Vigil India Movement
Vigil India Movement (Vigil India) is a non-governmental organization based in Bangalore that aims to protect and promote human rights in India. Founded in 1977, it is one of the country's leading human rights organizations focusing on the rights of Dalits, tribals, children and women.
It was founded by Rev. Dr. M.A. Thomas, who also founded the Ecumenical Christian Centre in Bangalore in 1963 and Association of Christian Institutes for Social Concern in Asia.
In 1998, Vigil India launched The Institute of Human Rights with Mr. Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah, former Chief Justice of India and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission. The Institute is a training programme for human rights activists, "training trainers" for grass roots education in human rights.
Rev. M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award
Named after the founder of Vigil India, the organization makes a widely recognized and prestigious [1] annual award, the Rev. M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award. The recipients since 1993 include:
- Swami Agnivesh, 2006
- Teesta Setalvad, 2004
- Harsh Mander, 2002
- Medha Patkar, 1999
- Mr. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, 1998
- Ravi Nair, 1997
Notes
- ↑ Thomas award for Agnivesh , The Tribune, Chandigarh, June 27, 2006