Bhopal, India: December 1, 2011. (PCP) Fr. Anand Muttungal receives National Excellence Award from Catholic Priests’ Conference of India in a function organized in Trichur, Kerala. This is the highest award given to a Catholic Priest for the exceptional services rendered to the society. This award is given by the Catholic Priests’ Conference of India; it is the oldest Catholic Priests’ organization in the Country. This award is given once in five years. Chief Guest of the Award ceremony Former Karnataka Lokayukth Chairman and Anna Hazare’s Team member Justice N Santhosh Hegde while talking on the occasion said , “the self-less service that we render to the community is almost serving God, I have done my schooling in Christian school and I say the they have served the community well. While speaking on the occasion Archbishop Dr. Andrews Thazath spoke about Fr. Anand Muttungal, “I know Fr. Anand Muttungal for some time. Even though he is working in Madhya Pradesh, many times his works are for the whole country.” President of the CPCI Fr. Philip Kattakyam, said that his award is meant to recognize and appreciate Catholic priests who have excelled in service to humanity; like education, developmental work, human rights, alternative ministry, health, art and culture, pastoral work, media and communication, legal ministry, literature, and academics. It is proposed to choose priests from different sectors for their innovativeness and creativity. The selection of awardees was done by a selection committee specially constituted by CPCI for this purpose. Fr. Anand Muttungal is given this award for his great contribution in the area inter-religious peace and harmony and for empowering Christian people to strengthen democracy through their contribution, besides initiating services for the community development. While receiving the award he expressed thanks to the CPCI and dedicated the award as an honour to the people for whom he is working. The others are Fr. Davis Chirammel of the Archdiocese of Trichur, for his creative contributions for health care, especially for organizing kidney donations and the Accident Care Transport Services, besides his social development efforts for the emancipation of the poor, Fr. Ivan Madtha of the diocese of Mangalore for the creative use of the art of magic for the promotion of the Kingdom values and for his great resilient enthusiasm in his mission even after losing one of his hands in a train accident; Fr. P.J. Jacob of the diocese of Belgaum, for his struggle to defend human rights of ordinary people. Fr. Joe Pereira of the Archdiocese of Mumbai, recipient of Padmashri Award, a great Yoga Guru and also for his contribution to de-addiction works all over India.