Minister HK Patil Lauds Teen’s Honesty In Lakkundi Gold Find, State Cabinet To Decide On Honour And Assistance
The minister said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had praised the boy’s integrity, remarking that the act of honestly handing over the recovered items was more valuable than the objects themselves.
Gadag: Tourism and Gadag District In-charge Minister H.K. Patil, who visited the historic village of Lakkundi on Tuesday, praised the exemplary honesty of 14-year-old Prajwal Ritti for ensuring that gold ornaments found a few days ago were handed over to the authorities, and said the Cabinet would decide on recognition and support for the family.
Addressing a press conference at the Lakshminarayana Temple in Lakkundi, Patil said gold ornaments weighing 466 grams and a copper pot weighing 634 grams have been secured by the district administration.
He said Prajwal Ritti safely secured the items and later handed them over to the district administration after consulting villagers, calling it a rare example of integrity.
Stating that the Ritti family comes from a modest background, the minister assured that the government would extend all possible assistance.
“Any honour or recognition given to this family will be an honour not just to them but to the entire village of Lakkundi,” he said.
Patil said the matter would be taken up at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, with a decision on the form of recognition and assistance for the family expected by the evening.
The minister said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had praised the boy’s integrity, remarking that the act of honestly handing over the recovered items was more valuable than the objects themselves.
Highlighting Lakkundi’s rich past, Patil said the village, which was once under the rule of the Rashtrakutas and the Chalukyas, is of immense historical significance. He noted that such unexpected discoveries are not uncommon in ancient settlements and added that the State government is making sustained efforts to have Lakkundi declared a World Heritage Site.
Observing that instances of people honestly returning valuable artefacts are rare across the world, the minister said that under Lakkundi’s antiquities collection programme, villagers have already handed over more than 1,100 antiquities to the government, reflecting the village’s strong cultural values and heritage consciousness.
