Pride of Dwarka – Mr. Vijay K Saluja

Vijay Saluja got CID Gallantry Award, in the category of Social Bravery by SONY TV
Mr Vijay K. Saluja ,Ex Chief Engineer[civil]New Delhi Municipal Council & presently a Senior Fellow[urban studies] at Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi www.issin.org , resident of Nav Sansad Vihar, Sector 22, Dwarka was conferred CID Gallantry Award in Mumbai on 19.1.2010. under the category of Social Bravery by SONY TV . The awards were instituted from this year. Mr Vijay Saluja did his civil engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi & also studied Management of Urban Renewal at University of Birmingham-UK. He has been conferred this Award in recognition of his honesty, integrity & for his sustained efforts for taking on unethical & unfair system, thus `demonstrating an exemplary act of BRAVERY`.The CID Gallantry Award certificate, which is signed by four jury members further states `that we hope that this achievement serves as an example for others to follow` Mr Vijay K Saluja was honoured with Red & White Bravery Award in 2002,Giraffe Heroes Award in 2004 ,for sticking his neck out for the common good by Giraffe Heroes Project, a US based organization www.giraffe.org & Satyendra K. Dubey Memorial Award,in Feb 2009 by IIT Kanpur & IIT Kanpur Alumni Association, besides many other recognitions, for fighting corruption. & for professional integrityAs an IIT Delhi graduate, Vijay Saluja joined the New Delhi Municipal Council in the hope of improving the overall living conditions for the people of New Delhi. Unfortunately this dream changed course when he was surrounded by the rampant corruption around him.

Instead of going with the flow, Saluja decided to swim against the corruption in the system, which resulted in a hostile work environment, financial instability, mental and physical stress and even death threats.

Saluja filed a civil petition in Delhi High Court citing his superiors’ abuses of power, including massive squandering of public funds, and the damages to Saluja’s career. The findings led to the restoration of Saluja’s 20 years of lost seniority, made him Chief Engineer of the department, and earned his adversaries contempt notices for dragging their feet.
Vijay Saluja has been sustained through the years by his devotion to the common good. “Callous waste of public funds, when abject poverty abounds, literally appalls me” says the Chief Engineer.

TELECAST OF THE CID GALLANTRY AWARDS CEREMONY WILL BE SHOWN BY SONY TV ON, 26TH JANUARY,2010, FROM 9PM ONWARDS

*MY Warm Congratulations to you, Mr. Vijay K. Saluja. You richly deserve the Award. See, Finally you made it. You won the battle against Corruption and in spite of all the odds. You are a great person among the millions of pygmies living in our society/country. India and Indian Citizens need more such exemplary young men like you to really bring about the needed transformation of our country and society. May God bless you with long life of health, wealth and prosperity and help you to continue the good work you have been doing with firm faith, commitment and honesty.On this occasion I also send you warm greetings on our Republic Day. Let Long Live, Republic of India with head high in the comity of Nations. – W.V.G.Venkata Ramana*This is such a heart-warming news. When you are ‘surrounded by the rampant corruption, instead of going with the flow’, choosing ‘to swim against the corruption in the system’ requires sheer bravery. The fact that Sri Saluja continued his battle in spite of ‘hostile work environment, financial instability, mental and physical stress and even death threats’ is heroic. Hats off to a brave heart! We need men like Sri Saluja in every govt. deptt. to bring about meaningful changes. Kind regards. – Rajendra K Goel