S. Vijay Kumar, The Hindu, 29 October, 2015
CHENNAI – Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama will present the first edition of the Abdul Kalam Seva Ratna awards here on November 9. The awards were instituted by the Abdul Kalam Vision India Movement to recognise outstanding contribution of individuals/organisations to tree plantation, de-addiction, reviving waterbodies, providing safe drinking water and creating green campuses, villages and cities.
According to V. Ponraj, who was advisor to Kalam for over a decade, at least 10 lakh entries from individuals or organisations were received for the awards.
For the tree plantation category alone, 7.08 lakh entries from across the country were registered. Nine organisations had sent entries for rehabilitating 72,040 persons through de-addiction programmes.
A jury comprising eminent academicians, former bureaucrats and others will finalise the winners.
The movement decided to invite Dalai Lama as he and the former President Kalam shared the same ideology of peace and prosperity.
Kalam always considered the Tibetan leader as a symbol of peace.
Both the leaders had a long association in encouraging the youth to work towards an enlightened society. Mr. Ponraj said the awards ceremony would be held at the Chennai Trade Centre.
Though entry was free and on a first-come-first-served basis, the front few rows would be reserved for people representing various walks of life, including farmers, auto drivers and children.
An invitation was sent to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to participate in the event, Mr. Ponraj said.
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