K K Shailaja, Teacher and Former Kerala Health Minister was awarded with the Central European University’s (CEU) highest award – ‘Open Society Prize 2021’ for her commitment to public health services.
- She has recognized especially for her determined leadership and community-based public health work, saving lives during COVID-19.
About CEU’s Open Society Prize:
i.It is the highest civilian recognition by CEU, it is awarded annually to an outstanding individual/organization’s achievements that have contributed to the creation of an open society.
ii.It was instituted and 1st awarded in 1994, to philosopher Karl Popper, whose book The Open Society and Its Enemies (1945) presented a philosophy of tolerance, openness and democratic values.
iii.Joseph Stiglitz, American economist and Nobel laureate, Svetlana Alexievich, the Belarusian journalist and Nobel laureate, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, were some of the previous recipients of the award.
About KK Shailaja:
She was honoured by the United Nations(UN) in June 2020 and was invited to speak on the UN Public Service Day, which was arranged by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to honour public servants who have been working on the frontlines under COVID-19.
She was the only speaker from India and she spoke on COVID-19 management strategies in Kerala.
Recent Related News:
Guneet Monga, the Oscar-winning Indian film producer was awarded ‘Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters’, second-highest civilian French honour by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Dria.
About Central European University’s (CEU):
Establishment – 1991
President – Michael Ignatieff
