JOIN US Former Union minister and veteran Congress leader R L Jalappa (90) (in pic) has been selected for the D Devaraj Urs Award 2015.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya said the award would be presented to Jalappa at the launch of the birth centenary celebrations of former chief minister Devaraj Urs on August 20 in Mysuru. Selection Committee chairman O Ananthramaiah said the award will be conferred on Jalappa in recognition of his service for the welfare of the backward classes. Jalappa ran several educational institutions under the banner of Devaraj Urs Educational Trust, which imparted free coaching for backward class students to prepare for competitive examinations, he said.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs two lakh and will be presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Anjaneya said the selection was based on the recommendation of the selection committee and there was no interference from the government. The year-long Urs centenary celebrations will be launched on August 20 and the foundation stone for Urs Bhavan will be laid at Hunsur, the hometown of Urs, the same day, the minister said. Jalappa served as a Union minister in the H D Deve Gowda Cabinet.