Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Leaders Honour Ramakrishna Hegde’s Legacy of Decentralised Governance
Leaders gathered in Bengaluru to remember Ramakrishna Hegde on his 100th birth anniversary.
Hegde was a former Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan called him a great leader who helped bring government closer to people.
Hegde supported local councils and gave them more responsibility.
Speakers said these ideas later influenced national Panchayati Raj reforms.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said a medical college and a road would be named after Hegde.
Karnataka also plans to give an annual award to the best-performing panchayat.
The leaders said Hegde believed that power should be used to serve people and that leaders should help create other leaders.
Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan described former Karnataka Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde as a great statesman, nationalist and creator of leaders.
At Hegde’s centenary programme in Bengaluru, speakers highlighted his decentralisation reforms and the 1985 law establishing local governing institutions.
Radhakrishnan said Hegde’s vision was later strengthened by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced plans to name a medical college in Uttara Kannada and a Bengaluru road after Hegde.
Karnataka plans to institute an annual Ramakrishna Hegde Best Panchayat Award to recognise high-performing panchayats.
- Who
- Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and other dignitaries paid tribute to former Karnataka Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde.
- What
- A centenary programme commemorated Hegde and examined his contributions to decentralisation, Panchayati Raj, accountability and public leadership.
- When
- Saturday, August 29, on Hegde’s 100th birth anniversary; the year was not specified.
- Where
- Vidhana Soudha, including its Banquet Hall, in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Why
- The event honoured Hegde’s legacy and promoted his vision of local governance, rural development, value-based politics and public service.
- Honouree
- Ramakrishna Hegde, former Chief Minister of Karnataka
- Occasion
- Hegde’s 100th birth anniversary
- Decentralisation law
- The Karnataka Zilla Parishads, Taluk Panchayat Samitis, Mandal Panchayats and Nyaya Panchayats Act, 1985
- National influence
- Speakers linked Hegde’s Panchayati Raj reforms to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment; Shivakumar also referred to influence on the 74th Amendment
- Planned memorials
- A proposed medical college in Uttara Kannada and a major road in Bengaluru’s Shivarama Karanth Layout are to be named after Hegde
- Proposed award
- The Ramakrishna Hegde Best Panchayat Award would be given annually to recognise the best-performing panchayat
- Accountability
- Radhakrishnan recalled Hegde’s emphasis on strengthening the Lokayukta in Karnataka
- Development figures
- Shivakumar compared Karnataka’s budget of about Rs 3,687 crore during 1982–87 with the present budget of about Rs 4.50 lakh crore
