Social and human rights activist Dr Dibyajyoti Saikia of Assam has been conferred the India Star Republic Award by India Star Book of Records.
Dr Saikia has for the past two decades been fighting against superstitious beliefs, communalism and other social evils in the state and in other states as well.
He has been instrumental in pursuading the government to pass the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2015, which was approved by President Ram Bath Kovind on June 13, 2018 converting it to an Act.
Saikia has also worked among those victims displaced by floods or affected by communal violence.
He has worked in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Recently he was conferred an honorary doctorate degree by California Public University, USA.
The Doctor of Humanities degree was conferred upon a special programme for services in the fields of human rights, social harmony, peace and community welfare.
He also has several other national awards to his credit like Babu Jagjiwan Ram Award, Maulana Azad National Award and Bhupen Hazarika Peace award.