Mysore/Mysuru: Stating that former Chief Minister late D. Devaraj Urs was not limited to just one class, MLC Dr. D. Thimmaiah said that Urs implemented programmes that were beneficial to all sections of the society.

He was speaking at ‘Dhwani Kotta Dhani’ award conferment programme organised jointly by the city’s Anveshana Seva Trust and Ursu Jagruti Academy Charitable Trust as part of the 11th anniversary of ‘Ursu Patrike’ at the Institution of Engineers-India (IEI) on JLB Road here yesterday.

Pointing out that Urs strived for eradication of bonded labour, manual scavenging and such other social evils, Dr. Thimmaiah said that Urs dedicated his entire life for the development of backward classes and marginalised communities.

“Urs brought in a revolutionary Legislation that gave land for the landless (Uluvuvane Bhumi Odeya – The tiller is the owner of the land). Urs, as the Chief Minister, gave a voice to the voiceless for which he is rightly called as ‘Dhwani Kotta Dhani’. Urs dedicated his entire life for the upliftment of the poor and the downtrodden,” he said.

Stating that he himself is a beneficiary of D. Devaraj Urs’ reforms, he said that Urs was the only leader who genuinely strived for the eradication of bonded labour. The contribution of Urs to the State will be remembered for long, he added.

Former MPVL Chairman H.A. Venkatesh, in his address, said that Urs introduced revolutionary land reforms. Noting that Urs ensured that the backward and marginalised classes got education and jobs, he said that Urs never practiced nepotism.

Observing that the current reservation system was introduced in 1994, he said that this reservation is unscientific in nature.

Noting that barring Urs, no other Chief Minister had the guts to receive the Backward Classes Commission Report, he urged for the introduction of a scientific reservation that truly benefits the backward classes.

Sri Kshetra Horanadu Dharmakarta G. Bhimeshwara Joshi, who presided and gave away the awards, said that the media is an important pillar of democracy just like the three other — Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.

Stressing on the role of the media in social transformation, he said that it is important to print socially influencing news that can make a huge societal impact by promoting social harmony, peace and prosperity.

Six senior Journalists of the city — Mysuru District Journalists Association (MDJA) President and Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra Chief Reporter S.T. Ravikumar (RK), Executive Editor of Kannada Prabha Amshi Prasannakumar, Chief Reporter of Vijayavani R. Krishna, Prajavani Mysuru Bureau Chief K. Narasimhamurthy, senior Chief Editor of Andolana T.V. Rajeshwar and The Hindu senior photographer M.A. Sriram — were conferred ‘Dhawani Kotta Dhani’ Award on the occasion.

Anveshana Seva Trust Founder-President Arya Amarnathraje Urs, former Kanteerava Studio Chairperson Vijayalakshmi Urs, Ursu Mandali President HMT Lingaraje Urs, Ursu Jagruti Academy Charitable Trust Vice-President H.A. Venkatesh, limericks poet Dr. MGR Urs, Vipra leader B.R. Nataraj Jois and others were present.