Dr. V. S. Acharya confers Pa Go Award on Laxmi Machina

Dr. V. S. Acharya confers Pa Go Award on Laxmi Machina

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Mar 20: The Padyana Gopalakrishna (Pa Go) Award, instituted by the Pa Go Memorial Trust, was conferred on Laxmi Machina, a Belthangady-based journalist, for excellent rural reporting at the Press Club on March 20, Sunday.











State Higher Education Minister Dr. V. S. Acharya was the chief guest of the event. He presented the award, which comprised a memento, a shawl, a citation, and a cheque for Rs. 2001, sponsored by Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade.

In his address, Dr. Acharya said that these awards inspire others to present high-quality reports. Speaking of the importance of good reporting, he said that it alerts ministers to development work that still needs to be done and will awaken the elected representatives and the district administration to their duties and responsibilities. He also urged reporters not to focus too much on the negative things that happen and give equal importance to the reporting of positive happenings too. Good journalism should be factual and positive and should catalyze development, he added. He concluded by saying that the state has appointed the high education council and the knowledge commission.

Machin won the award for his news report “Banjkarumale Abhivruddi Kanasu – Kadinalli Kayutave Kutumbagalu” published in the Udayavani of Aug 26, 2010. In his address, he said that development gives rise to a number of problems. He urged elected representatives and ministers to respond to newspaper reports and help the victims come out of their situation.

Harsha, the president of Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists’ Union; Guruvappa Balepuni, the secretary; Vishweshwar Bhat, the son of Padyana Gopalakrishna; and U. Narasimha Rao were also present.

Harish Rai, the secretary of Press Club, delivered the welcome address and proposed the vote of thanks. Anand Shetty, the president of Press Club, spoke about the award.