Two Indian NGOs win $ 100,000 each

London: Two Indian NGOs have been honoured with cash prizes of $100,000 each for improving the lives of disadvantaged children in India.

UK-based charity the Stars Foundation's Impact Awards were won by Pragya, Gurgaon, for focusing on education, healthcare, energy, sustainable livelihoods and human rights projects in the Himalayan region and Seva, Gorakhpur which works for the socio-economic development of disadvantaged communities, with an emphasis on women and children.

Receiving the award, Gargi Banerji, Director of Pragya, Gurgaon, said it would act as "a big motivator and booster and it was a shot in the arm" for those involved in Pragya, the only organisation in India focusing on the

Himalayan region, aiming to shape and enable holistic,sustainable development for vulnerable and neglected communities.

Both the Indian NGOs bagged awards and cash prize of $100,000 each.

The NGO carries out education, healthcare, energy sustainable livelihoods and human rights projects in the region. Gargi said the award was "a recognition of the impact created by the NGO" in the high altitude of the

Himalayas since 1995.

"The Organisation delivers a whole range of services including education, health, sanitation, agriculture, livelihood in 16 districts - 13 in India and 3 in Nepal in a comprehensive manner."

Pragya targets populations which are deemed hard to access due to being geographically difficult and politically isolated. Its target groups are Himalayan minorities with a focus on children and youth.

The NGO's work focuses on social development, natural resource anagement, and enterprise & livelihoods. It provides educational opportunities for children through Alternate Learning Hubs and also create Community-based organisations which can take ownership of the projects.

Rakesh Nair, Director, Resource Development and Partnerships at Manav Seva Sansthan "SEVA", said "The award is really a moral booster for us" and "it is a recognition of the impact the NGO has made in tackling the human trafficking in the Indo-Nepal border covering Uttaranchal, Bihar, UP and West Bengal.

"We have 13 life guard centres and we work closely with border security agencies. It is a comprehensive programme in tackling the human trafficking," Nair said.

"The Seva works to ensure socio-economic development of disadvantaged communities, with an emphasis on women and children. It does so through sustainable agricultural practice, by providing educational and literacy opportunities and by working to prevent and protect women and children trafficked from across the India-Nepal border from sexual and other forms of exploitation."

The NGO would spend the award funding on the trafficking programme, by building a shelter for trafficked women and children.