SLB
President Rajapaksa is to appoint a prominent Indian NGO leader Avdash Kaushal as the 4th expert to the Commission probing war time human rights violation, reports the Sunday Times political columnist.Mr. Avdash Kaushal the chairperson of the Dehra Dun (in Kerala)based NGO, Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra does not have any expertise on investigating war related human rights violations. His field of expertise is rural development with a focus on marginalise groups. ”A diplomatic source in Colombo said the Government of India was not officially associated with this nomination. It is to be Gazetted next week.” says the Sunday times. Mr. Avdash Kaushal is 77 years old.
This is a brief discription of Mr. Avdash Kaushal as published in his web site.
A renowned name connected with environmental protection, promotion of literacy, social service, uplift of tribals, empowerment of women and the underprivileged sections of society as well as strengthening the democracy at the grass root level. His distinguished services to the society are of very high order. Avdhash Kaushal has made his mark as an institutional builder and a man of the masses. In recognition of his standing and achievements, the widely circulated popular publication ‘The Week’ declared him “Man of the Year 2003’ and described him as the ‘rejuvenator of the Doon Valley’, ‘terminator of the bonded labour’ and ‘saviour of the nomads’. He was awarded ‘Padma Shri’ for social work in 1986.
Born on 29th September 1937, for about seven years Kaushal served with distinction as a faculty member of the Lal Bahadhur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. He relinquished the post at the Academy with a view to concentrate his energies as a full-timer in the cause of the marginalized, deprived and exploited sections of the society. With dogged determination and dauntless daring, he took up and carried out to logical conclusion many campaigns, initiatives and programmes for welfare of the society and betterment of the environment.
As the Chairperson of Dehra Dun based NGO, Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, he has been instrumental in organizing and empowering the long neglected hill communities of Uttaranchal and the forest dwelling pastoral nomadic tribe of Van Gujjar. Right from the outset he has been driven by the motto, “include the excluded” and “reach the unreached”
[Image:Mr. Avdash Kaushal with marginalised people;photo internet]