Indian NGOs-Tulir, CHETNA win international award

New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) Two Indian NGOs have emerged winners of the Banyan Tree Value Challenge, for their work on child rights and prevention of child sexual abuse, beating several contenders from other Asian countries.

While Chennai-based Tulir Centre for Prevention and Healing of Sexual Abuse got the award along with a grant of 10,000 USD, for its presentation on menace of child sexual abuse, Ahmedabad's Center for Health, Education, Training and Nutritional Awareness (CHETNA) received the excellence award, carrying a grant of 5,000 USD for its Bal Mitra or Child Reporter programme which involves children in development programmes.

Giving details, Ms Chitra Iyer of CHETNA, said under the programme in five blocks of Gujarat's Valsad district, children have turned journalists and investigate the progress of local development concerns.

These stories are published in monthly newsletters produced by them. The success of the newsletter in monitoring and highlighting local issues has led to its funding by district development officers in Valsad.

"CHETNA believes that children are capable of being partners in the development processes when provided with enabling environment, appropriate opportunities, support and guidance. The Bal Mitra programme is a prime example," pointed out Indu Capoor, director, CHETNA at a workshop on 'Mainstreaming Child Rights', organised by CHETNA here.

Two child reporters from this programme had gone to Singapore to receive the award.

The Banyan Tree Value Challenge, instituted as part of the Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility, is an opportunity for eligible NGOs to get additional funding by making a competitive presentation of a CSR project or programme.

The competition was open only to NGOs from Bahrain, China, Greece, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Mexico, Morocco, Singapore, South Korea, Seychelles, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.

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