Hema Bharali, a freedom movement leader and eminent social worker from Assam, will receive the National Communal Harmony Award 2005 in the 'individual' category.
The Ramakrishna Mission of West Bengal will receive the award in the 'organisation' category for its charitable and philanthropic activities.
Bharali, who hails from Guwahati, was an active member of Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan movement to redistribute land. The octogenarian Gandhian, who fought for the social uplift of people at large, also worked for peace during disturbances in Assam in 1960.
Bharali played a stellar role in helping the panic-stricken people of Tezpur and in adjoining areas of the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border during the Chinese aggression on India in 1962, said a statement.
She has also been engaged in rural development, prohibition and in rural development, prohibition and removal of social discrimination, welfare and empowerment of women and children, national integration, peace and non-violence.
The awards were instituted in 1996 by the National Foundation of Communal Harmony, an autonomous organisation set up by the government for promoting communal harmony and national integration.
In addition to a citation, the award carries a cash prize of Rs 500,000 and Rs 200,000 in the organisation and individual categories respectively.
{{/usCountry}}In addition to a citation, the award carries a cash prize of Rs 500,000 and Rs 200,000 in the organisation and individual categories respectively.
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