Honours and Awards of Helma Ritscher

 

Honours and Awards of Helma Ritscher

1.     On 30^th January 2001, Helma Ritscher was awarded the "Medal of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany" by the German Federal President, Mr. Johannes Rau, for her contribution to international understanding. 

2.     In 2002, she received the "Avantika National Humanity Award" in Delhi. 

3.     On 8^th March 2010, on International Women's Day, Dr. Lenin Raguvanshi and his human rights organisation Peoples Vigilance Committee On Human Rights (PVCHR) honoured Helma Ritscher with the "JanMitra Award" in Baghwanala for her commitment to the rights of the Dalit, Tribals and disadvantaged children. On this day, Helma Ritscher was in Baghwanala to personally participate in the inauguration of a school which was built exclusively with funds from sponsors in Remscheid, the Indo-German Society Affiliate Remscheid and the PVCHR.

 4.     On 28^th February 2012, the "Helma Ritscher Education Scholarship Fund", was established in Baghwanala on Helma Ritscher's behalf. This long-term, sustainable initiative offers underprivileged boys and, in particular, girls a chance for further studies. On the same day, Helma Ritscher was given the honour to inaugurate the "Savitri Bai Phule Memorial Women's Centre" in Baghwanala. 

5.     On 29^th September 2012, on the occasion on the Annual General Meeting of the Indo-German Society, Helma Ritscher was awarded the “Badge of Honour of the Indo-German Society 2012” by the Federal Executive Board in recognition of her special achievements and contributions to the society. The “Badge of Honour of the Indo-German Society” was introduced in 2004 to honour persons, who have rendered particularly outstanding services in achieving the goals of the society. It was awarded for the first time in 2007. 

6.     On 10th December 2017, the International Day of Human Rights, the “Helma Ritscher Centre for Human Dignity” was inaugurated by Acharya Mrityunjay Tripathi and Maulana Haroon Rashid in Baghwanala. The ceremony was jointly organised by PVCHR, IRCT & Sajha Sanskriti Manch.
The Centre offers educational courses to access the modern digital world and offers additional chances and appreciation for the underprivileged, especially for girls and women. The “Helma Ritscher Centre for Human Dignity” was built and equipped with modern technology and furnishings through development funds by Engagement Global gGmbh and the Indo-German Society Affiliate Remscheid.

7.     On 17^th January 2018 Helma Ritscher was awarded by the Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on suggestion by the Chief Minister of Northrhine-Westphalia with the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. The award was handed over on 9^th April 2018 by State Secretary Andrea Milz in recognition for the acquired merits of Helma Ritscher for the people and the state of Germany at the House of the State Parliament in Duesseldorf.

The Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is awarded to Non- Germans and Germans for their political, economical, social and intellectual accomplishments and for outstanding contributions to the Federal Republic of Germany in social and charitable areas. It is the highest appreciation which the Federal Republic of Germany awards for outstanding merits.