Asmita National Awards 2007 announced

Mumbai, Jan 18 (UNI) Chief Minister of Orissa Naveen Patnaik, MP, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Educationist Prof Prakash G Apte, Journalist Shekhar Gupta and director of 'Lage Raho Munnabhai', Rajkumar Hirani, have been chosen for the ''Bharat Asmita National Awards 2007''.

The award comprises a citation, trophy and a cash award of Rs 1.25 lakh, a release issued here today said.

The ''Bharat Asmita Jana Pratinidhi Shreshta Special award for Lifetime Achievement'' will be presented to Mr Patnaik and ''Bharat Asmita Jana Pratinidhi Shrestha-Best Young Exponent of Parliamentary Practices'' will be conferred on Mr Scindia, ''The Bharat Asmita Acharya Shrestha-Best Teacher in Management'' will be given to Prof Apte, Director, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and the ''Bharat Asmita Jana Jagaran Shrestha, Best Practitioner of Mass Media'' to Shekhar Gupta, CEO, Indian Express Group.

The ''Bharat Asmita Jana Jagaran Shrestha-Special award for a film-maker has been bagged by Rajkumar Hirani.

The governing council committee, chaired by T N Seshan, and comprising Padmavibushan DR R A Mashelkar, Padmashree Dr Vijay Bhatkar, Dr Yashpal, Ms Ritu Nanda, Advocate Bhaskarro Avhad and Dr Vishwanath D Karad received 5000 nominations since October 2006.

The awards, to be presented in New Delhi on February 3, were instituted in 2005 by the MAAER's MIT Group of Institutes, to recognise and honour leaders of excellence for their contribution to society.

UNI