Brahmavara: Presenting the Karanth Birth-place award to the well-known friend of trees, who planted over 350 saplings near her home in Hulikal village in Magadi Taluk near Bangalore, and tended them like her own children R.D. minister Jagdish Shettar told a large meeting that it was rare event that a Gram Panchayat instituted an award in the name of a famous brave celebrity like Karanth born here. Shettar on Wednesday, Oct12, presented the karanth award to Salumarada Thimmakka who felt honoured to receive such an award in the name of a great Kannada writer and ecologist, who fought battles against Kaiga reactor and other environmentally harmful projects on coastal region in his lifetime.

The function was organised by Kottathattu GP at Giliyaru Shambhavi Vidyadayini School in Brahmavarh.

Shettar promised to strengthen GPs with annual grants of 9, 12 and 15 lakhs of rupees to improve villages having the basic population of 5, 10 and 15 thousand people. Every taluk having a larger population above 25,000 persons will get Rs2 crores annually, towards development of roads, drainage, water resources and agricultural facilities. He said the state stood first in the Panchayati Raj systems, and would remain so to assist common people.

Higher Education minister Dr. V.S. Acharya dedicated to local people, the Dr. Karanth Memorial “Kala Bhawan” building, completed at a cost of Rs2crores from Kannada and culture department.

A library with a reading room, educational activities, Summer camps, and special Day programmes will be conducted here, to make kota town a centre of cultural attractions and resources, Dr. Acharya stated.

A brass statue of Dr. Kota Shivarama Karanth was inaugurated by A.C. Kodgi, an economist. Kottathattu GP chairman Raghu Thingalaya presided on the Occasion.

Several local leaders of the society were present. Anand Kundr welcomed and Narendra Kumar thanked the gathering of distinguished scholars and celebrities. Kota Srinivasa Poojary, MLC, made the opening remarks.