CM gives Rs 25 lakh to Naveen’s family

Shyam Sundar Vattam|NT

Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai handed over a cheque for Rs 25 lakh to the family of Naveen Shekarappa Gyangoudar who died in a missile attack in Ukraine recently, as a solatium on behalf of the state government.

The CM who went to Chalageri village in Ranebennur taluk of Haveri district on Saturday, consoled Naveen’s family. He spoke to Shekarappa Gyangoudar, father of the deceased, and explained to him about the efforts being made by the government to bring back the mortal remains of Naveen to India.

Talking to reporters, Bommai said Naveen’s death came as a big shock as he was no way concerned about two warring nations, Russia and Ukraine. While his friends have safely returned home, Naveen unfortunately died in a missile attack launched by the Russian troops.

“I spoke to External Affairs Minister Jaishankar this morning and he informed me that the body of Naveen has been embalmed and kept in a mortuary. Once the intensity of water reduces, arrangements will be made to shift his body to India. Our External Affairs Minister is in constant touch with officials of the Indian Embassy in Ukraine and keeping track of the evacuation process”, he said.

He said another batch of 20 students reached a spot about 20 km away from the Ukraine capital and some were still stuck in underground bunkers in war-hit Ukraine. With the ceasefire announced by Russia, Government of India has hastened the process of bringing back Indians stranded in different cities of Ukraine as quickly as possible. Four Union ministers are camping along the borders of Ukraine to facilitate the operation of special flights to evacuate stranded Indians.

Bommai said the state government will be with Naveen’s family and his brother who is pursuing PhD will be given a suitable job in any of the government departments. He conceded that the solatium being given by the government will not bring back Naveen, but the government deems it as its duty to help innocent people who die in such conflicts.

Besides, the CM said his government will soon call a meeting of ministers, officials and the chief secretary to find out a solution to help poor meritorious students who are forced to go abroad for studies after not getting the opportunity to study in India.

This was a serious issue that needs a serious dialogue. The state government will do its part but the key is with the Union government to change the process of selection, so that poor meritorious students are not denied seats in engineering, medicine of the courses of their choice.

An early solution will be found in this regard at the earliest, so that such students can stay back and study in their hometowns, he added.

A number of ministers accompanied the CM to the house of the bereaved family.