The list of awardees of the Kempegowda Award, the annual awards given by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has been downsized to 70 this year. Last year, the civic body drew flak for giving the award to 540 persons.
In a first, an external select committee has been formed, under the chairmanship of Justice A.J. Sadashiva (retd.), to select the deserving from different categories. Of the 10 members, only two are civic officials.
Sources in the palike said that the move to reduce the number of awardees is aimed at ‘restoring the prestige of the award’. “Each year, the number of awardees will coincide with the palike’s anniversary,” said a BBMP source.
Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjuna said that the committee will select around 100 names, which would be short-listed to 70. “The final list is expected to be ready by August 14. The presentation ceremony will be held between August 20 and 25 depending on the availability of the Chief Minister,” she said.
However, not everyone is happy with the decision to cut down the number of awardees. Former mayor B.S. Satyanarayana added that the award should be conferred on at least 200 achievers. “Our city has thousands of achievers. It is our duty and responsibility to identify and honour them. It encourages and inspires them to contribute more towards the growth and development of the city,” he said.
He also criticised the BBMP’s move to set up an external committee stating that elected representatives should have been taken into consideration.
Last year, the civic body had initially selected 328 people for the award. More names were added to the list in the last few days. Confusion and chaos had reigned at the award presentation ceremony last year, which stretched for close to four hours.
