Prez to give Communal Harmony Awards

Dr Ram Puniyani, former IIT Mumbai professor and Setu Charitable Trust, a social welfare organisation will be given the National Communal Harmony Awards for 2007 by President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday.

Dr Ram Puniyani, former IIT Mumbai professor and Setu Charitable Trust, a social welfare organisation will be given the National Communal Harmony Awards for 2007 by President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday.

HT Image

Dr Dominic Emmanuel, former media person involved in the service of inter-religious dialogue, and Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan, an organisation working for communal harmony, will get the award for 2008, an official release said.

The National Communal Harmony Awards were instituted in 1996 by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous organisation set up by the Home Ministry for promoting communal harmony and national integration.

The award carries Rs 5 lakh in cash for the organisation and Rs 2 lakh for the individual, besides a citation.

Puniyani will get the award for spreading the message of peace and amity.

Mumbai-based Setu Charitable Trust is engaged in rehabilitation of riot victims and their families and more especially, children orphaned by communal, caste and terrorist violence in Mumbai and in other parts of the country.

Dominic has been selected for the award in recognition of his services of inter-religious dialogue.

Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan, Delhi, has been working for communal harmony and holding historical festival, 'Phool Walon Ki Sair', every year, in Delhi for more than 40 years as a mark of solidarity among Hindus and Muslims.