Shah Rukh Khan is being honoured for empowering women and children

Bollywood film star Shah Rukh Khan | Flickr: Laura Lee Dooley

The actor is being given the award for his work championing the rights of women and children. 

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be honoured at World Economic Forum’s 24th Annual Crystal Awards at Davos, Switzerland for his work championing the rights of women and children.

The other recipients of the award are Oscar-winning actor Cate Blanchett and renowned musician Elton John, the World Economic Forum announced Monday.

Soon after the announcement, Khan tweeted:

Thank u for this honour. I consider my work with these heroic & beautiful women a great privilege as it imparts dignity & purpose to my life. I hope to spread awareness of the unparalleled heroism of these ladies & reach out to others in order to carry this work to its conclusion https://t.co/i6cEU6go6V

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) January 11, 2018

What Khan’s receiving the award for

Khan will be receiving the award in his capacity as the founder of the Meer Foundation, a non‐profit organisation which provides support to women who are victims of acid attacks and major burn injuries.

The foundation helps by providing women medical treatment, legal aid, vocational training, rehabilitation and livelihood support. The Meer Foundation is associated with several NGOs and foundations, including Sankara Nethralaya, Make-A-Wish, Smile Foundation, Nanavati Hospital, and the National Burns Centre.

The actor has helped set up specialised children’s hospital wards in the country, and has supported childcare centres that provide free boarding for children undergoing cancer treatment.

Shah Rukh Khan interacts with a child admitted in hospital | Photo taken from wef website

“With victims of acid attacks I have had the privilege to witness the unparalleled courage and compassion that women are capable of. I have seen the transformative strength of goodness and the healing power of gentleness,” Khan is quoted as saying on the WEF website.

The award will be presented to the three recipients on 22 January. This year the World Economic Forum will have the Indian Prime Minister attending it for the first time since 1997. Narendra Modi is slated to address the plenary session of the prestigious global summit.