Mangalore: Laxmi Machina, a Belthangady-based journalist has bagged the Padyana Gopalakrishna (Pa Go) Award for excellent rural reporting at the Press Club on March 20, Sunday. The award has been instituted by the Pa Go Memorial Trust.

Dr Acharya hand over Pa Go Award to Laxmi MachinaMangalore, Mar 20: Laxmi Machina, a Belthangady-based journalist has bagged the Padyana Gopalakrishna (Pa Go) Award for excellent rural reporting at the Press Club on March 20, Sunday. The award has been instituted by the Pa Go Memorial Trust.Participating as the chief guest, State Higher Education Minister Dr V S Acharya felicitated the award winner with a memento, a citation, and a shawl and the cash prize of Rs. 5001 sponsored by Dr. Veerendra Heggade, the dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala.Dr Acharya said that these awards, which are given in recognition of excellent reporting, encourage other journalists to give qualitative reports too.Earlier the ministers had the feeling that Dakshina Kannada has developed a lot, but the news paper report by some reporters made to realize that still they are from many developments. This kind of works must be done further which will realize the responsibility of the district administration and ministers.He also said that the newspapers of today focus on the negative happenings in society; this must be avoided because a lot of good also happens, which, if reported, will give people a positive feeling toward society.The journalist must be positive, factual and be Catalyst for development. Further speaking on various developments he said that the state has appointed the knowledge commission and higher educational council.Machina, bagged the award for his news report titled “Banjarumale Abhivruddi Kanasu – Kadinalli Kayuthave Kutumbagalu,” which was published in Udayavani dated Aug 26, 2010, was selected for this award. He said that when the development takes place in the state, the number of problems also increases. When the public representatives and ministers respond to the write-up rewritten by the journalists, it really helps the people who suffer in the situation.Harsha, President of Dakshina Kannada Working Journalist’s Union and Secretary Guruvappa Balepuni, Vishweshwar Bhat, son of Pa Go and U Narasimha Rao were present.Harish Rai, secretary of Press Club, welcomed the gathering and the guests and proposed vote of thanks. Anand Shetty, president of Press Club briefed on the award.