'Anil Shah Gram Vikas' award presented to 'Lokmitra'

Ahmedabad, Jan 21 (UNI) ''Lokmitra'', a Rajkot-based NGO, was conferred the ''Anil Shah Gram Vikas'' award at a function here today.

The award, instituted by the city-based Development Support Centre (DSC) and carrying a purse of Rs 50,000, a trophy and a plaque, was presented at the hands of well-known social activist Anna Hazare.

''Lokmitra'' was conferred the award for its contribution in the fields of watershed management and rural education.

Two other NGOs -- one Bhavnagar-based and the other Dahod-based -- were presented with the ''Gram Sanghatan Paritoshak'' which carried a purse of Rs 10,000, a trophy and a plaque. The awards to these NGOs were in recognition of their watershed development programmes.

Mr Hazare, while speaking on the occasion, stressed that it is projects like watershed management that really ushered in development rather than constructing tall buildings.

He also stressed the need to channelise the energies of the youth. It is the youth, and not the politicians, who can spell progress for the society, he said.

The ''Gram Vikas'' and ''Gram Sanghatan'' awards were instituted in 2001 in honour of DSC emeritus chairman Anil Shah who retired as a Gujarat Government secretary and has been actively involved in water management for the last 30 years.

UNI