Mr.
Lenin Raghuvanshi, a well known social activist and human rights defender
working among the most downtrodden and marginalized community in Varanasi has been selected to receive the M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award 2016 of the Vigil
India Movement, Bangalore.
A
three member Jury consist of Hon. Justice Shri. Santosh
Hegde, (former Judge, Supreme Court of India) Mr. Akbar Mirza Khaleeli,
(former Ambassador of India to Iran and other countries and Board of Trustee of
VIM) and Dr. Cherian Thomas, (Director of Ecumenical Christian Centre and
Secretary & Trustee of VIM)
unanimously selected Mr. Lenin
Raghuvanshi for the award from among the nominations received from various parts of
the Country.
Mr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, has contributed
immensely to protect the rights of dalits, tribes and indigenous people in Varanasi . He is the founder of Peoples Vigilance
Committee on Human Rights in 1996 and through this organization, he is
constantly involving in the people’s struggles in ensuring the rights of marginalized
community, particularly the dalits and adivasis. Mr. Lenin’s contribution to
protect and promote human rights is greatly acknowledged by several
institutions and national and international level.
Vigil
India Movement instituted the M. A. Thomas National Human Rights Award in 1994
in memory of its Founder President Late Dr. M.A. Thomas. The Award with One Lakh of Rupees and a
Citation will be presented to Mr. Lenin Raghuvanshi at an award ceremony to be
held in September 2016 in Bangalore.