By Frank Franklyn – Futuristic Media Network
Hollywood actress (and Bollywood too) Claudia Ciesla was awarded the prestigious Karmaveer Puraskar Award by iCongo - for her involvement in social work on 26th November. iCongo is the confederation of NGOs and the apex body representing major NGOs in India and the Khemka Foundation with partners like TISS, BCCI, NASSCOM, etc.
Last year Kajol was the recipient of the same award and Claudia Ciesla joins the elite group of Bollywood personalities including Rahul Bose, to be recognised for their contribution to society and their efforts to “make a change”. The award was accepted on her behalf by her spokesperson and manager in India, Flynn Remedios as Claudia Ciesla is locked up in the Bigg Boss house – a very popular reality show on the GEC Colours.
Speaking to media immediately after the award ceremony at Delhi on Thursday, Claudia Ciesla’s manager Flynn Remedios thanked iCongo representatives Meenu Chopra and Jeroninio Almedia and Rajeev Sharma of Khushii for ensuring that Claudia Ciesla’s humanitarian work in India didn’t go unnoticed. “As a Bollywood actress, Claudia Ciesla is often in the news for her alleged linkups and hot photos. While linkups, red hot photos and other gossip are all part and parcel of Bollywood, Claudia Ciesla is a woman with a golden heart. She has been ceaselessly working for the poor and downtrodden in India for the last six months and has involved herself in fund raising, charity shows, resource mobilisation spending hours interacting with the under privileged, street children, orphans and destitute women. While it would incorrect to even try to compare Claudia Ciesla to Mother Teresa, in all humility I will venture to say that Claudia Ciesla is probably another Mother Teresa in the making,” said Flynn Remedios.
The Karmaveer Puraskaar, is iCONGO’s National People’s Award for Social Justice and Action that honours concerned citizens who have been and led the change they wanted. In the past, Ad guru and social activist Alyque Padamsee , Dr Leo Rebello, Rahul Bose, Remo Fernandes, M S Swaminathan (Father of the Green Revolution in India) have been recipients of the Karmaveer Puraskar.
Speaking about the award, Rajeev Sharma – Director Resource Mobilisation, Khushii said, “Claudia Ciesla has willingly supported the cause served by Khushii, especially its remedial education programme for the underprivileged children called “Shikshaantra” in many complementing ways, be it participating in a recent fashion charity event (fundraiser) with a complete waiver of fees to meeting and interacting with the less privileged children that study in the Shikshaantra schools at Sangam Vihar, New Delhi. Her compassion and humanitarianism shone through especially when she met and talked with the beneficiaries, forging a bond of mutual respect and affection.
Claudia has also offered to serve as an ambassador of KHUSHII and Europe and beyond, advocating the cause to a wider audience. Her commitment and passion for education and cause of the underprivileged goes beyond the lines caste, country and creed. I hope that as she becomes more successful in life her contribution to the social cause will enhance in the same proportion. And hence I believe that her winning this award will encourage others as well to come forward and contribute towards the betterment of the society.”
