Centre to give 'Sardar Patel National Unity Award' for promoting national integration, unity: MHA

Nine months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement for a national award in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Home Ministry on Friday notified the institution of the Sardar Patel National Unity Award, a new honour on the pattern of Padma awards for promoting national unity.

The award will be bestowed on individuals or institutions for notable contributions towards the cause of the country's unity and integrity, the MHA said in a notification. 

"Any citizen of India without distinction of religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth, age or occupation and any institution/organisation shall be eligible for the Award," the ministry said.

The names of the person or organisation or institution, upon whom the decoration is conferred, shall be published in the Gazette of India and a register of all such recipients shall be maintained under the direction of the President, the notification said.

Prime Minister Modi had announced the institution of the award last December at the annual conference of Director Generals of Police and Inspector Generals of Police held at Kevadiya in Narmada district of Gujarat, near the giant statue of Sardar Patel.

“Sardar Patel devoted his life towards unifying India. The Sardar Patel Award for National Integration would be a fitting tribute to him and will inspire more people to work towards furthering India's unity and national integration,” the Prime Minister had said.

The Home Ministry notification said the award will recognise inspiring contributions to promote national unity and integrity and to reinforce the value of a strong and united India.

The award, of fine silver and gold, will be in the shape of a lotus leaf, six centimetres in length, six and two centimetres at its greatest breadth and 4 millimetres in thickness. On its obverse will be embossed a replica of the lotus with petals and words 'Sardar Patel National Unity Award' will also be written in Hindi.

The portrait of Sardar Patel will be embossed upon a circular shaped gold metal with a diameter of 2 centimeters and the state emblem and motto in Hindi will be embossed on the reverse. The Emblem, the lotus and the petals will be made of fine silver, plated with gold, and the inscription will be in frosted gold.

The miniature of the decoration which may be worn on certain occasions by recipients will be half the size of the award. A sealed pattern of the said miniature will be deposited and kept.