The Indian Solidarity Council and the International Institute of Education and Management, New Delhi, honoured Varghese Thekanath, Director, MSI with the prestigious Rashtriya Vidya Gaurav Gold Medal and Jewel of India Award for his outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of community development and education. The award ceremony was held at the Indian Society of International Law Auditorium on 6 April, 2016. The occasion was graced by Shri Bishmanarain Singh (former Governor of Tamil Nadu and Assam), Dr.G.V.G. Krishnamurti (Former Chief Election Commissioner of India), Mr.O.P. Saxena (President of All India Lawyers Forum) and Dr.J.S Rajput (Former Director NCERT).
Bro. Varghese expressed happiness in receiving the Awards not as a personal honour, but as a recognition of the toil and efforts of the hundreds of field coordinators, volunteers and community leaders of Montfort Social Institute, and People’s Initiative Network (PIN) earlier, to help thousands of poor people and unorganised workers to achieve their rights through empowerment and collective bargaining.
