Kerala-based NGO Jan Shikshan Sansthan will receive the prestigious UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy in a programme to be held in Paris on Thursday.

Established in 2005, the prizes are awarded on International Literacy Day. 

The NGO based in Malappuram was conferred the prize as a recognition of its activities towards the development of literacy of underprivileged sections in rural areas, including widows and Adivasis.

Chairman of the NGO PV Abdul Wahab, an MP, will receive the award from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. 

“It is a recognition for our selfless commitment and dedication for a cause. We will take our work to further levels,” Abdul Wahab was quoted as saying to The Hindu.

The award reportedly sponsored by China is conferred to the NGO for its implementation of innovative teaching tools, including Braille applications. ‘Talking pen’ introduced to educate tribal women was also one among the innovations that were instrumental in the organization bagging the award.

The programme, that began in 2006 has already covered close to 53,000 people under the project.