Many Recognitions. One platform - India NGO Awards 2008

New Delhi: The city once again hosted the India NGO Awards ceremony instituted by The Resource Alliance and The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation. Constituted in year 2006, these Awards aim to promote financial and organizational sustainability of civil society and strengthen community support for their work.

Along with the board members of the host organizations, Ms. Sayeeda Hammed, Member, Planning Commission and the Chief Guest at the event awarded the National winners – Pragati, from Koraput in the small category, Action for Social Advancement (ASA) from Bhopal in the Medium category and BAIF Development Research Foundation from Pune and Sankara Eye Care Institutions, India from Coimbatore were jointly awarded in the Large Category. The winners were presented a trophy and a cash prize of rupees four lakhs.

Centre for Rural Development from Guwahati was awarded a Special Recognition for The Rickshaw Bank Project Innovation. The 2008 Awards attracted the highest number of entries as compared to the last 2 years. Out of 167 entries received, from a large range of organizations cutting across sizes, causes and geographical areas, 52 organisations were short listed for due diligence by the regional Assessors, which led to 15 finalists. The jury comprising of Roland Angerer of Plan International, Kajol Menon of Childine India Foundation, Vijay Mahajan of Basix India, Raj Chengappa from India Today and Rati Forbes from the Resource Alliance, selected the final four National Awardees.

Addressing the occasion, Ms. Sayeeda Hameed said The ‘Indian NGO Awards’ is a unique and much awaited initiative. In the short period of two years, the Award has been able to attract a diverse group of stakeholders to support it. VOs / NGOs are enthusiastic to be a part of the process, which is evident from the increased number of entries last year. Objectives of the Award have synergy with the National Policy on the Voluntary Sector (2007), piloted by the Planning Commission. I am happy to have been part of the Advisory Committee for the Awards. I wish to congratulate the Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation and the Resource Alliance for their efforts and commitment towards making the sector more sustainable and accountable.

Don Mohanlal, CEO, The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation, stated, “it is an honour for us to be associated with the India NGO Awards programme. Through our support to the NGO Awards in India, we want to raise the profile of such NGOs who strive to make a habit of good practices, and work as solutions-oriented responsible institutional citizens of our great nation” In the words of Rati Misra, Regional Representative of the Resource Alliance, “we believe that sustainable social change can be brought about by bringing the civil sector into multisectoral partnerships which maximize impact and its accountability. This is what the Award stands for and The Resource Alliance is indeed pleased to be a pioneer in recognizing the good organizations and thereby promoting excellence in the sector”.

About The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation
The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation is a private Indian Foundation with a mission is to develop and promote institutions and initiatives that make a substantial impact on poverty, deprivation and disempowerment of the human and natural environment. The Foundation’s approach is long-term, strategic and leveraged to bring about change through multi-stakeholder collaboration, both within India and internationally. Their initiatives are socially inclusive, with special emphasis on issues that involve women and children and they believe in the involvement all elements of the community.

About Resource Alliance
The Resource Alliance is an international not for profit working globally to build the capacity of civil society organizations towards greater financial sustainability. This is done through workshops, seminars, accredited courses that are run in partnership with business schools and Consulting & Advisory services. Headquartered in London, the organization has offices in Malaysia, India and Uganda with additional staff members in Brazil, Argentina and Prague.