CURRENT GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: JULY 2013 ABBREVIATIONS BIT: Bilateral Investment Treaty. IRNSS: Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. NCRTC: National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited. RRTS: Regional Rapid Transit system. AWARDS Tagore Award, 2013 Zubin Mehta, an Indian-Parsi conductor of western classical music, has been felicitated with Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cultural harmony. The annual award was instituted by government of India during the commemoration of 150th birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. The first Tagore Award was conferred on sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar in 2012. United Nations Malala Award Razia Sultan, a young girl from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, who has been tackling the problem of child labour, has been conferred with the first United Nations Malala Award for spreading education among child labourers. Razia is a resident of Nanglakhumba village in Meerut District. She used to stitch footballs in her village like several other girls, when she was four. After being rescued by a non-governmental organisation, she joined a school and eventually became a youth leader in her native place. Prem Bhatia Award for Journalism, 2013 Shalini Singh, deputy editor of The Hindu, been selected for the award for political reporting for her investigative coverage of several key issues. Foremost among these was her reporting of the telecom and Coalgate scandals. The award for excellence in environmental reporting has been awarded to Jaideep Hardikar, special correspondent of The Telegraph, for his reporting on environmental and social topics particularly relating to rural and agrarian issues. Magsaysay Awards, 2013 Ernesto Domingo, from the Philippines, for “his exemplary embrace of the social mission of medical science and his profession, his steadfast leadership in pursuing ‘health for all’ as a shared moral responsibility of all sectors, and his groundbreaking and successful advocacy for neonatal hepatitis vaccination, thereby saving millions of lives in the Philippines.” Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (Corruption Eradication Commission), from Indonesia, for “its fiercely independent and successful campaign against corruption in Indonesia, combining the uncompromising prosecution of erring powerful officials with farsighted reforms in governance systems and the educative promotion of vigilance, honesty, and active citizenship among all Indonesians.” Lahpai Seng Raw, from Myanmar, for “her quietly inspiring and inclusive leadership—in the midst of deep ethnic divides and prolonged armed conflict—to regenerate and empower damaged communities and to strengthen local NGOs in promoting a non-violent culture of participation and dialogue as the foundation for Myanmar’s peaceful future.” Habiba Sarabi, from Afghanistan, for “her bold exercise of leadership to build up a functioning provincial government against great odds—intractable political adversities, a harsh and impoverished environment, and pervasive cultural discrimination—serving her people with a hopeful persistence grounded in her abiding commitment to peace and development in Afghanistan.” Shakti Samuha (“Power Group”), from Nepal, for “transforming their lives in service to other human trafficking survivors, their passionate dedication towards rooting out a pernicious social evil in Nepal, and the radiant example they have shown the world in reclaiming the human dignity that is the birthright of all abused women and children everywhere.” Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s highest honour and is widely regarded as the region’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. It celebrates the memory and leadership example of the third Philippine President, and is given every year to individuals or organizations in Asia who manifest the same sense of selfless service that ruled the life of the late and beloved Filipino leader.
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 18:33:49 +0000
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