Kolar, 31 Oct 

Upset over how the Central and State governments have been treating writers, Rajyotsava awardee-author Harihara Priya burnt most of the award he had received from the government in front of his Pustaka Mane (book house) on the outskirts of Malur in Kolar district on Thursday. 

Harihara Priya said he has received various awards, including the Rajyotsava award, Sahithya Academy award, Kempe Gowda award, Vardhamana award, Kavyananda award, Hampana Award and other awards, but these awards are useless, as they did nothing for him during his crisis.  

Harihara Priya, who had recently shifted from Bengaluru to Malur because he was unable to maintain his library in an urban area, had suffered a heart attack last year. He is upset because the authorities did provide any financial assistance to help his medical expenses.  

He said he borrowed money from various people to meet his medical needs when he fell ill last November, and now had to repay them, leaving him unable to buy his medicines. 

Various officials, including the Deputy Commissioner and, Chairman of the Kannada Development Authority, had visited him in November and assured him of assistance, but never delivered, he said.   

He said the government should take care of elderly achievers instead of awarding them.