Khamliana of Mizoram and Mohammed Abdul Bari of Odisha have been jointly selected for the prestigious National Communal Harmony Award for 2011 in the individual category.

The award is given for promoting communal harmony and national integration and carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh and a citation.

An official announcement in New Delhi said the names of Khamliana and Bari were selected by a jury headed by Vice-President Hamid Ansari.

Khamliana, 56, is the founder president of 22-year-old voluntary organisation, Mizoram Youth Club. His organization renders social service and helps in strengthening national integration in Mizoram.

72-year-old Bari from Bhadrak district is associated with eight social organisations and has helped police and local administration from time to time to maintain peace and communal harmony.

He played a significant role in restoring peace and harmony at Bhadrak after communal riots there in 1991 and also in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, serial blasts at Mumbai in 1993, Godhra train burning in 2002 and the killing of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati at Kandhamal in 2008.