The Karnataka State government on 1 December 2011 announced its decision to confer the prestigious Basava Sri Award for the year 2010 on noted environment activist Medha Patkar. Social activist and Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar was chosen for the Basava award for the year 2010 for excellence in service in the social sector.
Basava Sri Award was instituted by the Karnataka government. Kannada and Culture Minister Govind Karjol declared the award carries a purse of Rs 10 lakh and a citation.
It was also declared that the Jakanachari Award for the year 2009 and 2010 will be conferred on K C Puttannachar and Venkatachalapati respectively. The Amarashilipi Jakanachari' award is given to talented sculptors and craftsmen. The award was previously won by sculptors K C Puttanachar and Venkatachalapthi for the year 2009 and 2010 respectively.
The Santa Shishunala Sharief Award for 2009 and 2010 is to be conferred on T V Raju and B K Sumitra, respectively. Both Jakanachari Award and Santa Shishunala Sharief Award carry a prize money of Rs three lakh and a citation.
The Karnataka government decided to felicitate noted Kannada writer S L Byrappa on being conferred with the prestigious Saraswathi Sanman award.
On the occasion of announcing the names of the awardees, Kannada and Culture Minister Govind Karjol also called for an end to practices like the Devadasi system and made snana, a ritual held at Kukke Subramanya temple by devotees rolling on plantain leaves left after partaking food.
category:national
