labour, Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Minister Antar Singh Arya inaugurated the 18th regional convention of the Madhya Pradesh Backward Classes Officers and Employees Union on the occasion of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule's birth anniversary here on Saturday. Minister of State for GAD lal Singh Arya was special guest on the occasion.
The Minister gave away 'Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Awards' for year 2014 to backward classes' social workers, litterateurs, scientists, teachers, journalists, sportspersons, artists and economists for excellence in work, 'Savitri Bai Phule Awards' to backward classes women teachers, social workers and doctors and Talent Awards to talented students of backward classes figuring in merit lists of Board exams. Bhopal MP Alok Sanjar and former MPs Buddhasen Patel and Ramanand Singh were also present.
The union also handed over a 9-point charter of demands to Minister Arya. The Minister said that children's education was top priority of Mahatma Phule. Efforts are on for education of backward class students. The state has about 80 hostels for students of this class. A proposal has been sent to Central government for sanction of a 500-seater hostel at Indore. Arya said that the way state government has safeguarded interests of employees during last decade was missing during previous regime. The Ministers also released union's souvenir 'Abhiyan'.
Those conferred 'Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Awards' include litterateur Yatindra Nath Yadav 'Rahi', Bhopal, architect Cl Panchal, Bhopal, physician Dr Rajkumar Rai, Seoni-Malwa, social workers Prakash Singh Dhakad, Guna, RP Patel, Bhopal, Gajanand Bhati, Bhopal, Hemraj Sahu, Bhopal, Baijnath Patel, Jabalpur, Sanjeev Kumar Bhatt, Rewa, Rajesh Mahto, Chhatarpur, journalist Radheshyam Dangi, Bhopal, teacher Rajesh Kumar Bhat, Datia. 'Savitri Bai Phule Awards' were conferred to social worker Sushri Shashikala Khatri, Bhopal, Kusum Kushwaha, Satna and teacher Rita Jaiswal, Bhopal.
Class X meritorious students of year 2014 were also felicitated. First prize was given to Shivendra Singh Kaurav and Sakshi Singh, second to Ku. Shweta Prasad and third prize was given to Prachi Namdev. For class XII, the first prize was given to Keshav Kumar Sen, second to Suarabh Patel and third to Chanchal. Similarly, Soma Raje, Aarti Patwa, Praveen Singh Kushwaha and Vinay Kumar Kushwaha were felicitated for excellence in arts and sports. Union's President Ram Vishwas Kushwaha conducted the programme. KP Koormvanshi proposed a vote of thanks.