In news– A Bangladeshi vaccine scientist and a microfinance pioneer from Pakistan were among the five recipients of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Award.
This year’s awardees-
- Apart from Dr. Firdausi Qadri from Bangladesh and Muhammad Amjad Saqib from Pakistan, the other winners are Roberto Ballon, American Steven Muncy and Indonesian torch bearer for investigative journalism, Watchdoc.
- Dr. Qadri who is 70 years old has a doctorate from Liverpool University, U.K.
- She joined International Centre For Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, in 1988.
- She was recognised for “her passion and life-long devotion to the scientific profession”.
- Muhammad Amjad Saqib founded one of the largest microfinance institutions in Pakistan, servicing millions of families.
- Watchdoc is a production house that ingeniously combines documentary filmmaking and alternative platforms to highlight underreported issues in Indonesia.
- Steven Muncy, a humanitarian who has been helping the displaced refugees of Southeast Asia rebuild their lives.
- Roberto Ballon, a fisherman from Southern Philippines who has led a community in restoring their rich aquatic resources and their primary source of livelihood.
About the award-
- It is regarded as the Asian version of the Nobel Prize.
- Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Award was founded to preserve former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay’s example of integrity in governance and idealism in a democratic society.
- It was funded by the Rockefeller Brothers trustees with the Philippine government’s agreement.
- Ramon Magsaysay was the third president of the Philippines after World War II.
- It has six categories, five of which were discontinued in 2009:
- Government Service (Until 2008)
- Public Service (Until 2008)
- Community Leadership (Until 2008)
- Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts (Until 2008)
- Peace and International Understanding (Until 2008)
- Emergent Leadership (2001–)
- Uncategorized (2009–)
- The Award recognises and honours individuals and organisations in Asia, regardless of race, creed, gender, or nationality, who have achieved distinction and have helped others generously without aiming for public recognition.
The award is presented in a formal ceremony in Manila, the capital of the Philippines on August 31 each year.
Source: The Hindu
