Karnataka [India], November 21: Dr. H. S. Shetty met his promise of delivering 14 beautiful houses to the abjectly poor tribal families of the Koragas in Udupi district, Karnataka. Each fully equipped 2BHK house costs Rs 14 lakh. It is the first phase of Dr Shetty’s aim of delivering 100 free houses to the community.
Heggunje Rajeeva Shetty Charitable Trust, based in Bengaluru, entered a major milestone in its history of benevolence and social service on 17th November 2024. Dr. H. S. Shetty spearheaded the benevolent project of building 14 free houses for the abjectly poor Koraga families, Hardalli Mandalli Gram Panchayat in Karnataka’s Udupi district. Of the 14 houses, 10 are in Jannadi Koragar Colony, near BidkalKatte, and four are in Manigeri. The average cost of each house having a two-bedroom hall kitchen (2BHK) and a bathroom equipped with a water tank within 605 square feet was around Rs 14 lakh.
The Koragas, belonging to a primitive tribal community, are the most backward in society. They have been the sons of the soil for generations, over one and a half centuries. Their abject backwardness has compelled the entrepreneur Dr. H. S. Shetty, known for his many benevolent activities, to shelter them. Once a robust community of more than 50,000 people spread across Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, their population has dwindled to less than 7,000 today due to high mortality rates, low birth rates, and genetic disorders. Social stigma has compounded their struggles; despite being Hindus by default, they were labelled untouchables by the upper classes until three decades ago, allowed to eat only leftovers, and even resorting to eating dead cattle due to lack of food. Although classified as Scheduled Tribes (ST), the Koragas have not benefited from reservations, failing to secure a single government job since independence. Their lack of education and awareness has left them unable to compete for resources and opportunities within the broader ST category. If their plight continues unchecked, the community faces the threat of extinction within the next 30 years. “My effort is to save them, represent them, and fight for their rights,” says Dr. H. S. Shetty.
Dr Shetty, moved by their plight, has been a frequent visitor to the Koraga communities, engaging deeply with their struggles and aspirations. “I interact closely with them as a frequent visitor to this backward region. I have been convinced that they also deserve the fundamental necessity of a safe shelter in their life. Only charitable minds can help them come out of their homelessness,” says Dr. Shetty. Recognising their inability to afford permanent housing, he decided to take up their cause, ensuring they could live with dignity in a stable home. “Today, after building 14 beautiful houses for the Koraga families, I am happy that I have done something for the deserving society. I will continue to serve them with the best means I can,” he adds.
Dr. H. S. Shetty has a plan to build 100 houses for them. The 14-house project, which concluded with a housewarming ceremony on 17th November 2024, is just the beginning. The initiative was inaugurated with a Bhoomi Puja performed by Sri Vishwaprasannatheertha Swamiji of Pejavara Math on 21st March 2024 and completed on schedule. The Gruha Puja and Lokarpana were conducted by Sri Sri Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swamiji of Pejavara Math, while Mr. Kota Srinivasa Pujari, Member of Parliament from Udupi-Chikmagalur Constituency, handed over the title deeds and keys to the beneficiaries. Mr. K H Muniyappa, Karnataka’s Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, dedicated the houses to the Koraga families, further underscoring the significance of this humanitarian project.
Dr. H. S. Shetty, the founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of the Bengaluru-based Mysore Mercantile Company Ltd., is a renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist. A recipient of multiple state and central government awards, he is the first entrepreneur in India to set up a liquid cargo storage tank facility at Karwar Port to handle imported liquid cargo bitumen at high temperatures. He also built a large edible oil refinery at Mangalore Port two decades ago, a testament to his industrial acumen and vision. Through this housing project, Dr. H. S. Shetty not only showcases his commitment to societal upliftment but also paves the way for a brighter future for one of the most vulnerable communities in Karnataka.
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