Mangalore: Jaya C Suvarna, President of the All India Billawara Mahamandala was conferred the prestigious eighth annual Pingara Rajyotsava Award 2012 at a colourful function held at Town Hall on November 20, Tuesday.

Mangalore Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, conferred the award on Suvarna and said Suvarna deserved the award for his pioneering efforts in the upliftment and unity of the Billawa community. At the same time, he pointed out that the services of Suvarna was not restricted to his community  but to the entire society.

In his address,  Jaya C Suvarna, exhorted the society to strive towards achieving its goal in life without expecting anything in return. He also stated that the society and the democracy is strengthened when there is a strong media.

K Lakshminarayana Asranna, Chief Priest of kateel Temple, blessed the occasion. Abhayachandra Jain, MLA, V P Lobo, president, T3, Urban Developers Limited.

BJP leader Shrikar Prabhu, Felix D’Souza, Mumbai,  Roy Castelino, President of Rachana, former Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Harikrishna Punaroor,  Ramakrishna R, Press Club  President, Raymond D’Cunha, Editor of Pingara and others were present.