KU youth fest inaugurated

Kollam: Concerns expressed by poet Balachandran Chullikad reflects the deteriorating quality of education and the directionless reading habits within the educational institutions of the state, said the minister for local self-government, K T Jaleel here on Tuesday while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the five-day Kerala University Youth Festival 2018.
The minister said that the younger generation largely appears to have an aversion towards cultivating genuine reading habits. Instead of chiselling through books they just scrape through books or any reading material.
“Only those active in the cultural arena feel free to look at the face of administrators and tell that there are flaws in the administration,” Jaleel said. He said that only those with a heart for arts will have a humane outlook.
The inaugural function was presided over by the chairman of the festival reception committee K N Balagopal. The inaugural function was preceded by a colourful cultural procession by college students of Kollam city. The procession that began from the Convent Junction culminated at the inaugural venue.
The main competitions to be held on Wednesday include fancy dress (9am) and thiruvathra (4pm) at the main SN College venue; bharatanatyam (female) at 9am at the SN College for Women; bharatanatyam (male) at 2pm at the SN College for Women; mono act (male) at 9am at Fatima Mata National College; mono act (female) at 12 noon at Fatima Mata National College; light music (female) at 9am at Fatima Memorial Training College, Pallimukku; and light music (male) at 1pm at Fatima Memorial Training College, Pallimukku.