"It is a very great honour to be included along with the eminent personalities who have received this award," was what Shantha Sinha had to say on being honoured with the Magsaysay Award.

• Profile: Shantha Sinha

Previous winners include Jayaprakash Narayan (public service), Mother Teresa (international understanding), Divestment Minister Arun Shourie (journalism) and Kiran Bedi (government service).

"I got the happy news through www.rediff.com when I was on my way home from the (Hyderabad) University," Sinha, who works through the MV Foundation, said on Wednesday.

"It vindicates our stand that no child must work and that every child must attend full-time, formal, day school. The rural poor want to send their children to schools.

"But many (erroneously) believe that children must work. It is a harsh reality - if they stop working, it is not possible for the families to survive. But it is not the right argument," she told rediff.com.

"The Award gives us the strength to convince critics that they are wrong. It would encourage the young volunteers who have been working relentlessly to bringing working children to schools," Sinha said.

EXTERNAL LINK: M V Foundation
More reports from Andhra Pradesh