Govt launches 'Mother of Humanity' social welfare award

The government will honour five individuals or organisations with ‘Mother of Humanity’ award every year to recognise their contributions for the marginalised, the disadvantaged and the disabled people.

A draft of the ‘Mother of Humanity Social Work Award Policy, 2018’ was approved at a cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Secretariat on Monday, reports bdnews24.com.

According to the guidelines, the award is similar to the National Award. Five individuals or organisations under five separate categories will receive the awards on January 2, Social Welfare Day.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said, “The term Mother of Humanity refers to the Prime Minister. It reflects her recognition as the Mother of Humanity on the international stage.”

The UK-based ‘Channel 4’ dubbed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the ‘Mother of Humanity’ last year after she gave refuge to hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas fleeing persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Now the government is launching an award named after it.

Award recipients will be presented with an 18-carat 25gm gold medal, a replica of the award, a Tk 200,000 check and an honorary certificate.

The award will be equivalent to the national Shadhinata Padak and Ekushe Padak, the cabinet secretary said.

Committees at the district-level and a cabinet committee led by the most senior minister will determine the recipients each year.

Asked whether the awards will be presented in 2018, Shafiul Alam said, “I do not know if they have taken the necessary preparations. But I believe we will begin the process every July.”

WHO WILL RECEIVE THE AWARD?

An award may be presented for:

• Contributions to the welfare and rehabilitation of elderly women, widows or those who face domestic violence
• Contributions to the social protections, self-reliance and employment of marginalised and disadvantaged
• Notable contributions to the welfare, improvement of quality of life, employment, inclusive education and social protection of people with disabilities and neuro-developmental disorders
• Contributions to the welfare, betterment and rehabilitation of children who come in contact with the law, ex-convicts, vagabonds and the homeless
• Any notable contribution by an individual or institution to the development of skill, thinking, quality of life or the environment, the improvement of physical or mental health on the social level and, above all, positive contributions to society and the state in terms of human welfare and humanity