Shrestha Puraskar 2011

The IGSSS Shrestha Puraskar was awarded to four individuals/organizations who have been recognized for their work towards the upliftment of marginalised communities. This award was presented on February 23rd, 2011, at IGSSS’ Golden Jubilee celebration – Grand Finale. An award for Excellence in Journalism for Social Justice was presented to Ms. Ambika Pandit, a special correspondent with the Times of India.

Ms. Rita Panicker Pinto started her work in the development field in the area of community health and women’s empowerment. In 1989, she founded Butterflies, a voluntary organization that works with street and working children in Delhi and with tsunami survivors in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. She has been associated with IGSSS for over 20 years. IGSSS had provided start up assistance to the organisation and today Butterflies owes its present status to this continued support and encouragement.

Gramya Vikas Trust (GVT) Jamnagar (Gujarat) was established in 1986-87 and soon it became a household name in Gujarat and won appreciation from State, National and International agencies. Its work relating to empowerment of women through SHGs and watershed development for restoration of eco-environmental balance is exemplary. IGSSS has supported GVT in seven projects since 1996-97 which were related to the empowerment of women through the organization of SHGs. The organization started women’s empowerment programmes with the collaboration of IGSSS.

Purvanchal Gramin Seva Samiti (PGSS), Gorakhpur. PGSS is the Social Service Society of the Catholic Diocese of Gorakhpur. The partnership between IGSSS and PGSS existed since the latter’s initial days in 1986. IGSSS supported the organisation for Social Animation and Community Mobilisation work. PGSS is actively involved in the empowerment of women and promoted Mahila Mandals and SHGs and networked through multi-tiered federations which acted as a platform of decision-making and collective action at the block, district and division levels. PGSS set up CHILDLINE, a 24 hour emergency helpline and call centre with the help of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India and CHILDLINE India Foundation (CIF).

Ms. Santosh Bai Sahariya, hails from the Sahariya Community, one of the most vulnerable tribal communities in Rajasthan. She was groomed by CECODECON, an organization, which works on health education and youth mobilization and was supported by Indo-Global Social Service Society. It helped her to become a health worker. Santosh Bai was awarded by ‘Women’s World Summit Foundation’ for ‘Women Creativity in Rural Life’ in Switzerland for her contribution in rural development.

Award of Excellence in Journalism for Social Justice was awarded to Ms. Ambika Pandit. She is a committed journalist, proactive and has been very supportive to the cause of City Makers. She is a special Correspondent with the ‘Times of India’. Since 2009 she has been writing on the lack of shelters for the homeless and the absence of a national policy. Nearly 50 of her articles on the issue have appeared in the Times of India on the plight of the homeless, triggering a nationwide debate and intervention of the Supreme Court of India and Delhi High Court. She covered the peril of the homeless throughout the year and was also appreciated by the Honorable Supreme Court of India.