5 kids from State get Prez award

A total of 20 children, five of whom were from Karnataka, received the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement from the President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday.

In a function held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President presented this year’s awards, recognising children’s outstanding achievements in various fields. Along with the children’s awards, National Award for Child Welfare was also presented to institutions and individuals for their services to children. Also part of the evening was the special Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award, which was also bagged by the State.

Just 14, Sharadhi Shetty is a young innovator from Shiriyara village in Udupi. Her innovation is a Rain Sensor Model that protects drying clothes from drenching in sudden rains. Anil Kumar, also 14, is a talented child artiste from Banashakari, Bengaluru. He was recognised for his achievements in the ‘Culture’ category. He is best known for his lead role, Gopala, in the Kannada children’s feature film ‘Nanna Gopala’. Karate champion Syeda Sumaiya of Khazi Mohalla in Chitradurga was recognised for ‘Sports’. Four-year-old Satvik Nayak C of Puttur was recognised under ‘Culture and Social Service’ category. L Anjiniah is an artist with a vision who does not let his physical handicap hinder with his dreams and uses his feet to write and paint.