Former Health Minister Shailaja Refuses Prestigious Magsaysay Award; Know Why

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala Health minister KK Shailaja has refused the Ramon Magsaysay award.

Regarded as the Nobel Prize of Asia, the prestigious Magsaysay Award is an international honour is conferred on individuals and organizations for selfless service to society in different fields.

Shailaja was considered for the 64th Magsaysay Award in recognition of her praiseworthy work as Kerala’s Health minister, especially during the period when the state battled Nipah virus and COVID-19 pandemic.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Shailaja explained that the decision to not accept the award was taken after discussion with the party.

“I was informed by the award committee that I am being considered. I am a political leader. This award is normally never given to political leaders,” Shailaja said.

“I am a central committee member of CPI(M). I discussed it with my party leadership and we collectively took a call not to accept it. It is a big award, but it’s an NGO and they usually don’t support the principles of Communists.”

Eminent journalist Ravish Kumar won the Magsaysay Award in 2019.

The Magsaysay Award was established in 1957 in memory of the third president of the Philippines.