M A I N   N E W S

Lyngdoh to get Magsaysay Award

Singapore, July 30
Two Indians — Chief Election Commissioner James Michael Lyngdoh and social worker Shantha Sinha — were today named as winners of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awards, Asian region’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Mr Lyngdoh is to receive the award for government service while Ms Sinha has been cited for her work in eradicating child labour in Andhra Pradesh. — UNI

Award for free, fair poll, says Lyngdoh
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 30
Chief Election Commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh today felt that he was chosen for the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay award this year for the successful conduct of free and fair poll in Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat.

“It is a matter of honour for the Election Commission...good for the institution,” Mr Lyngdoh told newspersons.

“Obviously, otherwise nobody will be taking notice,” Mr Lyngdoh said when asked whether he got the award for the conduct of elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat.

Mr Lyngdoh had several standoffs with political parties, the government and others in his bid to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections in these two states.

The 64-year-old Lyngdoh, whose tenure ends in February next year, said, “I am sure that many more will be getting this award.”

Mr Lyngdoh is the second person in the Election Commission after former CEC T.N. Seshan to receive the award.