HYDERABAD: Describing former chief secretary late SR Sankaran as the “champion of human rights”, “person with humanism and moral authority” and a “living example for the present generation,’’ speakers were all praise for the former IAS officer on his 77th birth anniversary. Delivering the first memorial lecture ‘’SR Sankaran - The Man” organised by the Centre for Dalit Studies (CDS) on the occasion at Telugu University here on Saturday, retired IAS officer BD Sharma recalled his association with Sankaran as a government servant in 1970s.“Sankaran had identified himself with the Dalits and poorer sections. He disagreed to take financial assistance from foreign countries to rehabilitate bonded labour in India. Instead, he enacted the law to benefit the bonded labour. Sankaran was very clear in his perception,’’ he noted.One of his major contributions to the development sector was the introduction of the concept of integrated rural and tribal development. The establishment of Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) in Andhra Pradesh and Integrated Rural Development Programme in other states were the result of his commitment to the cause, he said.Former chief secretary K Madhava Rao while describing Sankaran as his “guru”, stressed that people should fulfil his ideals. Sankaran remained a bachelor to serve the poor, he said.Professor of University of Hyderabad Haragopal termed Sankaran as a person with great human values. He fought for the most oppressed sections of the society. He had led a meaningful life by giving up physical comforts. “Sankaran had humanised the power and had overcome the problem of ego. He was a living example of our times,’’ he observed. Senior journalist Mallepalli Laxmaiah said media awards would be introduced in Sankaran’s name from next year.
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