Chairman of the Kannada Book Authority Banjgere Jayaprakash praised the contribution of 12th century social reformers towards the enrichment of Kannada and world literature.
Speaking after conferring the Kannadanadu Sahitya Shree lifetime achievement award to Kannada writer Veerendra Simpi and awarding writers S.S. Gubbi, S.M. Patil and Shivaram Asundi for their books, Mr. Jayaprakash said that there was a need to protecting vachanas and to take up studies and research activities for posterity.
The authority proposed to take up various programmes to increase reading habits and interest in Kannada books by organising book exhibitions in all the districts throughout the year.
The authority has earmarked Rs. 10 lakh to organise book exhibitions.