Bezwada Wilson, a prolific campaigner for
eradication of manual scavenging in India, and Carnatic singerT M Krishnafrom Chennai, are the winners of the prestigious Ramon
Magsaysay Award for 2016.
Bezwada Wilson
Apart from the two Indians,
four others have been selected for the award — Conchita Carpio-Morales of the
Philippines, Dompet Dhuafa of Indonesia, Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers
and ‘Vientiane Rescue’ of Laos.
About Award:
The prize was established in April 1957 by the
trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund based in New York City with the
concurrence of the Philippine government.
Ramon Magsaysay is an annual award
established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay’s example
of integrity in governance, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic
idealism within a democratic society.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often
considered to be an Asian equivalent to the Nobel Prize.
The award is given to
individuals and organisations from asia region for their service to the
society.
