From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Oct 14: Former minister in the Ramakrishna Hegde-led Janata Party regime, C Veeranna (76) has been selected for the Sri Maharshi Valimiki Jayanti Award, instituted by the state government for the year 2016-17.
The prestigious award carries a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh and a citation, which will be presented to Veeranna by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a function to be held at the Banquet Hall of the Vidhana Soudha on Saturday.
Born on April 23, 1940, Veeranna hails from Koratagere in Tumakuru district and served as the Minister in the Janata Party government headed by late Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde and held the portfolios of small savings, transport, commerce and industries and prisons.
Owing to his efforts, various communities such as Nayak, Nayaka, Beda, Bedar and Valmiki have been included in the Scheduled Tribes community.
Veeranna entered politics in 1972 and was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Koratagere constituency in 1983.
He was re-elected in 1985 and was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly.
During his tenure as the small savings ministers, Veeranna was instrukejtal in making Karnataka as the number one in small savings in the country.