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VP confers Jamnalal Bajaj Awards on 4 prominent Gandhians
Mumbai, Nov 15 (IANS) Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday gave away the 41st Jamnalal Bajaj Awards to four prominent Gandhians in the field of humanitarian and social work.
The winners for 2018 are Dhoom Singh Negi of Uttarakhand, Rupal Desai and Rajendra Desai of Gujarat, Prasanna Bhandari of Rajasthan and Clayborne Carson, Founding Director of The Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute in the US.
The annual awards, presented by the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation (JBF), commemorates the birth anniversary of the late industrialist Jamnalal Bajaj and recognizes achievers in the fields of Gandhian and humanitarian programmes with a citation, trophy and a prize amount of Rs 10 lakh in each category.
Present on the occasion were Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation Chairman Rahul Bajaj, JBF Council of Advisors Chairman Justice C.S. Dharmadhikari (retired) and other dignitaries.
A former teacher, Negi — also revered as ‘guruji’ in Uttarakhand — has led many constructive agitations for environment protection including the Chipko Movement and taken part in the Gram Swaraj of Gandhiji-Vinoba Bhave.
He also participated in Gandhiji’s Sarvodaya Movement, opposed illegal systems, unfair practices and injustice, and conducted massive afforestation drives to conserve the sensitive Himalayan regions.
Former US corporate executives — Rupal Desai, an architect, and her husband Rajendra Desai, an engineer — returned to India in 1984 and plunged into social service, utilizing their technical knowledge for the betterment of the rural communities.
Following Gandhian philosophy of self-sustenance, they deployed modern technology for rural housing and spent six years in Latur in Maharashtra after the 1993 earthquake to focus on building local capacity and ensuring future earthquake risk reductions.
They trained over 1,500 artisans and others, saved more than 750 traditional masonry buildings during the earthquake by retrofitting.
The Convenor of Shri Karni Nagar Vikas Samiti (Kota), Bhandari worked for the cause of abandoned infants, destitutes, distressed women and girls and helpless aged citizens.
Shishugriha, an infant-care nursery founded by her in 1977, has helped legal adoption of 900 discarded children. Balgriha and Balikagriha for older children have benefited around 3,000 boys and 200 girls who have been married and integrated into social mainstream.
Inspired by Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Carson launched a movement to teach Gandhian and King philosophies in 2008, participated in student movements and joined Martin Luther King during his historic 1963 march to Washington DC.
In 1985, Martin Luther King Jr’s widow Coretta Scott King invited Carson to direct a project to edit and publish a comprehensive edition of her husband’s speeches, correspondence, publications and unpublished works.
The JBF also announced opening of nominations for the 2019 awards.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.