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(L-R) Chandu Agarwal and Fr. CP Anto at the Rotary National Peace Award ceremony in Pune.[/caption]
Dimapur, April 27 (EMN): Two prominent philanthropists and social activists from the State namely Chandu Kumar Agarwal and Dr. PC Anto were conferred Rotary National Peace Award for their service towards uplift of society, education and welfare activities.
The duo received Rotary National Peace Award at the hands of Paul Netzel (Trustee Chair Elect, The Rotary Foundation) on the occasion of International Understanding and Peace Symposium (IUPS) held at Pune, India, on February 18 and 19.Chandu Kumar Agarwal has been working with Rotary as a Past District Governor and more specifically promoter of national peace through RID 3240, Northeast. Rotary, focusing on bringing peace to this world, have taken a major step by uniting people of different religion, cultures, professions who come together on a single platform to promote the concept of peace. Agarwal was also awarded the Outstanding Social Leader Award from the State government consecutively for two years in 2012 and 2013 for his undying support and assistance.
Agarwal believes in propagating inner peace as the foundation for world peace. Associated with Rotary, he has worked tirelessly towards peace and conflict resolution. During his governorship as Rotary International District 3240, he had sent out 5 people for study. He also encouraged providing basic need like proper food, clothing and shelter to the needy in the community. He also envisioned a world where every mindset, every lifestyle, every tradition, every culture, and every heart will be equal, exalted and united in peace.
Fr. Dr. CP Anto was honoured in recognition of his long and dedicated service as founder and director of Peace Channel, a youth peace movement of third millennium and founder - principal of North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR), a post graduate social work Institute promoting peace and conflict transformation studies in Nagland and North East India.
Peace Channel is an initiative of the diocese of Kohima in mobilising the youth for building peace and engaging them as indispensible contributors who would ensure a future devoid of violent conflicts. The movement utilises a multi-pronged strategy forming youth Peace Clubs, promoting peace education in the educational institutions, encouraging cultural integration through peace festivals and inter-religious meet.
The movement has now a network of over 250 peace clubs in educational institutions and localities of the districts of Nagaland and has also made foray into the neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh reaching out to over 100,000 youth. He has trained over 1200 teachers and 1450 religious and community leaders on dialogue, peace education, techniques of conflict transformation skills, and human rights etc.
The initiatives of the movement focus on collective learning, sharing and action for social change among the youth belonging to different tribes, region, religions and communities to live in peace and harmony by transforming the culture of violence in to culture of peace through various strategies.
Meanwhile, Peace Channel and NEISSR family congratulated the organisers especially Dr. Pradeep Warg and Nitin Naik of Pune 3131 and both Chandu and Fr. Anto for being a source of aspiration.
