January 11, 2018
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be honoured at the
24th Annual Crystal Awards -- as part of the World Economic Forum's 48th Annual
Meeting here later this month -- for his leadership in championing children's
and women's rights in India.
Actor-director Cate Blanchett and singer
Elton John are the other awardees this year, according to the official website
of the World Economic Forum.
"Each of them in their own way has taken
action to uphold human dignity," read the statement.
Shah Rukh is being
feted as he is a founder of the non-profit Meer Foundation, which provides
support to female victims of acid attacks and major burn injuries through
medical treatment, legal aid, vocational training, rehabilitation and livelihood
support.
He has also been responsible for the creation of specialized
children's hospital wards and has supported childcare centres with free boarding
for children undergoing cancer treatment.
Expressing gratitude for being
chosen for the honour, Shah Rukh tweeted on Thursday: "Thank you for this
honour. I consider my work with these heroic and beautiful women a great
privilege as it imparts dignity and purpose to my life. I hope to spread
awareness of the unparalleled heroism of these ladies and reach out to others in
order to carry this work to its conclusion."
The 24th Annual Crystal
Awards celebrate the achievements of outstanding artistes who have shown
exemplary commitment to improving the state of the world.
The awards
ceremony will take place on January 22, at the launch of the annual meeting.
This year's World Economic Forum will have the first Indian Prime Minister
participating since 1997, with Narendra Modi slated to address the plenary
session of the prestigious global business meet.