In its continued effort to address caste-based discrimination, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) in collaboration with the Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD), a leading non-governmental organization based at The Hague, Netherlands, is pleased to announce calls for applications for the first annual Shri Narayana Guru Award for Outstanding Leadership in Social Reform. The award is being presented in order to recognize, inspire and support leaders working for human rights of Scheduled Castes (Harijans, Dalits and others) in India.

The Award is dedicated to the 19th century sage and social reformer, Shri Narayana Guru of Kerala, India.  The award, along with a $10,000 prize, will be presented in December in India.

HAF's press release on the award can be found here

The deadline for applications is November 1, 2008

Submitting a nomination

By Email (Preferred):
sng.award@hafsite.org

By Mail: Printed applications can be mailed to:

Hindu American Foundation
5268G Nicholson Lane #164
Kensington, MD 20895
USA

By Fax: (301) 770-7837

Criteria

The Nominee:

• Has made significant progress in the area of human rights for Scheduled Castes (Harijans, Dalits and others)
  
• Is currently involved in and has significant future plans in human rights work
• Must promote tolerance and pluralism
  
• Demonstrates involvement in the area they are working in for at least three years
• Can be an individual, organization, or an individual working within an organization
  

Application Basics

Your (Nominator) Information (If you are nominating yourself, skip this section)
Prefix (Ms., Mr., Mrs., Dr., Prof., Swami, etc.)
First Name
Last Name
Street Address
City
State/Province
Country
Postal Code
Telephone
Email
Your relation to the Nominee

Nominee Info (If you are nominating an organization, skip this section)
Prefix (Ms., Mr., Mrs., Dr., Prof., Swami, etc.)
First Name
Last Name
Street Address
City
State/Province
Country
Postal Code
Telephone
Fax
Email Address
Primary Issue Area with human rights of Scheduled Castes (Harijans, Dalits and others)
(women's rights, health, education, economic upliftment, social equality, religious equality or justice)

Organization's Info (If nominee is an individual not affiliated with an organization, skip this section)
Name
Address
City
State/Province
Postal Code
Country
Location(s) of offices
Website
Telephone
Fax
Year Founded
Mission Statement
Organizational Structure (non-profit organization, NGO, Foundation, for-profit corporation, etc.)
Affiliations
Latest Annual Report, Prospectus, etc...
Is the Nominee the Founder (Yes/No)
    If no, number of years nominee has been with organization
Title of Nominee within Organization


The questions below are intended explain why the nominee deserves this award

1. Please describe the nominee's human rights work. Describe the specific problems the nominee, and if applicable the nominee's organization, seek to address through their work. (optional)

2. Provide a brief historical background of the nominee's work within his/her focus area.  If the nominee works with an organization, provide a background description of the nominee's role leading the organization and his/her role in its success. (optional)

3. If you can, please provide written examples of the nominee's human rights work (i.e. essays, project reports, articles, books, videos, etc.) or news accounts describing it. (optional)

4. How does the nominee's work contribute to the improvement of human rights for Scheduled Castes (Harijans, Dalits and others)?