Ashok Kamath of Akshara Foundation was presented the ‘Namma Bengalurean of the Year’ 2019 award on Saturday for his work on revamping the public education system in Bengaluru and the rest of Karnataka. This is the 10th edition of the Namma Bengaluru Awards presented by Namma Bengaluru Foundation, a non-profit founded by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar. From this year, the awards are organised by a separate Namma Bengaluru Awards Trust.
Kamath had started the Ganitha Kalika Andolana (GKA), or Learn Math Movement, in partnership with the state Education Department to make Mathematics fun for children who otherwise fear the subject. He and his organisation have also developed an app called Building Blocks, available for android phones, and make simple math problems fun for children to grasp.
Along with Kamath, the other recipients of this year’s awards were – Udaya Kumar, history and stone inscription enthusiast who won the Citizen Individual of the Year; Deputy Chief of Bureau, Times of India Rohith BR won the award for the Media Person of the Year; Ravindra Kumar N, an Assistant Conservator of Forests-rank IFS officer, who won the Government Official of the Year; Rajesh Babu and Victoria Joslin D’Souza, co-founders of Swachha Eco Solutions who won Social Entrepreneurs of the Year award; and Meghana Murthy, founder, Smitam, who was accorded the Rising Star of the Year award.
The award ceremony was presided by Justice (Retd) MN Venkatachaliah.
Udaya along with his fellow enthusiasts are accidental historians and have been preserving overlooked Bengaluru history hidden in inscriptions on stones and carvings. He has restored inscriptions as old as 900 AD. So far, the team has managed to save 9 of 11 critical endangered stone inscriptions and they are trying to digitally secure all inscriptions via very high resolution 3D optical scans.
Rohith BR has actively reported on pressing civic, social and environmental issues, including the citizens’ fight for transparency and accountability in local governance. He also covered the environmental degradation of Bellandur and Varthur lakes in the city.
Ravindra Kumar N is popular among environmentalists; the state government was faced with protests when he was transferred from Bengaluru Urban Division. He had recovered 130 acres of Turahalli forest land during his brief tenure and initiated action against 60 encroachers irrespective of their political influence.
Swachha eco solutions are utilising technology in converting plastic waste into innovative durable products, which include products such as drip irrigation pipes, HDP water pipes and interlocking recyclable plastic tiles. They collect plastic waste across 54 wards in Bengaluru and recycle over 150 tonnes of plastic every month.
Meghana and her colleagues, mostly volunteers, work with school children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and help them excel in studies. She also deals with subjects like the menstrual hygiene targeting school girls who are generally unaware or shy to discuss the subject. Through the #NoHesitation programme, Smitam conducted workshops for over 1,200 girls from government schools about mensuration and highlighted the consequences of improper menstrual hygiene.
The theme of this year’s awards was Awakened, Aware, Active, Informed and Determined citizens can create change.
Other than the awardees, NBF also felicitated individuals and organisations for their demonstrated passion and compassion.
Uday Kumar, Shiva Kumar, Chetan Kumar BM and Prajwal HK, are students who were instrumental in saving the lives of two Surya Kiran pilots who crashed while training for the AERO India show in February.
Those who were felicitated in this category include Charlie’s Animal Rescue Centre (CARE) - an animal rescue centre founded by Sudha Narayana and her associates which began as a shelter for 10 dogs and cats and is now home to 200 animals, including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits and cattle.
Sangeeta Halimani, the constable from Yelahanka Police Station who breastfed and comforted a day-old baby found abandoned on the streets of the city was also recognised for this category