Chaturvedi is now an Indian Forest Service officer.
By Dileep Thekkethil
BENGALURU: Indian Forest Service officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who was also the Chief Vigilance Commissioner at AIIMS before he was removed from the post in 2014, has been named amongst the winners of this year’s Magsaysay Award, along with Anshu Gupta, the founder of the NGO Goonj.
Kommaly Chanthavong from Laos, Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa from Philippines and Kyaw Thu from Myanmar has also been bestowed with the prestigious award by the board of Trustees of Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF).
Chaturvedi, who was the Chief Vigilance Commissioner at AIIMS till last year, was ousted after he made allegations against officials in the institute regarding irregularities. According to the Magsaysay foundation, Chathurdevi is presented with the award for “his exemplary integrity, courage and tenacity in uncompromisingly exposing and painstakingly investigating corruption in public office, and his resolute crafting of program and system improvements to ensure that government honourably serves the people of India.”
On the other hand, Anshu Gupta was a corporate professional before he decided to start the NGO Goonj in 1999. According to the Magsaysay foundation, “his creative vision in transforming the culture of giving in India, his enterprising leadership in treating cloth as a sustainable development resource for the poor, and in reminding the world that true giving always respects and preserves human dignity.”
Ramon Magsaysay award, which is the highest civil honor given to an Asian, is declared annually in memory of former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay for the contribution in upholding integrity in governance, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society.
Earlier during the year, the laureates who received Magsaysay award had formed a community which has a membership of 307 winners. The winners of the Magsaysay award receive a certificate, a medallion with the facial impression of the late Philippine president.
The other prominent Indians who have received the Magsaysay award include journalist and writer P Sainath, the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi and social activist Aruna Roy.