed to eligible community students and Pratibha Puraskar presented to four meritorious students.

Sri Ashoka Rajendra Swamiji of Jangama Mutt, Mallinathapura in Mandya district, M.L. Basavaraje Urs, Honorary President of KUMC Trust, H.M.T. Lingaraje Urs , Vice-President and others were present.