Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 3 (UNI) Ms. Maneka Gandhi and Cardinal Baselios Cleemis have been selected for Dr. Mangalam Swaminathan Foundation's (MSF) National Excellence in the field of social service, titled 'Shri Dattopant Thengadi Seva Samman-2024.'
Dr. Mangalam Swaminathan National Award for Excellence in Journalism 2024 is being awarded to P Narayanan, retired chief editor, Janmabhumi Daily, who writes widely-read popular column Sanghapathathiloode.
"It is one of the longest-running columns in Malayalam media and has been an integral feature of Janmabhumi’s weekend edition for over two decades. The Foundation has announced ten prestigious national awards in various fields for their exceptional contribution to our national life," Foundation Chairman and Managing Trustee Dr. R. Balashankar said in a press release.
The National Award for Excellence in Science Reporting & contribution to popularising the idea of organic farming on a big canvas in Punjab is being awarded to Umendra Dutt, Executive Director, Kheti Virasat Mission.
The National Award for Excellence in Art and Culture 2024 is being conferred on Sathyanarayana Raju, renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The National Award for Excellence in Exposing Medical Malpractices 2024 is being awarded to Jeejo John Puthezhath, Special Correspondent, Malayala Manorama, Kochi, for his decade-long tenacious investigation into the darkest recesses of human exploitation by organ trafficking syndicates that operated on a global scale.
This year, four National Awards for Excellence in the field of social service titled “Shri Dattopant Thengadi Seva Samman-2024 are being conferred on Ms. Meneka Gandhi for her contribution to creating awareness of compassion and protection of animals and environments at the national level, and Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church and Major Archbishop of Trivandrum, who has through his numerous social service organisations transformed the lives of thousands of poor and needy families throughout India.
The other two recipients of the same awards are G. Rajamohan, Chairman, Saraswathi Vidyalaya, for his contribution in the field of school education, and Hareesh Kumar P, Founder of Niveditha Thozhil.
Parisheelana Seva Kendram, Kozhikode, Kerala, for his pioneering work in
empowering thousands of women through free career-orientated education.
The two National Awards for Excellence in the category of Pravasi Bharatiyas for their contribution to national life 2024 are being conferred on Nazeer V Koyakutty, CEO, BorgRollsWarner Ltd, UK.
for his successful corporate venture and contribution to a large number of service activities, which is changing the lives of thousands of needy people, particularly in helping people in old age homes and advocating for autism awareness.
The Pravasi Bharatiyas award is also being conferred on Ajith Nayar, CEO, CamCom Technologies, Dubai, for his pioneering work in the field of artificial intelligence.
Each award will carry a cash award of Rs. one lakh and a memento and citation.
"Unlike earlier occasions, we are giving ten national awards instead of six in the previous years, this time because of large participation and intense competition from highly deserving and
reputed entries for the awards. We have received nearly 1000 entries from all over the country in different languages in all 6 categories.
"Our team of experts went through all entries and selected ten persons/institutions for receiving these
excellence awards."
This year we have decided to give two special awards in the category of Pravasi Bharatiyas (Overseas Indians) who are doing extremely successful work and exceptionally great service.
to our motherland. Also, this time 4 national awards are being given in the category of service to humanity titled 'Shri Dattopant Thengadi Seva Samman.'
The Foundation is also giving a monthly pension of Rs. 2000 each to 51 families in Kerala who are victims of political violence. The Dr. Mangalam Swaminathan Foundation project called Sarvamangalam was launched on October 12, 2022, by Arif Mohammad Khan, Governor of Kerala, at a grand function at Trivandrum.
The annual National Excellence Award ceremony of the Foundation will be held on November 28, 2024, at the NDMC Convention Centre, Sansad Marg, New Delhi, at 5 p.m..
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