Transgender to get Rajyotsava award today

A transgender is one among the 28 achievers who will receive the district-level Kannada Rajyotsava award during a programme to be held at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hall, Office of Deputy Commissioner, on Friday.

Kajol, the transgender from Udupi, will receive the award from Udupi District In-charge Minister Jayamala.

When contacted, Kajol said that she was happy that the district administration had acknowledged her contributions in field of theatre. Kajol is also known for her talent as a Radio Jockey. She has delivered speeches tracing her struggle as a transgender in many programmes.

The other achievers are Gopal Acharya Theerthahalli, Gopal Ganiga, Raghavendra Acharya, M H Prasad Kumar (Yakshagana), K Narendra Pai (Agriculture), M Ismail Saheb (Education), Ramadas Palan, Manohar Shetty, Taranath Mesta Shiroor, Joseph Rebello (Social Service), Barkur Hrishikesha Bayari, N Balakrishna Vaidya, (Religion), Parameshwara Bhat, R Shreeshadas, Hiriyanna, Pravitha Ashok (Music), Sheena Panara (Folk), Jayaram Neelavara, Shlagha Saligrama (Art and Cinema), Akshatha Poojari, Mrinali Sachin Shetty, Gururaj Poojari (Sports), T S Hussain (Literature), Lorens Pinto (Architecture), Gokuldas Pai and Shekar Ajekar (Journalism).

Kannada Rajyotsava award will also be presented to associations like Hubhashika Koragara Yuva Kala Vedike, Jaladurga Mahila Sangha-Keelanje, Sammruddhi Mahila Mandali-Cherkadi, Yuvaka Mandala-Sanoor.