Yudhvir Memorial Award for Sunitha Krishnan Hyderabad April 18 (INN): The 24th Yudhvir Foundation Memorial Award will be given to Prajwala founder Dr. Sunitha Krishnan for her extraordinary achievement in the rescue, restoration and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking and her exemplary care and support of HIV persons.
The Award will be presented by Nizamabad MP Kalvakunta Kavitha on April 30 at 6 pm at KLN Prasad Auditorium, FAPCCI Bhavan, Red Hills, Lakdi-Ka-Pul, Hyderabad. The ceremony will include a lecture by Kavitha on Empowerment of Women.
Dr. Sunitha Krishnan co-founded the anti-trafficking organization named Prajwala (1996) as a transition centre for second-generation prevention with 12 children in Mehboob Ki Mehndi in Hyderabad. She started the first-ever Crisis Counseling Centre in Afzalgunj Police Station ' a pilot project for Police-NGO collaboration to intercept sex trafficking in 2001. As a result of Prajwala's lobbying efforts, united Andhra Pradesh Government was the first to adopt an anti trafficking policy in 2003.
Today Prajwala extends moral, financial, legal and social support to victims. Having saved, or rescued and rehabilitated over 15,000 survivors of sex trafficking, it is the largest anti-trafficking shelter in the world. Its 'second generation' prevention program operates in 17 centres and has saved thousands of children from entering the flesh trade. It also operates a shelter home for the care and support of HIV positive persons including children.
Dr. Sunitha Krishnan has also spearheaded an economic rehabilitation program, which trains survivors in carpentry, welding, printing, masonry and housekeeping. She is the recipient of numerous national and international awards including the Stree Shakti Award by Govt. of India (2003), Perdita Houston International Human Rights Award by United Nation (2006), Outstanding Woman Award by National Commission for Women India (2013), in recognition of her exemplary crusade for social change. She also finds a name in the Limca Book of Records for Women's Empowerment (2014).
She is the Member of Andhra Pradesh State Women's Commission and Honorary Director, Social Justice Department, Govt. of Kerala for NIRBHAYA State Policy, which she drafted in 2011 to combat trafficking.
News Posted: 23 April, 2015
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