Bengaluru, Dec 14: The Karnataka State Nataka Academy has announced the lifetime honorary awards, annual theatre awards and various endowment awards for 2018.

Lifetime honorary award: The Academy has selected senior theatre director and activist of Mysuru district, P Gangadhara Swamy for the award.

Annual theatre award: Ugama Srinivas of Bengaluru district (Amateur theatre, theatre organizer, actor and theatre critic), DL Nanjundaswamy of Tumkur (Rural theatre and theatre music), Jakavullha of Hassan district (actor, professional theatre), Prabhakar Joshi of Kalaburgi district (Actor, director, organizer, writer and amateur theatre), Vijayananda Karadigudda of Raichur district (professional theatre actor), Khajesab Jangi of Bagalkot district (professional theatre actor), Basappa Madari of Vijayapura district (professional theatre actor), M Ravi of Bengaluru district (actor, director), Jagadeesh Kenganala of Bengaluru rural district (actor, amateur theatre and organizer), Kiragasur Rajappa of Chamarajanagar district (theatre music, director and rural theatre), T Prabhakar Kalyani of Udupi district (actor, organizer, amateur theatre), S Anjinamma of Bellary district (actress, ancient theatre form), Savithri Narayanappa Goudara of Gadag district (actor, professional theatre), Makammal Hunasikatti of Belagavi district (actor, director, organizer), Hanumanthappa Bagalakoti of Chitradurga (professional theatre).

Dr KY Narayanaswamy of Kolar (theatre activist), Usha Bhandari of Dakshina Kannada (actress, director, amateur theatre), DM Rajakumar of Shivamogga (actor, amateur theatre), Anjinappa of Doddaballapura (Actor, amateur theatre), Hulivana Gangadharaiah of Tumkur (actor, organizer), Mohan Marnadu of Mumbai (actor, organizer), Kenchegowda T of Mandya (actor, rural theatre), Mime Ramesh of Mysuru (actor, organizer, director), Chindodi Chandradhara of Davangere (professional theatre, actor, company owner), Eshwaradala of Tumkur (actor, amateur theatre).

K Hirannaiah Endowment Award

The Academy has selected actor and director of Amateur theatre Nicholas (68) of Hassan district for Cultured Comedian K Hirannaiah Endowment Award.

Chindodi Veerappa Endowment Award

Professional theatre actor Mruthyunjaya Swamy Hiremath (72) of Shivamogga district was selected for Chindodi Veerappa Endowment Award.

Chindodi Leela Endowment Award

Professional theatre director, actor and organizer MS Malawada (62) of Dharwad district was given Padma Shri Chindodi Leela Endowment Award.

K Ramachandraiah Endowment Fund award

Amateur theatre actor NL Nagaraj (75) of Ramanagar district was given K Ramachandraiah Endowment Fund award.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday said the government has sanctioned procurement of 1,000 government buses in the next year’s budget.

According to him, in the current fiscal, 2,000 buses were sanctioned and many of them have already arrived.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, he alleged that the previous BJP government neither bought a single bus nor recruitment was done in the state transport department.

He was replying to BJP MLC Y M Satish’s request for buses for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.

“From 2019 to 2023, not a single bus was purchased in the four corporations. Not even one bus. If buses are not purchased continuously for four years, what will happen to the organisation?” Reddy asked.

He recalled that the last time buses were procured and recruitments took place were in 2016, when he was the transport minister during the previous Congress government from 2013 to 2018.

“After we came to power (from 2013), we procured 6,080 new buses. Then last year, 2,000 buses were provided, and many of them have already arrived. This year too, 1,000 buses have been sanctioned in the budget,” Reddy told the House.

He noted that 9,000 people were recruited and 1,300 people were appointed on compassionate grounds during the Congress tenure.

The Minister added that around 2,000 to 2,500 buses have been refurbished.

“In total, 6,080 buses came in two years. Last year’s 2,000 buses, and now 1,000 more. Altogether, we have about 26,000 buses. Out of these, nearly one-third have been added in the last two-and-a-half years,” Reddy said.

Satish told the Minister that at least 100 red buses and about 20 Volvo buses are required for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.

In response, Reddy said in 2022-23, 720 buses were given, and in 2024–25, 307 buses; in 2026, 140 buses—totalling 1,173 new buses were given to Kalyana Karnataka region.

There are around 4,000-odd buses in Kalyana Karnataka region, he said adding that another 400 buses have been tendered and funds have to be released.

“Additionally, 56 high-end buses—sleeper AC, non-sleeper AC, and Volvo buses—are also coming. Now, 400 buses are coming. Priority will be given to Ballari and Vijayanagara districts,” Reddy said.