Awards & Appreciations

The Ford Conservation and Environment Grant

The Ford Conservation and Environment Grant is an award given by the FORD INDIA Ltd. in recognition of valuable contribution towards environmental protection and conservation. It was awarded to GBS in recognition of its efforts in environmental conservation. The award ceremony was held in New Delhi on the 1st of December 2001 and a certificate and cash prize of Rs. 1 1,50,0 00 (US $ 26,750) were presented to GBS by then US Deputy Chief Ambassador Mr. Albert Thaibolt.

The Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra Award

The Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra Award recognizes outstanding achievement in environmental conservation and wasteland development. It is the most prestigious award presented by the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests and was awarded to GBS in recognition of its efforts in environmental conservation, particularly the wasteland developers. The award ceremony was held on the 16th of September 2002 in Bangalore and a cheque for Rs. 50 000(US $ 1,165) was presented to GBS.

Prize for women's creativity in rural life

The Prize for Women's Creativity in Rural Life is awarded by the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF), Geneva (Switzerland) in recognition of contributions to improving the quality of life in rural communities. This $500 prize was presented to Ms. Kusum Jain, Joint Secretary of GBS in 2001 and the WWSF also praised Ms. Jain for her work with GBS for welfare of the poor rural women.

Award for Eradication of Leprosy

The Award for the Eradication of Leprosy is given out in recognition for outstanding work among leprosy sufferers. Ms. Kusum Jain, Joint Secretary of GBS was presented with this award for her efforts in rehabilitating some 500 lepers in rural Rajasthan. The ceremony was held on the 10th of December 2003 and the award was also presented in remembrance of Late Master Ram Sharan Antyanuprasi, eminent socialist leader & Indian freedom fighter.

UNAIDS PCB

Bhawani Shanker Kusum, secretary, Gram Bharati Samiti, a well known NGO (Non-Governmant Organisation) of Rajasthan has been nominated in the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) of UNAIDS as delegate of Asia/Pacific region.

Bhawani Shanker is the only NGO delegate nominated in the PCB from India. Gram Bharati Samiti (GBS) is the first and pioneer NGO initiating in the field of HIV/AIDS in Rajasthan in the year 1991. GBS has been working constantly for last 14 years among the tribal women traditionally involved in sex work for awareness and education, counseling, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) along with some community support and development activities like providing them with basic amenities e.g. potable water, primary level non-formal education for the children of sex workers, medical and health care facilities for general ailments and STDs/RTIs etc. in the rural areas of district Jaipur, Ajmer and Tonk.

Bhawani Shanker Kusum is one of the 5 delegates nominated in the PCB from the core group of GYCA (Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS), a worldwide youth organization working on HIV/AIDS. He has been nominated for a period of 2 years i.e. January 01, 2006 to December 31, 2007. GBS is already a member of the core group of GYCA from South Asia.

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