Sunitha Krishnan, co-founder of anti-trafficking organisation `Prajwala' has been named the recipient of the 24th Yudhvir Foundation Memorial Award. Ms. Sunitha gets the award for her extraordinary achievement in the rescue, restoration and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking and her exemplary care and support of persons with HIV.
In a statement issued here the Foundation said the award would be presented by TRS MP K. Kavitha at a function on April 30. The award presentation ceremony would include TRS MP delivering a lecture on empowerment of women.
Prajwala, the anti-trafficking organisation was started in 1996 as a transition centre for second-generation prevention with 12 children in Hyderabad. She is credited with starting the first-ever crisis counselling 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 A.P. Government was 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 largest anti-trafficking shelter in the world.
The Foundation said Ms. Sunitha Krishnan has also spearheaded an economic rehabilitation programme, which trains survivors in carpentry, welding, printing, masonry and housekeeping.
She is the recipient of numerous national and international awards including Stree Shakti Award by Centre in 2003, Perdita Houston International Human Rights Award by United Nation (2006) and Outstanding Woman Award by National Commission for Women, India (2013).
She is member of Andhra Pradesh State Women’s Commission and honorary Director, Social Justice Department, Kerala Government for Nirbhaya State Policy, which she drafted in 2011 to combat trafficking.
The Yudhvir Foundation was established in 1991 to further the work of late Yudhvir, who started Daily Hindi Milap in 1949 in Urdu and in Hindi in 1966. The ambition of the Foundation is to honour those, who contribute to national integration, social service and those whose endeavours, in any field have triumphed in the face of adversity.
A citation and cash award of Rs. 1 lakh would be presented to Ms. Sunitha Krishnan.
