Guidelines for Civilian Awards

.LETTER TO EDITOR

Guidelines for Civilian Awards

            Government has opened a Pandora's Box by conferring Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar and Prof;CNR Rao at an unscheduled time. Many people used this opportunity by jumping into the bandwagon and recommending various names like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Narasimha Rao etc. It is ironical that there have been no clear cut criteria or guidelines for selecting the awardees. Consequently on many occasions he ruling party used to give this award for their henchmen and favourites.

I suggest the following guidelines for the civilian awards

1. Politicians and people who are directly involved in politics should be excluded from the purview of this award.

2. Sycophants, flatterers, leg pullers, back biters, liars and people with crab mentality, ego etc should be automatically disqualified from consideration of award

3. Achieving personal glory should not be a consideration for the award unless it is matched with improving the country's image in the outside world

4. Canvassing or lobbying for the award by the candidate or his near/dear ones should be treated as a disqualification

5. Award should be given to living legends and should not be given posthumously

6. The jury of the Award should consist eminent personalities drawn from various fields like Art, Literature, Culture, Sports, Public Service, Science & Technology etc headed by an eminent serving or  retired  Supreme Court judge

7. People who have given outstanding contribution in any field can be considered for the award

8. In addition to outstanding achievements the candidates being considered for the award should have impeccable  human virtues like honesty, integrity, patriotism, morality, sacrifice, selfless service etc

9. The candidate being considered for higher awards should be a true nationalist and should feel free from the clutches of caste, region, religion etc

10. The award winner should be a role model for others to emulate

11. Candidates being considered for the award should have pride as an Indian National and should be proud of Indian Culture, Civilization and traditions

12. People who have raised the image of the country by their outstanding deeds should be considered

13. Unsung heroes and those who got very less returns in material terms should get preference

14. Persons who have been honoured by International Institutions and Foreign countries should get due weightage

15. The awards  should help to inspire others to follow the great deeds of the awardees

16. Award should be accompanied by a citation so that the common man  understand and appreciate the reason and justification for giving award to the person

                  While minor deviations/dilutions can be done in some factors considering the weightage of other factors, no compromise in the criteria should be made for the highest award. It is better not to give award rather than giving award to an undeserving candidate. 

                  Let us make these awards an instrument of national pride and not a cake for the petty politicians to fight. Let us also herald the beginning of a new era of the revival of the great Indian civilization and make this rich country of rich and abundant resources a true "Mahabharata"          in letter and spirit.  

                  The suggestions given are only indicative and not exhaustive. Government can consider formulating comprehensive policy so that in future awards are given to deserving candidates. This is essential to preserve the credibility and sanctity of the award and not to make a mockery of the awards.

E M Adithyan

21^st November 2013

Elangalloor Mana

P.O. Edapal-679 576

Kerala