By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Former President of the Republic of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, will be conferred the Third Dorbar Ri – People’s Parliament Global Award by the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) for his courage, self sacrifice and contribution towards uplifting of human rights.
Disclosing this at a press conference here on Friday, GCCM Chairman John F Kharshiing, while terming Mandela as ‘Our planet’s last living Legend’, said that the Committee had decided to confer the award to the Nobel Peace Prize winner, popularly called Madiba, for his contributions towards human rights and humanity.
“We have contacted the Indian Embassy to pass on the message to the office of Nelson Mandela and we hope that his representatives will receive the award on his behalf,” Kharshiing stated.
Earlier, the Council had conferred the award on former US Vice-President Al Gore for promoting awareness on climate change.
The GCCM will also confer the People’s Parliament National Award to Aroon Purie, Editor-in-Chief of Aaj Tak and Headlines Today, Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief of (CNN) IBN-18 and Arnab Goswami, Editor-in-Chief of Times Now, for raising the benchmark of transparency and ethical news reporting and their commitment to investigative reporting and journalistic service to the community.
The awards will be conferred at a function to be held at Asananggre, West Garo Hills on November 14.
However, the GCCM is yet to announce the People’s Parliament Meghalaya Award for this year. “The award will be announced on November 14,” Kharshiing informed.
Kharshiing also mentioned that the Council is expecting the presence of several Central and State Government officials including the Director General of Police, Meghalaya, N Ramachandran, Chief Justice of India, Justice SH Kapadia, and Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, Justice Madan B Lokur.
Kharshiing also mentioned that GCCM had approached the State Government for financial assistance of Rs 40 lakh, which is under process. “We have been getting contributions from many people but at present the entire expenditure is being borne by the Council itself,” he added.