Hyderabad: The Ponnam Sattaiah Awards for 2026 were announced for M. Kodanda Reddy, Velichala Kondala Rao and Gotte Kanakavva. The annual Lifetime Achievement Awards recognised contributions in agriculture, literature and arts.
The Ponnam Sattaiah Charitable Trust presented the awards annually in memory of Ponnam Sattaiah. He was the father of State Minister Ponnam Prabhakar. Trust Vice-President Ponnam Ashok Goud announced the names of the three recipients on Sunday.
M. Kodanda Reddy, Chairman of the State Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Commission, was selected for his contributions to agriculture. Meanwhile, Velichala Kondala Rao was chosen for literature and Gotte Kanakavva for arts.
Ponnam Sattaiah Awards jury selects recipients
A jury committee headed by Convener Dr Ponnam Ravichandra selected the recipients. The committee included former Central Information Commissioner Madabhushi Sridhar and journalist Dileep Reddy. Civil Supplies Director G.V. Shyam Prasad Lal also served on the panel.
In addition, BC Study Circle Director Mamidi Harikrishna and writer Ainampudi Srilakshmi were members of the jury. The committee submitted the list of awardees on Sunday to Charitable Trust Chairman Ponnam Prabhakar.
Ashok Goud said the Trust had expanded the scope of the Ponnam Sattaiah Awards this year by adding agriculture. Consequently, the Trust selected a recipient from the agriculture sector for the first time. The award recognised distinguished service in the field.
Ponnam Sattaiah Awards ceremony planned at Ravindra Bharati
Ashok Goud said the Trust planned a special programme at Ravindra Bharati on September 13 at 2 pm. The event marked the 16th death anniversary of Ponnam Sattaiah. Each of the three recipients was set to receive a cash prize of ₹50,000. The Trust also planned to present each awardee with a memento and certificate of appreciation.
Ashok Goud said the awards aimed to recognise talented people rendering distinguished service to society across different fields. He said the initiative also sought to uphold Ponnam Sattaiah’s ideals.
Over the previous four years, the Trust honoured several people from literature and arts. Literature recipients included Naleswaram Sankaram, Nalimela Bhaskar, Chandrabose and Ampasayya Naveen.
Meanwhile, the arts category recognised Oggu Dharmayya, Comrade Vimalakka, Balagam Komuramma and Antadupula Ramadevi. With agriculture added this year, the awards covered another field of social contribution. Kodanda Reddy became the first person selected under the newly included agriculture category.