Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru Apr 15: Senior reporter of Kannada Prabha daily was conferred upon the PaGo award for rural reporting here at Press club on Saturday, April 15. He was awarded a cash prize of Rs 10,000 a certificate and memento for his article 'Nadige Bandu Soragida Koragaru' published in Kannada Prabha daily on July 26, last year.

Wagle handed over his cash prize to Roopa from the Koraga community, to meet her children's educational expenses. Roopa hails from Montepadav and lives with her two children Kavya and Manvith.

Speaking on occasion Sandeep Wagle said, "It's a great honour to receive the award in memory of Padyana Gopalakrishna Bhat. A platform needs to be created for journalists to receive such awards with self-respect. I did not know P Gopalakrishna Bhat personally but have just heard and read about him.

This award was conferred for my report 'Nadige Bandu Soragida Koragaru' on the Koraga community. I dedicate this award to them. I maintained that the cash money should have been handed over to a well-deserved family in the community. I, therefore, approached Jana Shikshana Trust and contacted Kamala, the president of Manjanaady Gram Panchayath. Through Kamala, I came across Roopa's family from Montepadav. I took the decision of handing over the cash for her children's education. The name 'PaGo' itself has a value of its own. It is monetarily immeasurable. I believe, money can't decide the value of the award."

Sukesh compered the program, Jeethendra Kundeshwar welcomed the gathering.

Udayavaani bureau chief Manohar Prasad, president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat Pradeep Kalkura, information officer Khader Shah, Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists Union president Jagannath Shetty Bala, secretary Srinivas were present at the ceremony.

PaGo award is instituted annually in memory of late Padyana Gopalkrishna Bhat by PaGo memorial trust and presented by the Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists Union (DKWJU).