Maharashtra Bhushan for industrialist Ratan Tata

Mumbai, Apr 27: Noted industrialist Ratan Tata, head of Tata group which has made significant contribution to the socio-economic and educational fields in Maharashtra, has been chosen for the ''Maharashtra Bhushan'' award for the year 2006.

The announcement was made by Culture Minister Ashok Chavan yesterday. The decision to confer the award upon Mr Ratan Tata was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, Culture Minister Ashok Chavan, and cricketer Ajit Wadekar.

The award carries a purse of Rs five lakh, a citation and a memento. Earlier recpients of the award include P L Deshpande, Lata Mangeshkar, Dr Vijay Bhatkar, Sachin Tendulkar, Bhimsen Joshi, Dr Abhay and Rani Bang, Baba Amte and Dr Raghunath Mashelkar.

Mr Chavan said the Tata group, apart from its business activities, is involved in several other initiatives in Mumbai and other parts of the State like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Tata Memorial Centre for Cancer Research, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA).

The award is presented on the occasion of Maharashtra foundation day on May 1 every year.

UNI