more-in The State Youth Commission has declared the Youth Icon awards for the year 2016-17. Awards are given to youth who put their own stamp in various social speheres, including art/culture, sports, literature, agriculture, industrial entrepreneurship and social work and through their exemplary involvement could help others tread a different path. Cine actor Prithviraj was selected for the award in the category Art/Culture. Apart from the different roles that he has assayed, the jury made special mention of his stand that he would not be part of a gender-insensitive film. In the field of sports, the footballer from Kerala, C.K. Vineeth, won the award, for the key role he played in several wins secured by India. Young litterateur, P. V. Shaji Kumar was chosen as the youth icon in the field of literature . A winner of Kendra Sahitya Academy award, Shaji Kumar was the newest find of Malayalam literature, the jury reckoned. Rajesh Krishnan, who does integrated organic farming in Thirunelli in Wayanad district, was chosen for the award in the field of Agriculture. A graduate in biotechnology and a post graduate in ecology, Rajesh Krishnan adopted farming as a way of life and showed how indigenous paddy species can be successfully farmed. In the field of industrial entrepreneurship, Varun Chandran, who heads the Pathanapuram-based international start-up venture, Corporate 360, a marketing data software company, was chosen as the Youth Icon. Corporate 360 is one of the leading start-ups which has been very successful internationally. Ashla Rani, who became physically disabled in an accident but has been a force to reckon with on the wheel chair, through her strong and committed work as a social volunteer, is the Youth Icon in the sphere of social work. The awards will be presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, at a function to be held at the Government Women’s College here on August 1.

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