Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader said here on Saturday that the Wenlock District Hospital would be developed as a model hospital in the next two years and would provide more citizen-friendly services.

Speaking at the district-level Independence Day programme held at Nehru Maidan, Mr. Khader, who is also the in-charge Minister of Dakshina Kannada, said development works amounting to more than ₹100 crore had been taken up at the hospital. The works to be taken up include building a new OPD block estimated at ₹70 crore. The government is committed to making this hospital a model district tertiary care hospital, he said.

Mr. Khader said the government was going ahead with taking help from private hospitals to offer specialised health services at government healthcare centres. Three private hospitals have already begun offering specialised health services at Bantwal Taluk Hospital, Moodbidri Community Health Centre (CHC), and Vitla CHC.

The Minister said the government has taken up the RISE (Refuse, Inform, Support, and Empower) Karnataka campaign against drug abuse and drug peddling.

To empower the youth, the government plans to open youth associations at gram panchayats and cities under the Karnataka Bharat Jodo Yuva Sanghas Scheme. Each association will receive ₹10 lakh a year, and it will provide employment skills and hold activities that build brotherhood. As many as 6,000 associations will come up in gram panchayats and 4,000 associations will come up in city areas.

Under the Karnataka Mobility Grid Mission, steps will be taken to construct bypass roads, ring roads, and other measures to reduce traffic congestion in cities of the State.

“While living peacefully and abiding by the law, people should strive to allow people from other communities to live in harmony with them. Thus, we can move in the direction of growth and pull along with us all those who are lagging behind in growth. In this way, we can put into practice the constitutional principles and build a strong Bharat as dreamt by B.R. Ambedkar,” Mr. Khader said.

The Minister recalled his school days and said he was among the students who took part in activities during the Independence Day programme at Nehru Maidan. “I actively took part in activities then, and today I am on stage presiding over the programme. You have to strive to move up in your career,” Mr. Khader told students.

Earlier, Mr. Khader inspected the ceremonial parade involving the police, fire personnel, home guards, and students, which was commanded by Assistant Commissioner of Police (South) Vijaykranti and Reserve Police Sub-Inspector Mohammed Paigambar. The Minister felicitated the family members of 63-year-old Irene D’Souza, whose eyes were donated after she was declared brain dead following an accident in February 2026.

Published - August 15, 2026 06:43 pm IST