Mumbai, Sept 22: Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi today announced setting up of a best parliamentarian award sponsored by a private institution in the memory of veteran Congress leader V N Gadgil. Making the announcement on the 75th birth anniversary of Gadgil, Joshi said the parliamentary committee passed the award proposal as an exception keeping in view the invaluable contribution made by the Congress leader.

The committee further decided that this would be the only award sponsored by a private body for any parliamentarian, he added. The "V N Gadgil memorial best parliamentarian award" comprising Rs one lakh would be presented to two members of the bicameral Parliament every term. For Lok Sabha members, the award will be given once in five years and that for Rajya Sabha, once in six years, he said.

The selection committee will be headed by Joshi himself and comprise deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha Najma Heptullah, CPI (M) leader Somnath Chatterjee, BJP's Pramod Mahajan, Jaipal Reddy of Congress and journalist Indrajeet. Joshi further said the award will be given to those making positive contribution to house proceedings, good behaviour even outside the house. Preference will be given to young parliamentarians, he noted.

Anant Gadgil, son of V N Gadgil, said he preferred the award in the name of his father instead of a setting up his statue in the Parlianment.

The Pune-based "Kakasaheb Gadgil Pratishthan" has handed over Rs five lakh for the award, he said. Bureau Report