National Communal Harmony Awards for 2009 and 2010 were presented by the Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari at a function.
Dr. Mohd. Hanif Khan Shastri received the award in the individual category for the year 2009. Dr Shastri is a Sanskrit scholar and has authored several books including Geeta Aur Quran men Samanjasya, Ved aur Quran se Mahamantra, and Gayatri aur Surah Fatiha. Dr. Shastri has dedicatedly worked to promote communal harmony through his books and talks.
Acharya Lokesh Munni received the award in the individual category for the year 2010. Acharya Lokesh Muni is a social worker and orator who has contributed towards communal harmony through his oratory and writings. He is the chief functionary of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati, a Delhi-based voluntary organisation which aims at promoting non-violence, peace and communal harmony. Acharya Lokesh Muni has been working to deescalate communal tension. He participated in a 1500 km walk from Haryana to Gujarat to promote communal harmony.
The Centre for Human Rights & Social Welfare received the award in the organisation category for the year 2009. The General Secretary of the organisation, Smt. Saroj Khan took the award. The Centre, registered in 1976, is working for communal harmony, human rights and rehabilitation of needy and deprived persons. Its activities include organising inter-faith dialogue, programmes of Milan on the occasions of Eid, Holi, Diwali and Christmas, communal harmony rallies, kavi sammelans, mushairas, etc. to promote communal harmony and national integration. The Centre has campaigned against terrorism and has been organising programmes to sensitize people on the rights of the homeless persons. The organisation actively participated in the rehabilitation work of the victims of bomb blasts that occurred in Jaipur in May 2008.
In his remarks, the Vice President said, the State has no choice but to intervene in instances of communal disharmony. He said that such interventions can either be preventive or corrective in nature. The general focus has remained on corrective steps. While this is necessary, it is not sufficient. We need a pervasive preventive approach to communal disharmony and a conscious programme of fostering communal harmony. Today's function is an important link in the efforts of the government in this regard, he added.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram in their speeches, stressed the need to maintain amity and harmony among various communities for inclusive development of the country. They expressed the hope that good work done by the awardees would inspire citizens to proactively work for the cause of social harmony.
The National Foundation for Communal Harmony was set up in 1992 as an autonomous organization to promote communal harmony and national integration by undertaking and encouraging activities which promote belief in the principles of non-violence and strengthen the bonds of unity and affinity amongst different groups and communities. In order to honour persons/organizations who have made outstanding contributions in the field, the Foundation has instituted two national awards to be conferred annually, one for an individual and another for an organization. In addition to a citation, the award carries a cash award of Rs 5.00 lakh and Rs. 2.00 lakh for the organization and individual categories respectively.
Ministers of State for Home, Shri Mullappally Ramchandran and Shri Jitendra Singh were present at today's function. Shri L.K. Advani was also among those who attended.
source: http://www.allcurrentaffairs.tk/2011/08/national-communal-harmony-awards.html#ixzz1TnRA785S
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