Krishna, comedian bag Padma awards

BY J.R.PRASAD
Hyderabad, Jan. 25: Yesteryear film actor, Gattamaneni Sivarama Krishna Murthy, or Krishna has been honoured with Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in the country on Sunday.Another actor, Dr Kanneganti Brahmanandam, noted comedian, was conferred with the coveted Padmashri. Along with him, Dr Alampur Saibaba Goud (medicine), Mr A. Shankar Reddy (literature and education), Mr Goriparthi Narasimha Raju Yadav (science and engineering) and Begum Bilkees I. Latif (social service) and Shyamala Pappu (law) were also honoured with Padmashri.“It is the long cherished dream of my fans. Now it has become a reality,” Krishna said. He thanked the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, for proposing his name.Brahmanandam, the popular comedian-actor said: “It is a great moment in my life. I find no words to express my happiness.”Dr Saibaba Goud, ophthalmologist and founder-chairman of the Devnar foundation for the blind said: “It is a recognition for serving the visually impaired for the last 30 years.”Mr Goriparthi Narasimha Raju Yadav perfected organic farming techniques to achieve record outputs.“I achieved higher yields through suitable cropping and farming systems. I demonstrated that use of organic manures can enhance crop production,” Yadav said.Others who won the award include Begum Bilkees I Latif wife of former chief of air staff, Air chief Marshal (retd.) I.H. Latif, is a social worker who stressed on family planning issues through women’s groups and Air Force Medical Centres all over India. As founder president of the society for human & environmental development (SHED) and the Dharavi Jan Shikshan Sanstha, she established centres for vocational training.As chairman, AP Central Social Welfare Board, she developed women’s training workshops for women sarpanchs and NGOs all over the state. She is also president of the Society for Clean Cities with its children’s complex in Mumbai.