Development should be linked to social justice: Antony

The fruits of economic progress will reach all sections of the society only when developmental intiatives are reinforced with policies of social justice, Defence Minister A K Antony said here today.

"We are living in times when no one can ignore the concept of social justice. Economic development without social justice would not help the society to march forward", the minister said after presenting the prestigious Swadesabhmani Award to Editor-in-Chief of Kerala Kaumudi daily, M S Mani.

There was a time when it was thought that the results of economic progress would automatically trickle down to all sections, including those in the lower rungs of society. In recent times, it had been universally realised and acknowledged that progress should be coupled with clear-cut policies to help socially and economically weaker sections, Antony added.

Long before the concept of social justice became an integral component of politics and governance, Kerala Kaumudi had waged relentless struggles to achieve this goal. The contributions of its founder editor, late K Sukumaran, were especially significant in this regard, he said.

Recalling the services of Mani to Malayalam journalism, he said the award instituted in memory of Swadesabhmani Ramakrishnan Pillai, the torch-bearer of media freedom, was being bestowed to a truly deserving person.

Other recepients of awards of the Samiti were Anil Nambiar (Soorya TV), C A M Kareem (Madhyamam daily), P R Devasad (Malayala Manorama — news photography) and Nithya Satyendran (journalism student).