Mangaluru: Activist Vidya Dinker bags Lawrence Pinto Human Rights Award

Mangaluru, Jan 6: Social activist Vidya Dinker, who spearheaded many struggles in coastal Karnataka, has been chosen for Lawrence Pinto Human Rights Award 2016.

The awards selection committee has unanimously selected 'firebrand human rights activist' Vidya Dinker to receive the award, noted Eric Ozario, secretary of the organization in an official statement on Wednesday.

The organization has considered Vidya's selfless fight for people's rights for the past many years, for taking on the might of the state against the displacement of locals, especially the poor in the SEZ project, her fight for ecology and in defense of hapless trees being felled in the name of development and progress, for standing up bravely against 'the terrorism of the saffron brigade', and doing all this, almost single handedly, in selecting her for the award, Eric said.

Lawrence Pinto, in whose name the award is instituted, lived all his life in the service of the working class and the downtrodden, and 'Friends of Lawry' instituted the award to perpetuate his memory.

Vidya will receive the award at a function to be held at Kalaangann, Shaktinagar here on January 24 and M I Savadatti, former vice-chancellor, Mangalore University will present the award.

The award announcement comes a few days after she was threatened with rape and murder by dozens of online abusers after she took on saffron fringe groups that tried to prevent screening of Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dilwale in Mangaluru.

Mangaluru-based rationalist Narendra Nayak, who travels across the country and abroad exposing 'miracles' and bringing awareness of the need to develop a scientific temper, was the first recipient of the award last year.