Speaking on the occasion, Reddy said, `Ashwattha vriksha'(banyan tree) symbolises the process of acquiring knowledge in Indian culture. In the same manner the journal started by YASHADA should inspire officers at grassroot levels to disseminate knowledge to the poorer sections of the society. The impact of the journal will be felt only after the officers begin initiating projects and schemes for the benefit of the poor, he opined.

``It is very appropriate that foundations of such a journal are laid in Pune, the city which known as a centre for dissemination of information,'' Reddy said.

Senior bureaucrats of the State government like Sharvaree Gokhale (secretary, women and child welfare), P D Karandikar (secretary, rural development), Dr S V Joshi (secretary, animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries), G M Pillai, director general of YASHADA were also present.