Sansad Ratna Award
Sansad Ratna Award is a private award established in 2010 by the Prime Point Foundation and e-magazine PreSense to honour "top performing" Members of the Indian Lok Sabha, based on the suggestions given by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India.
It is in no way related to the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award given by the Indian Parliamentary Group. The Founders claim that Sansad Ratna Awards are given on behalf of "civil society" through a transparent selection process by a Jury committee of eminent Parliamentarians, based on the data on various performance parameters.
Introduction
The Prime Point Foundation jointly with the ezine PreSense decided to honour Parliamentarians who, in their opinion, performed well in the Lok Sabha, based on their participation in debates, raising questions, introducing Private Members Bills and Attendance.In May 2010, the Award was presented for the first time under the name "UnSung Heroes' Award". Since its launch in 2010, the Award has been presented annually, around April or May. The Award was renamed in 2012 and has since been known as the "Sansad Ratna Award".
Prime Minister of India has appreciated the Foundation for the 'proactive initiative' and congratulated the 2018 Awardees.
Selection Methodology
Delhi based NGO PRS Legislative Research closely monitors the "performance" of all the Members of Parliament and releases the data of their individual performance. Selection of Awardees is based on the participation of debates, raising questions, introduction of Private Members Bills and attendance in the House and Committee Meetings, Usage of MPLADS, etc. at the end of Budget Session of every year. The Awards are then presented to the Members of Parliament in a ceremony held around June / July every year.For the 16th Lok Sabha, a "Jury Committee" headed by Anandrao Vithoba Adsul with members Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Arjun Ram Meghwal has been formed to select the Award winners. The Jury committee members were themselves "outstanding performers" of the 15th Lok Sabha and recipients of 'Sansad Maha Ratna' awards for 15th Lok Sabha.
UnSung Heroes Award 2010
Mr. T.S. Krishna Murthy and Mr N. Gopalaswami, both former Chief Election Commissioner of India presented the Awards on 1 May 2010. Mr Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Mr S. Ramasubbu were the recipients of the Award. Former Indian President Mr APJ Abdul Kalam addressed the function via phone live from Delhi.UnSung Heroes Award 2011
Veteran octogenarian parliamentarian Mr Era Sezhiyan and Mr N Vittal presented the Awards in May 2011 to Mr Anandrao Vithoba Adsul, Mr Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Mr S. Ramasubbu.Sansad Ratna Award 2012
In 2012 the Award was renamed as the 'Sansad Ratna Award'. The Award ceremony was held in April and was hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former Governor of West Bengal and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi presented the Awards. Mr Anandrao Vithoba Adsul, Mr Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal and Mr S. Ramasubbu were the recipients of the Sansad Ratna Award.Sansad Ratna Awards 2013
In April 2013, the Award ceremony was hosted again by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Ten MPs were selected for the Award, of which six MPs received the Award in person. Dr Konijeti Rosaiah, The Governor of Tamil Nadu and Mr T. S. Krishnamurthy, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India presented the Awards. Mr Anandrao Vithoba Adsul, Mr Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal and Mr S. Ramasubbu, Mrs Rama Devi and Mrs Botsa Jhansi Lakshmi received the Awards in person.Sansad Ratna Awards 2014
On 22 February 2014, the Award ceremony was held at Chennai Press Club to honour the top performing Members of 15th Lok Sabha. 12 MPs were selected to receive the Award, which includes Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi who is an MP from Hyderabad. 5 MPs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Gajanan Babar, Shivaji Adhalrao Patil, S. Ramasubbu and Rama Devi received the Awards from N. Gopalaswami, former Chief Election Commissioner of India.Sansad Ratna Awards 2015
On 11 July 2015, 6th Edition of Award ceremony was held at Indian Institute of Technology Madras to honour the top performing Lok Sabha Members of 15th Lok Sabha and 16th Lok Sabha. Dr. Justice A. R. Lakshmanan, Former Judge of Supreme Court of India and Chairman of Law Commission of India presented the Awards. Anandrao Adsul, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Arjun Ram Meghwal were honoured with 'Sansad Maha Ratna' Award, for their sustained outstanding performance in the 15th Lok Sabha from the first session.P P Choudhary and Shrirang Barne were honoured with 'Sansad Ratna' Awards, for their top performance during the first four sessions of the 16th Lok Sabha.
Sansad Ratna Awards 2016
On 11 June 2016, 7th Edition of Sansad Ratna Award ceremony was held at Indian Institute of Technology Madras to honour the top performing Parliamentarians of 16th Lok Sabha. Dr. C. Rangarajan, Former Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Reserve Bank of India presented the Awards. Shivaji Adhalrao Patil. P P Choudhary, Shrirang Barne, Rajiv Satav, Dr Heena Gavit and P. Rajeev were honoured with Sansad Ratna Awards.Sansad Ratna Awards 2017
On 27 May 2017, 8th Edition of Sansad Ratna Award ceremony was held at Indian Institute of Technology Madras to honour the top performing Parliamentarians of 16th Lok Sabha. Justice P. Sathasivam, Hon'ble Governor of Kerala presented the Awards. Bhartruhari Mahtab. N.K. Premachandran, Shrirang Barne, Rajiv Satav, Dhananjay Mahadik, Dr Heena Gavit, Sanjay Raut, K. N. Balagopal and T. N. Seema were honoured with Sansad Ratna Awards.Sansad Ratna Awards 2018
On 9 June 2018, 9th Edition of Sansad Ratna Award ceremony was held at Indian Institute of Technology Madras to honour the top performing Parliamentarians of 16th Lok Sabha. Shri M. K. Narayanan, Former Governor of West Bengal and Shri T. S. Krishnamurthy, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India presented the Awards. Bhartruhari Mahtab, Supriya Sule, Shrirang Barne, Rajiv Satav, Dhananjay Mahadik and Dr Heena Gavit, were honoured with Sansad Ratna Awards. For the first time an Award was introduced for an outstanding Parliamentary Standing Committee. Dr Veerappa Moily, Chairman of Finance Committee received the Award on behalf of Finance Committee.Sansad Ratna Awards 2019
On 19 January 2019, 10th Edition of Sansad Ratna Award ceremony was held at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan Chennai to honour the top performing Parliamentarians of 16th Lok Sabha.Shri Banwarilal_Purohit, Governor of Tamil Nadu presented the Awards. Shri T. S. Krishnamurthy, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India was the Guest of Honour.
Bhartruhari Mahtab, N. K. Premachandran, Anurag Thakur, Nishikant Dubey, Supriya Sule, Shrirang Barne, Rajiv Satav, Dhananjay Mahadik, Dr Heena Gavit, were honoured with Sansad Ratna Awards for their outstanding performance in 16th Lok Sabha.
Rajni Patil and Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar were honoured with Sansad Ratna Awards under Rajya Sabha category.
Dr Veerappa Moily, Chairman of Finance Committee received the Award on behalf of Finance Committee, which was selected as the outstanding committee under Parliamentary Standing Committee category.