National Communal Harmony Awards for 2006 announced
The Institute for Socialist Education, New Delhi has received the National Communal Harmony Award for 2006 in the organization category and Shri Rabindra Nath Upadhyay of Baksa, Assam in the individual category. In addition to a citation, the award carries a cash award of Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 2 lakh in the organization and individual categories respectively.
The Institute for Socialist Education, New Delhi started in 1970 basically to promote the secular ideals of freedom movement and combat communal fundamentalism by creating awareness among the people through meetings, conventions, seminars and group discussions at various levels throughout the country. This organization has been actively working to promote communal harmony among different communities, transcending all barriers of religious or ethnic differences.
Shri Rabindra Nath Upadhyay of Baksa, Assam is an octogenarian Gandhian to the core, distinguished freedom fighter, front ranking leader of Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan movement and eminent social worker who fought for the cause of socio-economic upliftment of the people at large. He works to promote truth, non-violence, communal harmony and national integration in the North Eastern region, create an atmosphere of peace and harmony and foster unity in some of the communally disturbed areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura. His devoted efforts for constructive work and crusade in the fields of Khadi & village industries, social welfare and social justice have earned appreciation. His creation Tamulpur Anchalik Gramdan Sangha (TAGS) works for constructive work and his contribution in the field of communal harmony over several decades is noteworthy and significant.
Qaumi Ekta Trust (1997), Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan (1999), Bhakti Sahitya Shodh Sansthan (2000), National Youth Project Trust (2003), Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj (2004) and Ramakrishna Mission (2005) have been conferred this award in the Organization category and Asghar Ali Engineer (1997), Maulana Wahidudin Khan (1998), His Holiness Shri Jagadguru Dr. Tontada Siddalinga Mahaswamiji (2001), Begam Syeda Naseem Chishti (2002), Acharya Mahaprajna (2004) & Ms. Hema Bharali (2005) have been conferred this award in the Individual category in the past.
The National Communal Harmony Awards were instituted in 1996 by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous organization set up by Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, for promoting communal harmony and national integration. The award had been instituted with a view to demonstrating due appreciation and recognition by the Union Government of the efforts of individuals and organizations for promotion of communal harmony and national integration in a sustained manner over a sufficiently long period of time.
OK/SAK/PKM
(Release ID :24377)