Hirbaiben Lobi to receive Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar

Mumbai, Jan 8: Junagadh-based Ms Hirbaiben Lobi will be awarded the 14th IMC Ladies' Wing Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar 2006 for Rural Women Entrepreneurs for her contribution in improving the social and economic background of rural women, especially those belonging to the Siddi community.

The IMC Ladies' Wing Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar, which was instituted in 1993 in the memory of Padma Vibhusan Smt Jankidevi Bajaj, comprises of a cash award of Rs 1,50,000, besides a citation and a certificate.

Lobi has been encouraging entrepreneurship through various activities including organic fertiliser manufacturing, neem oil production, animal husbandry and so on. Realising the importance of education, which she herself in the past was deprived of, Lobi has set up a day care centre and school for children with trained teachers. Today, children of Jambur are able to receive basic education.

Lobi discusses crucial issues with government departments and senior officials. Her recommendations and appeals are heard and acknowledged with high regard and respect. She is affectionately called 'sarpanch', even when she holds no official position. She is a recipient of the 'Prize for Women's Creativity in Rural Life' awarded by the Women's World Summit Foundation, Switzerland in 2002, a statement here today said.

Lobi will be presented the award on Tuesday, January 9 at 1600 hrs at Walchand Hirachand Hall, IMC, in Churchgate, South Mumbai by noted actress and Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan.

UNI