Charkha National Development and Communication Network and Communication for Development and Learning on Monday gave away the 'Mentor Award” for encouraging development journalism in Kannada to Shree Padre, founder-editor of Adike Patrike.

Two other journalists  -Ravindra G Bhat, Senior Reporter in Prajavani, and Rajashekhara Hegade (Joginmane), Senior Sub-Editor in Udayavani, were conferred the “Charkha Award” for excellence in development journalism.
Awards were presented by Governor T N Chaturvedi at Raj Bhavan in Bangalore. Mentor award carries a memento and a citation, while Charkha Award carries Rs 10,000 cash and a citation.

The mentor award is instituted in memory of late Sanjoy Das Gupta, who encouraged and nurtured concepts and initiatives towards a common social good. Mr Padre is also a freelance journalist and a water specialist based in Kasargod. Mr Ravindra Bhat got the award for his feature ‘Baagilige Banda Bhaageerathi’ that draws attention to Gendethur village in Mysore district, where all the households have adopted rain-water harvesting and how it improved the villagers’ lives, while Mr Hegade got the award for his article ‘Neeru Mattu Samasyegala Maaraata’ based on the impacts of water privatisation on the common man. ‘Waternama’, a collection of articles on traditional practices for water conservation and management in Karnataka was released on the occasion.