NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Nov 16 - The Amal Prabha Das Award for Sarvodaya Movement was conferred on Lakhi Phukan, the caretaker of Mayitree Asharm, a Sarvodaya centre set up by Acharya Vinoba Bhave in late 1950s at Leelabari, North Lakhimpur on Friday. The award was presented on the occasion of a two-day state conclave, Stree Shakti Sanmilan, Asom held on November 12-13 at the Mayitree Ashram. The award was presented to Lakhi Dutta for her lifelong contribution towards women empowerment by the 104th Birth Centenary Celebration Committee of Sarvodaya worker Amal Prabha Das.
The award was presented to her by Lakhimpur Deputy Commissioner Debeswar Malakar before a packed audience during the open session of the conclave on its second and concluding day. The opening session of the conclave was chaired by Rekha Phookan, president of the organising committee. Noted writer and academician, Dr Swadhinata Mahanta of Tezpur attended the session as the appointed speaker. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mahanta said that women play a pioneering role in the society besides taking care of her children and family. She also said that women can make a unique effort in nation building.
Kusum Borah Mokashi, ex-representative of Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust, Assam spoke on the life and works of Amal Prabha Das in that meeting. Noted women activist Suprabha Medhi highlighted the life and works of Lakhi Phukan in the meeting. The meeting was also attended by Madhurima Baruah Sen, Joint Secretary, Urban Development, Government of Assam,
Earlier on Thursday, the two-day conclave on women�s empowerment was inaugurated by Hem Kakati, president of the governing body of Mayitree Asharm. Two technical sessions of seminar on women were held, which were inaugurated by noted Geeta exponent Poorandar Baruah. The first technical session of the seminar was conducted by Dr Mukunda Rajvangshee where Damayantee Devi of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust, Assam spoke on �Role of Women in Peace, Harmony and Development, Dr UN Dutta on �Awareness of Women on Health� and advocate Meenaxi Gohain Baruah delivered a presentation on �Legal Awareness on Women�s Empowerment�. The second technical session was chaired by Dr Banti Gogoi Howborah in which Dr Amiya Rajvangshee spoke on �Women and Science� and Vijay Kumar, chairman, Sarvodaya Sangha spoke on �Women�s Awareness on Spiritualism�.
