Mysore/Mysuru: Observing that Government interference has been hurting the growth of the co-operative sector, Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda (GTD), who is also the Chairman of Karnataka State Co-operative Federation, said that the co-operative sector should be free of any interventions and should have autonomy.

He was speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of State-level debate contest for Post-Graduate, Graduate and PU  students and essay competition for High School students, organised jointly by Karnataka State Co-operative Federation, University of Mysore (UoM) Economics and Co-operation Department and Mysuru District Co-operative Union at EMRC auditorium in Manasagangothri campus here on Wednesday.

Maintaining that the growth of the co-operative sector will help in the  economic empowerment of families, State and the country, GTD said that independent India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had said that the co-operative sector is the gateway to the country’s economy.

“The co-operative sector has grown rapidly over the years. The sector has also groomed several leaders and elected representatives,” he said and called upon the youths to engage themselves in the sector. The co-operative sector has helped in the economic empowerment of the poor, the working class and shaping a self-reliant life for many families in the country, he added.

GTD also highlighted and chronicled the growth of the co-operative sector in the State over the years.

Karnatak University, Dharwad, bagged the overall trophy  in the State-level debate for PG students, while Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK), Bengaluru, bagged the overall trophy  in the Degree students category.

In the PG category, Mruthyunjaya Kabbur of Karnatak University, Dharwad, won the gold medal while B.V. Udayakumar of Bengaluru’s GKVK bagged silver medal and Akash Hamsanur of Economics Department of Karnatak University won the bronze medal. In the graduate category, GKVK’s N. Keertana Nayak won the gold medal while M.N. Sowmya, also of GKVK bagged the silver medal and Pooja Chauhan of Karnatak University secured bronze medal.

In the PUC section, Kharja Fatima of Rotary Educational Institutions, Mandya, Divya of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, Udupi and Nidhi Desai of Shakti PU College, Mangaluru, bagged the first three prizes.

In the essay competition for High School students, G. Chandana of Government High School, Bharatinagar, Mandya, bagged the first prize, while Lakshmi Prasanna of Government High School, Chikkakalbal, Kanakapura, came second and Safiullah of Renuka High School, Chikkakabbara, Rattihalli Taluk, Haveri district, bagged the third prize.

UoM Vice-Chancellor Prof. N.K. Lokanath, Federation office-bearers Jagadish Kavatagimath, Ganganna, Jayakar Shetty, Bapugouda D. Patil, M. Mahesh, Sharanabasappa, B.S. Chandrashekar, Pavitra and others were present.