New Delhi: Noted Sanskrit scholar Mohammad Hanif Khan Shastri and Rajasthan-based Centre for Human Rights Social Welfare have been selected for the National Communal
Harmony Awards for 2009.
58-year-old Shastri, who has authored eight books, has endeavoured to promote communal harmony by highlighting similarities between Hindu and Muslim religions through his unique literary contributions in Hindi and Sanskrit, the Union Home Ministry said in a statement today.
The Centre for Human Rights Social Welfare, registered in 1976, is a social organisation working for communal harmony, human rights, welfare of the homeless and women, and
rehabilitation of the needy and deprived persons.
"Its specific activities include organising inter-faith dialogue, programmes of `Milan (gathering)` on the occasions of Eid, Holi, Diwali and Christmas, communal harmony rally and kavi sammelan among others to promote communal harmony and national integration," the Ministry said.
It said the organisation has campaigned against terrorism and has been organising programmes to sensitise people on the rights of the homeless.
It actively participated in rehabilitation of the victims of bomb blasts in Jaipur in May 2008.
The Awards were instituted in 1996 by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony, an autonomous body set up by the Ministry for promoting communal harmony and national integration.
The award carries Rs five lakh cash for the organisation and Rs two lakh for the individual besides a citation.
PTI
