Bengaluru: Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has given assent to the ‘Karnataka Scheduled Castes (Sub-Classification) Bill-2025’, which had been pending for several days. With this, the process of recruitment to various government posts is expected to begin soon.

The Bill had earlier been kept pending by the Governor due to differences and concerns raised over the distribution of internal reservation among sub-groups within the Scheduled Castes.

In the meantime, a delegation led by Social Welfare Minister Dr H.C. Mahadevappa, along with ministers K.H. Muniyappa, Dr G. Parameshwara, R.B. Thimmapur, Priyank Kharge and Satish Jarkiholi, met the Governor and requested him to grant assent to the Bill.

During the discussions, they also referred to the protests by job aspirants in Dharwad demanding that recruitment be initiated. Following this, the Governor signed the ‘Karnataka Scheduled Castes (Sub-Classification) Bill-2025’. The government is now likely to commence recruitment procedures shortly.

The Bill relating to internal reservation among Scheduled Castes was introduced and passed on December 19 during the winter session held at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi. It was then sent to the Governor for assent.

Earlier, the Governor had returned the Bill to the government seeking clarifications, which temporarily delayed the implementation of internal reservation.

As per the recommendations of the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission, quota distribution has been fixed at 6 per cent for Left-Hand sub-groups, 6 per cent for Right-Hand sub-groups, and 5 per cent for other sub-groups including Koracha, Lambani and Bhovi.

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Bengaluru: The Karnataka Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) has announced its annual awards for the year 2024, recognising journalists across various categories.

Vartha Bharati journalists Yogesh Mallur and Abdul Rehiman Talapady are among the awardees. Yogesh Mallur has been selected for the G. Narayanaswamy Award for Best Rural Reporting, while Abdul Rehiman Talapady has been honoured under the Tagadoor Kamalamma Veeregowda Award for reporting on farmers’ livelihoods and distress.

The awards will be presented at the 40th State Journalists’ Conference to be held in Bidar on April 11 and 12, KUWJ state president Shivanand Tagadur and general secretary G.C. Lokesh said in a release.

Details of the awards:

1. G. Narayanaswamy Award (Best Rural Report)
Yogesh Mallur, Vartha Bharati, Bengaluru
K.A. Ismail, Shakti, Kodagu

2. Patel Bhairahanumayya Award (Best Humanitarian Report)
Mallaiah Polampally, Kannada Prabha, Shahpur, Yadgir
Ravikumar Kaggannavara, Kannamma, Dharwad

3. Giridhar Award (Best Crime Report)
Basavaraja Kattimani, Kannada Prabha, Hunasagi, Yadgiri
P.K. Ravikumar, Vijayavani, Mysuru

4. B.S. Venkataram Award (Best Scoop Report)
Odesh Sakleshpur, Prajavani, Ramanagara
Mahesh Munnayyanvara Math, Prajavani, Mahalingapur, Bagalkot

5. K.A. Nettakalappa Award (Best Sports Report)
Narayanarao Deshpande, Samyukta Karnataka, Hubballi
Prasad Shettigar, Vijayavani, Bengaluru

6. Khadri Shamanna Award (Best Political Criticism)
Dayashankar Maili, Sudi Mula, Mysuru
Shankar Pagoji, Udayakala

7. Mangala M.C. Varghese Award (Weekly Newspaper Article)
M.G. Nayak, Sudha (Prajavani), Kumta, Uttara Kannada
Venkatesh S. Sampa, Editor, Sampada Saalu

8. Tagadoor Kamalamma Veeregowda Award (Farmers’ Life and Suffering)

Jayaramu, Samyukta Karnataka, Channarayapatna
Abdul Rehiman Talapady, Vartha Bharati, Mangaluru
Indira, Hospet Times, Hospet

9. R.L. Vasudevarao Award (Forest Report)
P. Paramesh, Sudi Mula, Manvi, Raichur
Koushalya D. Falanakar, Gumbaz Express, Vijayapura

10. R.L. Vasudevarao Award (Wildlife Report)
Nagaraj Navimane, Vijaya Karnataka, Mysuru
M. Narasimha Murthy, Kannada Prabha, Bengaluru South

