Rajyotsava Award for school set up by panelist draws flak

BENGALURU: Hours after the list of 64 Rajyotsava awardees were announced on Monday, a controversy broke out over the selection of a few recipients. They allegedly made it to the list last minute, skipping the mandatory selection committee scrutiny.

Prabhat Art International, a dance school, was selected for the Rajyotsava award for its contribution to society by training scores of dancers in the classical art forms of Kathak and Bharatanatyam .

Sources alleged that one of the founders of the school — Nirupama Rajendra — was part of the selection committee for the Rajyotsava awards 2019.

Rules make it clear that no member of the selection committee can recommend people or institutions linked to them for the awards.

Kannada and culture department minister C T Ravi said Nirupama was part of the suggestion committee, and not the selection committee that is headed by CM B S Yediyurappa.

Selection of media baron, hotelier draws criticism

The rules say that no member can nominate themselves for the award. Nirupama was not part of the selection committee, she was only associated with the suggestion committee.” But department sources pointed out that all those members who are on the 20-member suggestion committee have been automatically included in the 30-member selection committee.

The selection of media baron Vijay Sankeshwar and hotelier Prakash Shetty , two industrialists associated with the BJP, has also invited criticism. “Both Sankeshwar and Shetty are industrial stalwarts and have provided employment to thousands of people in Karnataka . Nepotism cannot be alleged in their selection,” said Ravi.

Meanwhile, sources claimed the decision to select Shetty and Prabhat Art International for Rajyotsava awards wasn’t taken by the selection committee but by the CM’s office.