Maa Ghara institutes ‘Woman Peace Makers’ Award

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, 21 April

The Maa Ghara Foundation Trust (MGFT) announced the institution of a Woman Peace Makers Award as an initiative aimed at encouraging women’s participation in conflict resolution in Odisha.

The award would include Rs 50,000, a trophy and a citation.will be given every year on the occasion of International Mother’s Day slated on May 11.

Announcing this, Rutuparna Mohanty, Managing Trustee of MGFT  said there  are several women working in the field for peace. Many of them are known and perhaps many more unknown. Be it Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu or any other state, women are at the forefront of conflict resolution and the efforts to bring  peace. She said the award is for those women who were contributing significantly for peace in conflict situation such as border dispute, violence against women, working in the left wing extremism affected  areas, industrial disputes, displaced area issues and during emergencies.

Ms Mohanty said the women eligible to apply for teh award could be from the administration, media or fields like social activism.

Maa Ghara has invited eligible women to apply through email- [email protected] and or SMS to 7852946110. The submission of applications by the candidates which began on Sunday will continue till April 30, Ms Mohanty informed.

A 15-member jury comprising administrators, journalists and activist has been constituted to select five women who have contributed immensely towards peace making  and conflict resolution in difficult and volatile situations. i

The names of these five successful candidates will be aired on 92.7 Big FM and the finalist will be chosen through public votes.

Besides, 10 mothers will also be felicitated with the Best Mother award on the occasion. Similarly, various competitions and prize distribution programmes will be held in different branches of the trust in various districts, said Mohanty.

On the occasion, a marathon race ‘Run for Peace’ will also be held starting from Janta Maidan to Jaydev Bhawan here she added.