CIRD is a Research and Development organization established in 2002 under the Act XXI of 1860 of the Government of India. One of the main areas of activity of CIRD is developing knowledge dissemination systems for the common people. Like UNESCO; CIRD also considers Library services as crucial to support lifelong learning, independent decision-making and cultural development of the individual and society and for fostering of peace and spiritual welfare through the minds of men and women.

In conformity with the above objectives CIRD has selected Dr. Ram Awatar Ojha (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) for its national level Award for Best Information Scientist 2014 in recognition of his outstanding services as a Library and Information Science Professional and Teacher to achieve the above common objectives of UNESCO and CIRD.

Dr. Ram Avathar Ojha took M.A.in Sociology  from Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University and M.A. (Economics), MLISc and  PhD in Library and Information Science from Banaras Hindu University. He is presently Librarian / Associate Professor (Library Science at Sathish Chandar P G College, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was a faculty of distance education programs of Indira Gandhi National Open University for more than a decade and is an approved Research Guide of Alagappa University, Annamalai University, Chaudhari Devi Lal University, and Vinayaka Mission University. His areas of interest are information user behavior and mass media.

Dr. Ojha was selected from 71 nominations received from different regions of the country covering more than 16 states; by a panel of experts, which included eminent persons from the fields of ICT, Library and Information Science, Academic administration and Social services. 2015 Edition of the Award is under process and will be declared by December 2016.

Detailed announcement can be read at: https://sites.google.com/site/cirdhome/awards