Ballari | March 30, 2016: In the mining belt of Ballari, a mining baron and a steel giant are going to take centre stage at the Vijayanagar Sri Krishnadevaraya University’s convocation on Wednesday.

While the university would confer honorary doctorate (D.Litt.) degree on Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and MD of JSW Group and steel major, the convocation address would be delivered by Narendra Kumar Baldota, Chairman of Hosapete-based Baldota Group, which is into mining.

The honorary doctorate degree is also being conferred on S.M. Shivaprasad, senior scientist, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advance Research, Bengaluru.

M.S. Subhas, Vice-Chancellor, told reporters that of the 18 names proposed for doctorate degrees, the expert committee headed by retired judge Shivaraj Patil chose only two — Mr. Jindal and Mr. Shivaprasad — and the same were approved by the Governor. Mr. Jindal was chosen for his initiative to establish a mega integrated plant and for taking up various pro-people activities as part of corporate social responsibility, and bringing name and fame to Ballari district, he said.

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)