Beltangady: State Co-Convener of the Co-ordination Committee for the protection of Rights of the Tribals Vittal Malekudiya will receive the Maanava Dharmapeetha Sadhbhaavana Award for 2015, which has been instituted by the Nidumamidi Mahasamsthana in Bengaluru.
The award is given to those involved in working for a better society, in recognition of their contribution to the society.
Vittal has been in the forefront of various movements aiming at providing better rights to the tribals.
Hailing from a small village called Kuthloor near Naravi, Vittal went on to be come the first from his village to pursue a post graduation degree.
Facing charges of being a Maoist supporter, Vittal was put behind bars but the brave young man wrote his Journalism examination in shackles.
In 2015, Vittal filed his nomination at Naravi Gram Panchayat to contest the election from Kutlur constituency under the panchayat which is in Belthangady taluk.
It may be recalled that when Sundara Malekudiya, a tribal lost his hand after a fight with the ‘landlord’ in the region, Vittal mobilised public opinion.
