GALAXY OF DIGNITARIES: (From left) Governor of Kerala R.L. Bhatia, the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Governor of Chhattisgarh K.M. Seth, the former Chairman of ISRO U.R. Rao and Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajasekharan at a dis cussion which was part of the Karnataka State Intellectual's Conference, in Bangalore on Sunday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: "Inefficient functioning" of the vital wings of democracy has put the survival of the system in the country at stake, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, has said.

Participating in a discussion on "Awareness of legal rights and duties in maintaining peace and harmony — the role of intellectuals" here on Sunday, Mr. Deve Gowda said as the legislature, executive and judiciary were not functioning well the benefits of economic growth as a result of globalisation were not reaching the common man.

"It is being cornered by the so-called intellectuals of the country. This issue needs to be first addressed," he said.

The discussion was part of Karnataka State Intellectual's Conference.

Mr. Deve Gowda said the gap between the rich and the poor was widening with every passing day.

Peace and harmony could not be achieved unless this disparity was bridged.

People in power continued to use their authority to get works done in their favour, Mr. Deve Gowda lamented.

Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajasekharan said though the country had progressed in science and technology this had not helped people in the rural areas.

Though there was no dearth of intellectuals, what the country lacked was the way to translate their work for the benefit of the common man.

Growth

Former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation U.R. Rao, who was one of 12 persons to receive State Intellectuals Honour, said the Government should give impetus to the agricultural sector, which sustained 70 per cent of the population.

He said the country could not sustain 8 per cent growth for long with the agricultural sector's contribution being 2 per cent.

Policy-makers should focus on reaching the benefits of science and technology to the rural masses so that the agricultural sector received a boost.

Governor of Kerala R.L. Bhatia and Governor of Chhattisgarh K.M. Seth spoke.

Honoured

Former Chief Justice of Karnataka and Kerala High Courts V.S. Malimath; chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission H.N. Krishna; Director-General and Inspector-General of Police B.S. Sial; chairman and managing director of BEML V.R.S. Natarajan; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, S.A. Patil; Commissioner, Housing Board, M. Laxminarayan; K.C. Srinivas, philianthropist; founder of Bharat Education Society B.L. Lakke Gowda; M.B. Basavaraj, industrialist; N.P. Dev and Shashidar received the State Intellectuals Honour.

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