BANGALORE: The list of BBMP’s Kempegowda awards for distinguished citizens had 136 names on Thursday. The number is likely to touch 150 by Friday evening. Till Wednesday, the BBMP was saying it would award only 100, but the number had soared to 136 by the time Mayor B S Sathyanarayana announced the list at a press meet on Thursday.
Defending the length, he said the BBMP council’s term would end next year and Kempegowda Jayanti might not be celebrated then. “That is why this list is long,” he said. When asked if more names would be added, he said in a city like Bangalore, with a population of one crore, some deserving names might have been left out.
“We can add them at the last moment. However, the number will not cross 150,” he said. The BBMP had received more than 600 applications and recommendation letters this year.
Prof G Venkatasubbaiah, centenarian-lexicographer and Vinay Kumar, who was captain of the Karnataka Ranji team, are on the list.
“Every year, a fixed amount is allotted for the Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations. This year, since the number of awardees is high, we have reduced the cash component to `12,000,” he explained.
When reminded that the number of Rajyotsava awards given by the state government does not exceed 50, the mayor said it was difficult to restrict the Kempegowda awards. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will present the awards on Friday, Kempegowda Jayanti, at Rajkumar Glass House.
Eleven people will be given awards for social service, 28 for sports, six for education, nine for literature, 20 for theatre and cinema, and three for dance. Similarly, 11 will be honoured for music, eight for medical service, 22 for media, and one for science and technology.
The awardees include film director KSL Swamy, actor Ramesh Bhat and UN awardee Ashwini Angadi.
As many as 125 employees working for the BBMP will also get awards.
Speaking to Express, Standing Committee (Administration) chairman Lakshmikanth Reddy said, “We have selected those who do not have any corruption charges against them.” Each awardee gets a silver memento of 200 grams, half a kilo of dry fruits and a certificate.
Dwindling Purse
In 2013, BBMP honoured 103 people and gave them Rs 15,000 each. In 2012, the number was 50 and the winners got Rs 25,000 each. This year’s winners get just Rs 12,000 each.