Rajendra Rana, Santosh Yadav among 20 to be honoured

Chandigarh, Aug 16 (UNI) Magsaysay award winner Rajendra Rana, eminent mountaineer Santosh Yadav, cinematographer Mammohan Singh and veteran freedon fighter Ranbir Singh will be among 20 persons to be honoured with Rajiv Gandhi awards on the late Prime Minister's birth anniversary on August 20.

The awards would be given by the Rajiv Gandhi National Youth Development Organisation (RGNYDO) and Haryana Pradesh Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress to ''sons and daughters of Haryana who have excelled in diverse fields nationally and internationally, Haryana Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala, convenor of RGNYDO, told reporters here today.

Devi Dayal, a great grandson of 1857 martyr Mangal Pandey, would also be honoured in the freedom fighter category, Mr Surjewala. Devi Dayal's family had settled in Radaur in Yamunanagar district of Haryana.

In sports category, Suresh Kumar (Kabaddi), Mamta Kharab (Hockey), Seema Antil (Discus Throw) and Geetika Jakhar (Wrestling) would be honoured.

Besides Ms Santosh Yadav in Adventure category Dr Kamal Vikku, first Indian woman to spend longest period of 16 months in Antartica, would also be awarded.

Agricultural scientist Jagdish Chand Katyal, vice-cahancellor of Agriculture University Hisar, model agriculturist Kanwal Singh Chauhan, businessman Amit Goel, educationist Kamla Devi and War Heroes Col Hoshiar Singh and Maj Balwan Singh would also be honoured.

Among the other awardees would be Mahila Sarpanch Aasubi Khan of Mewat district, best Zila Parishad chairman Brij Lal, and Mr Vijay Garg who was IES topper in Electronics and Communications Engineering in 2006.

The awards would be presented at a function in Panchkula where Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda would be the chief guest and AICC spokesperson Satyavrat Chaturvedi would be the guest of honour. All India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress chairman Shamsher Singh would preside over the function.

UNI