Manipur Civil Right Activist Awarded Tagore Peace Prize

Imphal, Sep 11 : Civil rights activist, Irom Chanu Sharmila of Manipur was awarded Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize-2010 by the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) today in Imphal.

She has been on a fasting agitation unto death since November 4, 2000 demanding the Government to withdraw Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from Manipur.

The award consists of 51 lakh rupees in cash, one shawl and one citation. The peace prize was handed over to Sharmila at her special security ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal where she is kept under custodial remand.

Handing over the award to Sharmila, Founder Chairperson of IIPM, Dr. M.K. Choudhuri said that, Rabindranath Tagore always stood for peace and against barbaric activities.

He added that his institute will try at its best to inculcate the morale of Sharmila who is fighting against barbaric activities to bring peace in the state.

Receiving the peace prize, Sharmila said that, the money of the award will be donated to the services of containing anti-social elements and helping the welfare activities of the people.