IMPHAL April 3: The Adhivashi Ratna Award 2011 has been awarded to Irom Sharmila for her struggle to remove the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 from the state of Manipur.
The award ceremony was held at Talkatora Indoor Stadium at New Delhi on March 28 and Sharmila’s elder brother Irom Singajit received the award on her behalf from the Governor of Meghalaya RS Mushahari, Singhajit represented at the ceremony as the managing trustee of the Just Peace Foundation,Manipur.
The award is given by the Indian Confederation of Indigenous Tribal People (ICITP) annually.
Along with Sharmila, another 9 persons were conferred the award for their activism in different areas.
The grand assembly of the ICITIP which commenced from March 28 to 30 was attended by top VIP’s including Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Kantilal Bahuria, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mr. Seadabdik , Indonesian Ambassador M Ghalib and other dignitaries from across the state and other representatives from foreign countries.
At the award ceremony, Ram Mushahari ,coordinator of ICITIP in his address had stated that Irom Sharmila was felicitated with the award for her continues hunger strike protest for removal of AFSPA from Manipur. He stated that Sharmila’s struggle is centered at humanity and aimed towards a global perspective to uphold the human rights of a person.
Her struggle is not limited just for the tribals or for any community.
Irom Singhajit on receipt of the award on his sister’s behalf expressed that Sharmila has received numerous awards from national and international organizations. He said that such acknowledgement clearly indicates that Sharmila’s cause has spread like a ripple in a pond and reached every nook and corner of the globe.
The ICITIP award states that the tribals of the nation are aware and supports her protest for upholding human rights. “Her stand is for a just cause and I am positive that we will be heard”, Singhajit said. The award carries a citation and a plaque.
