Awards presented for writings on human rights

National Human Rights Commission Justice K G Balakrishnan today presented awards to winners of NHRC's Mahatma Gandhi Biennial Hindi Writing Award Scheme for the year 2010-11 at a function here today.
Speaking on the occasion, Balakrishnan congratulated the winners and said that the Commission started this award scheme to promote original writings in Hindi on various aspects of human rights issues to build awareness as part of its statutory duty.
"Literary writings on the issues of human rights will have more impact on the minds of people. NHRC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with National Book Trust to translate the awarded books into five Indian languages, including, Tamil, Telugu, Malyalam, so that awareness about human rights issues could further spread," he said.

The first prize of Rs 75,000 went to Dakshin Bajrange Chhara of Ahmedabad, Gujarat for his play "Boodhan Bolta Hai" on the plight of nomadic tribes of the country.
The second prize of Rs 50,000 went to Nishant Singh of New Delhi for his book "Baal Shoshan aur Apradh" which highlights various aspects relating to atrocities on children.
S C Sinha, Member, NHRC, said that there is not enough literature available on human rights in Indian languages. The Commission is hopeful that through this scheme of recognizing the books written on human rights issues, the writers will be encouraged to write on the subject of human rights.

Prof. Arun Kamal, poet and philosopher lauded the Commission for encouraging writings in mother tongue and said that scope of such awards should be expanded by rewarding outstanding literary contributions on human rights issues in all Indian languages.