Daijiworld Media Network—Moodbidri (RD/CN)
 
Moodbidri, Sep 10: Vilas Kumar Nitte, a reporter working with leading Kannada daily ‘Vijaya Karnataka’, was chosen for the ‘Rajesh Shibaje Honorary Award’ presented by the Udupi district unit of Patrakartara Vedike. 

The award was instituted in the name of late Rajesh Shibaje in recognition of his significant contributions to reporting.  “The award will be presented in a function to be held at Venkataramana Women’s College, Karkala, on Friday September 11”, announced Patrakartara Vedike district president Shekar Ajekar. 
 
Journalist Vilas Kumar had reported several key issues of common interest in 2006.  The selection committee comprising of Mumbai-published Kannada daily senior sub-editor Srinivas Jokatte, New Delhi-based ‘Sunday Indian’ senior page maker and past winner of the award Prakash Shetty Ulepady, and Sukumar Muniyal, Hebri reporter of ‘Prajavani’ and also a recipient of the award, chose Vilas for the award.
 
Vilas is a well-known Tulu dramatist and began reporting for ‘Vijaya Karnataka’ in 2004.  He was appointed reporter of Karkala taluk in 2006 and since then has contributed significant reports including the crusade against superstitious beliefs prevailing in rural villages.  He gave up his steady job with the Lamina Group to take up journalism full time.
 
He is the son of Jagannath and Prema Shetty, residents of Nitte, near here.  He is a commerce graduate, and has been a playwright of 11 Tulu plays that continue to be staged in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district. 

He has also won awards for his script writing, the significant one being the ‘Ratna Varma Heggade Drama Award’ in 2005 for his Tulu play ‘Kambalada Nadutonji Kathe’.