Of 68 Rajyotsava awards, those who served Kannada to get 10

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: It was decided that of the 68 Kannada Rajyotsava Awards, 10 must go to the people and organizations who have worked for the development of the Kannada language.

The same would be done on November 1, which is Karnataka Rajyotsava day, meaning the day on which Karnataka came into existence by way of the Reorganisation of States Act 1956.

Moreover, the upcoming Rajyotsava day also coincides with the 50th year of the state being renamed Karnataka since the same was done on November 1, 1973. It is being celebrated as ‘Karnataka Sambhrama’.

The decision about the recipients came when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired the high-level meeting of the Kannada Rajyotsava Award Selection Committee on Thursday.

The members of the selection committee held that 10 awards should be given to organizations that have worked in favour of Kannada in the context of the 50th anniversary of renaming the state as Karnataka.

“As many as 68 Rajyotsava awards are to be conferred this year and it was decided in the meeting to give away 10 awards to organizations on the occasion of Karnataka Sambhrama,” Siddaramaiah said.

The CM also suggested that the Rajyotsava Award should be bestowed upon the most deserving. “Regional justice must be followed. All castes, religions and genders should get representation while selecting the awardees,” he added.

Siddaramaiah said that since the number of applicants is high for Rajyotsava awards, the government, which had previously decided to give 50 awards for as many years to mark the renaming of the state, has now increased the number to 68.