Swami Agnivesh selected for M A Thomas Award

Bangalore, June 26 (UNI) Noted human rights activist Swami Agnivesh has been selected for this year's prestigious M A Thomas National Human Rights Award, instituted by Vigil India Movement, in recognition of his contribution to protection of human rights.

Informing this to newspersons here today, Movement Trustee Mr Justice P P Bopanna said the award carried a purse of Rs one lakh and a citation.

The three-member jury comprising former Supreme Court judge Mr Justice K T Thomas, former Karnataka High Court judge Mr Justice Bopanna and former Indian Ambassador to Australia Akber Mirza Khalili, selected Swami Agnivesh from among 50 entries, he said. Swami Agnivesh, the former Chairperson of United Nations Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, had been in the forefront of agitation against bonded and child labour. He had led an anti-liquor movement, which forced the Haryana Government to introduce prohibition. He had toured across the country to promote self-confidence and awareness among the vulnerable sections of the society.

Former Supreme Court judge Mr Justice V R Krishna Iyer and Narmada Bachao Andholan leader Medha Patkar were among the recipients of the award, instituted in 1977.

The award would be presented at a function in Thiruvananthapuram during the first week of August.

UNI MSP GD MSJ DS1455