Two Indians Bharat Vatwani and Sonam Wangchuk are among six who have been declared winners of 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award.
Bharat Vatwani is a psychiatrist who works for mentally-ill people living on the streets in Mumbai.
Sonam Wangchuk is educational reformer from Ladakh.
In 1988, he had founded Students’ Education and Cultural Movement of Ladakh to coach poor Ladakhi students.
Others are
Youk Chhang (Cambodia),
Maria de Lourdes Martins Cruz (East Timor)
Howard Dee (Philippines)
Vo Thi Hoang Yen (Vietnam)
They will be conferred with the award during a formal presentation ceremony at Cultural Centre in the Philippines in August 2018.
Ramon Magsaysay Award
It is Asia’s highest honor and is often regarded as the region’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
It was established in 1957 by trustees of the New York City-based Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Philippine government in the memory of Philippines’ third President Ramon Magsaysay who had died in an air disaster in March 1957.
It is awarded annually to individuals or organizations from Asia region for their altruistic and philanthropic service.
It carries Medallion bearing the likeness of the late President Ramon Magsaysay, a cash prize, and a certificate.