File pictures of Sanjiv Chaturvedi (Left) and Anshu Gupta (Right).
Two Indians have been chosen for this year's Ramon Magsaysay Award - bureaucrat Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who blew the whistle on alleged scam at the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and Anshu Gupta, who heads the NGO Goonj.
Mr Chaturvedi was removed in August last year from his post of Chief Vigilance Commissioner at AIIMS. He had alleged that he was being transferred because he had detected irregularities at the medical institute.
A request from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that Mr Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Service officer, be deputed as his officer on special duty or OSD, is still pending with the Centre.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation citation said Mr Chaturvedi is being recognized for "his exemplary integrity, courage and tenacity in uncompromisingly exposing and painstakingly investigating corruption in public office, and his resolute crafting of program and system improvements to ensure that government honourably serves the people of India."
Anshu Gupta has been chosen for the prestigious award for "his creative vision in transforming the culture of giving in India, his enterprising leadership in treating cloth as a sustainable development resource for the poor, and in reminding the world that true giving always respects and preserves human dignity."
The Ramon Magsaysay award is given for outstanding contributions in government service, public service, community leadership, journalism, literature and creative communication arts, peace and international understanding and emergent leadership.