Dr Rani Bang, Dr S N Subba Rao among Jamnalal Bajaj awardees

Mumbai, Oct 4: Dr Rani Abhay Bang of 'SEARCH' organisation based in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra and Dr S N Subba Rao who is the director of National Youth Project are among the winners of the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj foundation awards to be given away on November six.

Dr Bang will be honoured for her contribution for upliftment and welfare of women and children with the award instituted in the memory of Jankidevi Bajaj. While Dr Rao will be felicitated for her outstanding contribution in the field of constructive work.

The other winners are Dr Anil Prakash Joshi from Dehradun who will get the award for application of science and Technology for Rural development. Dr Ismail Serageldin, director of Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt will get the International Award for promoting Gandhian values outside India.

Addressing a press conference, foundation trustee Madhur Bajaj said each of the awards comprise a citation, trophy and a cash prize of Rs five lakh and in the case of international award, Rupees five lakh or its equivalent in foreign exchange.

The awards will be presented at a special function on November six at the Y B Chavan Centre at 1700 hrs. Chairman and Chief Mentor of Infosys Technologies Ltd N R Narayana Murthy will be the chief guest and give away the awards.

Mr Bajaj said Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH) headed by Dr Rani Bang and her husband Dr Abhay has dedicated themselves to the social and educational upliftment of as well as providing effective medical and public health services to the lowest of the lowly - tribals of Gadchiroli district.

Dr Subba Rao started social work right from his student days.

Popularly called Bhaiji, he started the National Youth project under which dacoits would organise camps on different issues like national unity, problems of the youth, sports, cultural programmes and efforts for national and world peace were organised.

Dr Joshi formed an NGO called Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) and concentrated on need based science and technology development and its application for the mountain regions. He started at a small level by taking up research projects with immediate application possibilities in rural areas through support of agencies like Department of Science and Technology, Department of Bio-Technology. Over the years, he has implemented challenging and interesting projects and programmes like 'Women Technology Park' and 'Technology Intervention for Mountain Eco-system'.

Dr Ismail Sergeldin is currently director of Library of Alexandria and distinguished university professor, Wagneningen University, the Netherlands. He also serves as chair and member of a number of advisory committees for academic research, scientific and international institutions and civil society effort.

UNI