11. B.G. Thimmappaiah Award (Economically Weaker Section Report)
12.
Rajesh Shetty Dota, Vijayavani, Mangaluru
Sharat Kumar S., Udayavani, Shivamogga

12. Mandibele Shamanna Memorial Award (Rural People’s Life Report)
Shankar Katte Malalawadi, Janamitra, Hunsur
Shivaraj Sunkada, Mudgal, Lingasugur, Raichur
Prashant Pade, Udayavani, Kundapura, Udupi

13. Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Memorial Award (Bengaluru Urban and Rural)
H.P. Praveen
Prashanth Rippanpet
V.S. Honnachar, Leaders Weekly
Zukriya, Times of Karnataka

14. Yajaman T. Narayanappa Memorial Award (Best Agricultural Report at District Level)

Venkatesh Gudeppanavara, Vijayavani, Mudhol, Bagalkot
Manjunath N., Bellary, Kavithal, Raichur

15. Nadigera Krishna Raya Award

Sathish Babu, Udayavani, Bengaluru
A. Akshara, Senior Journalist

16. Sunnuvanda Srinivas Changappa Award (Report on Soldiers)

A. Appaji Gowda, Mulbagal, Kolar

17. K.N. Subramanya Award (English Newspaper Report)
Apyan Yasmin, The Hindu
Vikar Ahmed, Frontline, Bengaluru

18. T.K. Malagonda Award (Investigative Report)

Sivananda Hiremath, Vijayavani, Gadag

Tiptur Krishna, Adityavani, Tiptur

19. Actor-Director Dwarakish Memorial Award (Film Category)

S. Jagadish Kumar, Cine Suddi

20. Abhimani Prakashan Award

Mahesh Hegde, Samyukta Karnataka, Sagar, Shivamogga

Ravindra Talagade, Vijaya Karnataka, Ballari

21. Best Page Designers
Sandesh, Pratinidhi, Mysuru

22. Best Desk Management
Vijayakumar, Vijayavani

23. Newsreel (Report with Photograph)
K.V. Balaram, Kikkeri, Mandya
M.R. Manjunath, Senior Photographer

24. Photography / Cameramen
Ganesh, Vijaya Karnataka
Babu Mia, Kalaburagi

25. Ganesh G. Award
M.P. Arun Kumar, City Highlights, Shivamogga
Mahantesh, Andolana, Mysuru

26. K. Prahladrao (Mandya) Award
K.S. Janardhanachari, E Sanje
Ramesh K., Kannada Prabha, Bangarapet, Kolar
K.V. Nagaraj, Prajavani, N.R. Pura, Chikkamagaluru

27. Garudanagiri Nagaraj Award
B. Shivarudrappa, Kannada Prabha, Holalkere, Chitradurga
Ramesh Kumar Naik, Vishwavani
Ramakrishna, Samyukta Karnataka, Mangaluru

28. Gurulingaswamy Holimath Award

Devaraja Kappasogi, Kannada Prabha, Chamarajanagar

Navyajyoti, Hosa Diganta

29. Prajapragati Award
Rabindra Talagade, Vijaya Karnataka, Ballari
Brahmananda Hadagali, Kannada Prabha, Belagavi

30. B.A. Nandikolumath Award
H.K. Nataraj, Udayavani, Davanagere
Ramachandraiah, Kunigal, Samajvani, Tumakur

Electronic Media (TV) Section:

Best Political Analysis

Prashanth Natu, Suvarna TV
Pramod, TV9

Best Anchor

Arun C. Badiger, Public TV
Kiran Kumar D.K.

Development / Social / Humanitarian Report

P.D. Veeranna, Chandana TV, Tumakuru
Thimme Gowda, News18, Bengaluru
Maruti Pavagada, Guarantee News
Raju B.R., News 1st, Koppal
Vithala Caravada, Republic Kannada, Davanagere
Mohanakrishna, Akashvani / Doordarshan, Hassan

KUWJ Special Awards:

Vijaya Biradar, Jamkhandi
Sridhara Uchila, Mumbai
Srikanth, Kasaragod
Sanjeevarao Kulkarni