Mangaluru: A total of 224 students from nine taluks of Dakshina Kannada took part in the district level youth parliament competition (Yuva Sansad) at Nethravati hall in the Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat office in Mangaluru Friday.The participants simulated a state legislative assembly and raised several pressing issues concerning governance, education, environmental protection and law and order.Students from Mangaluru, Bantwal, Puttur, Belthangady, Sullia, Moodubidire, Kadaba, Mulki and Ullal took part. UT Fareed, NSUI Ullal general secretary, representing SDM Law College, participated as a member of the ruling party’s delegation.Addressing the gathering, Dakshina Kannada DDPI Shashidhar GS said, “This youth parliament is a vital step in empowering our future leaders to actively engage in the democratic process and understand the complexities of governance.”Social welfare department official Hemalatha also encouraged the participants, saying, “It is immensely inspiring to see the youth of today prepare to tackle tomorrow’s critical social issues with such remarkable clarity.”The mock session began with an obituary reference paying tribute to legendary singer S Janaki. Question Hour and Zero Hour followed, during which student delegates raised concerns based on their research.A delegate MLA from Moodubidire flagged environmental concerns, claiming that “8,968 hectares of forest have been destroyed and over 8,145 trees cut for power projects”. Another delegate MLA highlighted the growing problem of drug abuse around educational institutions, along with delays in SSP scholarships and teacher shortages.The delegate leader of the opposition questioned the govt over the closure of 3,617 govt schools and delays in payments to guest teachers, calling them “unacceptable failures of this administration”.Responding to the allegations, the delegate chief minister defended the govt’s initiatives, stating, “Our govt has implemented a plan to plant one crore teak saplings and is undertaking social forestry across 1,250 hectares to protect the environment.” He also cited police action against drug abuse, claiming that 1,544 arrests had been made under NDPS cases.There were lighter moments too. The delegate chief minister took a dig at the opposition leader over a delayed response, remarking, “Perhaps the leader of the opposition has not yet woken up from her sleep and has come to the sabha directly, now you woke up, right?” The exchange drew laughter from the participants.
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