The President of India Shri Pranab Mukharjee
presented the “Dr. Ambedkar National Award for Social Understanding and
up-liftment of Weaker Sections for the year 2011, 2012 and 2014” at a function
here today. The function was organized by The Ambedkar Foundation under
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The award consists of a citation
and Rs. 10.00 lakh as cash prize. The
award for the year 2011 was
presented to Professor S.K. Thorat on New Delhi for
his contributions towards the upliftment of the downtrodden.
The award for the year 2012 was presented
to Samta Sainik Dal for its extraordinary services.
The award for the year 2014 was jointly presented to
Shri Babu Lal Nirmal of Rajasthan for his extraordinary contributions in
upholding the rights of poor persons in rural and urban areas of Baran District
and to Amar Sewa Sangam of Tamil Nadu for its extraordinary services
being extended for the welfare of the marginalized population of the society
including the physically and mentally challenged persons.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment
Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot presided over the function. Ministers of State for
Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale, Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar
and Shri Vijay Sampla, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Smt. Latha Krishna Rao and many other dignitaries were present.
The award was instituted by the Government of India
in the year 1992 and is given for outstanding contribution to the promotion of
Social Understanding and for the upliftment of the Weaker sections in India.
One Award each year is presented to individuals or organizations and is
presented jointly or shared by more than one recipient or organization as may
be considered by the Jury to be equally deserving of recognition in the year.
Addressing on the occasion President Shri Pranab
Mukherjee said that social justice is the most
important factor in the development of a developing country. He said that
political freedom is nothing, political liberation is nothing, political
justice is nothing, unless there is social justice. Indian Constitution starts
with “We the people of India” and it has given the people justice, equality and
liberty. He said that the Government alone cann’t do such things and the involvement
of people and organizations is necessary. He congratulated the Minister for Social
Justice and Empowerment Shri Gehlot
and Ministry officials for extraordinary work done by the Ministry. He
congratulated the awardees for this prestigious award and called upon the
people to emulate their principles.
Shri
Thaawarchand Gehlot in his address said that the Government has undertaken a
series of initiatives for social
justice and empowerment and ‘Samata and Samajik Samrasta’ are the guiding
principles in this direction. He dwelt upon many Government schemes being run
in the name of Dr. Ambedkar. He said that the five places relating to Dr. Ambedkar namely
Janam Bhoomi, Mhow, Shiksha Bhoomi 10, King Henry Road, London, Deeksha Bhoomi,
Nagpur, Parinirvan Bhoomi, 26, Alipur Road, New Delhi and Chaitya Bhoomi,
Dadar, Mumbai were declared
‘Panchtirth’ by the Government of India. Referring to Dr. Ambedkar scheme for
Social integration through Inter Caste marriages, the Minister said that the objective of the scheme is to appreciate
the socially bold step, of an Inter-Caste marriage, taken by the newly married
couple and to extend financial incentive to the couple to enable them to settle
down in the initial phase of the married life. He emphasized that the Government is committed for
the social, economic and educational uplift of the Scheduled Castes and has
therefore enunciated policies and schemes across different Ministries for
targeted benefit and progress of the scheduled castes. He said that Dr. Ambedkar
International Centre is being set up at 15, Janpath, New Delhi and Dr Ambedkar
National Memorial at 26, Alipur Road, Delhi.
Shri Ramdas
Athawale in his welcome address gave an overview of the prestigious Dr.
Ambedkar National Award for Social Understanding and Upliftment of Weaker
Sections. Smt. Latha Krishana Rao, Secretary proposed the Vote of Thanks.
Dr. Ambedkar
National Award for Social Understanding and Upliftment of Weaker Sections was
instituted by the Government of India in the year 1992, in pursuance of a decision
of the Centenary Celebrations Committee of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar headed
by the then Prime Minister of India. As per its Code of Procedure, the Award is
given for outstanding contribution to the promotion of Social Understanding and
for the Upliftment of the Weaker Sections in India. A Jury constituted for the
purpose considers the achievements of the individuals and organizations
nominated / recommended for the Award by the prescribed authorities. The
efforts made towards integrating the weaker sections into the mainstream of
Indian society, working for their socio-economic and educational upliftment is
the primary consideration in identifying the Awardee.
As per the
Code of Procedure of the National Award, one Award each year is presented to individuals
or organizations. The Award is presented jointly or shared by more than one
recipient or organization as may be considered by the Jury to be equally
deserving of recognition in the year. The award consists of a citation and Rs.
10.00 lakh as cash prize.
The Dr. Ambedkar National Award for Social
Understanding and Upliftment of Weaker Sections for the year 2014 was jointly
conferred on “Shri Babu Lal Nirmal, Rajasthan” for his extraordinary
contributions in upholding the rights of poor persons in rural and urban areas
of Baran District and on “Amar Sewa Sangam, Tamil Nadu” for its
extraordinary services being extended for the welfare of the marginalized
population of the society including the physically and mentally challenged
persons.
Born
on 9th July, 1959 in Ataru Rajasthan, Shri Babu Lal Nirmal, is
considered to be the voice of the oppressed and neglected people of the society
in Rajasthan. He is a known face in Baran district, who has established a
strong network for assisting the needy population in making them aware of their
rights.
Established
in the year 1981 in a thatched shed, Amar Sewa Sangam Ayikudy, Tirunelvili,
Tamil Nadu, today is a premier institution in the field of Divyangjan
Management in the country. The Sangam has raised their performance to prove to
the people that disability is not a constraint but only a condition that is to
be understood and lived with.
Dr. Ambedkar National Award for Social Understanding
and Upliftment of Weaker Sections for the year 2012 was conferred on “Samta
Sainik Dal” for it’s extraordinary services. The Samta Sainik Dal, an
independent and non-political organization was founded by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on
25th November 1926 for organizing public meetings of his followers
to participate in the activities for upliftment of the oppressed and neglected
people of the Indian society.
Dr.
Ambedkar National Award for Social Understanding and Upliftment of Weaker
Sections for the year 2011 is conferred on “Professor S.K. Thorat, New Delhi”
for his contributions towards the upliftment of the downtrodden. Born on 12th
July, 1949 in village-Mahimapur of District Amaravati, Maharashtra, Prof. S.K
Thorat is a well known scholar. He did his Ph.D in Economics from Jawahar Lal
Nehru University (JNU) and Diploma in Economic Planning from the Main School of
Planning, Warsaw, Poland.
The
President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Dr. Ambedkar National Award for
Social Understanding & Upliftment of Weaker Sections for the year 2014 to
Shri Babu Lal Nirmal, Rajasthan in New Delhi on May 26, 2017.
The
President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Dr. Ambedkar National Award for
Social Understanding & Upliftment of Weaker Sections for the year 2014 to
Amar Sewa Sangam, Tamil Nadu in New Delhi on 26th May 2017.
The
President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Dr. Ambedkar National Award for
Social Understanding & Upliftment of Weaker Sections for the year 2012 to
Samata Sainik Dal in New Delhi on 26th May 2017.
The
President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Dr. Ambedkar National Award for
Social Understanding & Upliftment of Weaker Sections for the year 2011 to
Professor S.K. Thorat in New Delhi on 26th May 2017.
The
President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the presentation of the Dr. Ambedkar
National Award for Social Understanding & Upliftment of Weaker Sections for
the year 2011, 2012 and 2014, in New Delhi on May 26, 2017. The Union Minister
for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot and the Ministers
of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Krishan Pal, Shri Vijay
Sampla and Shri Ramdas Athawale are also seen.
*****
Sanjay Kumar/jk/M/o-SJ&E/26-05-2017