Hyderabad, Aug 12 (UNI) Gramodaya Chamber of Commerce and Technology (GCOT), a non for profit Social Enterprise, founded by the Alumni of Osmania University, to emancipate the life of Rural dwellers, on Wednesday announced “Gramodaya Bandhu Mitra Puraskar” on the eve of 74th Independence Day Celebrations.

The puraskar was in recognition of the yeoman service rendered by individuals and institutions to provide succor and uplift the vast majority of our population dependent on agriculture and allied activities for livelihood, said Vasanth Kumar Damasthapuram (popularly known as ‘Delhi Vasanth’), an Alumnus of Osmania University and MIT School of Government, Pune, in a release here.

GCOT has instituted the “Gramodaya Bandhu Mitra Puraskar” to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, and is recognizing the outstanding initiatives of Individuals and Institutions globally, working on Gandhian perspective of Agriculture, Rural Development and self-contained villages by presenting the awards, Mr Vasanth said.

These Awards will be presented annually from this year onwards for exceptional contributions made to the rural economy.

The panel vetted several individuals and institutions, who are bringing about silent revolution in the rural economy and livelihood for their stupendous contribution including Padma Bhushan Dr. Vijay Bhatkar ( Innovator of Param Supercomputer and Educationalist), Padmasri S.P. Verma ( Vice Chairman, Gandhi Global Family, J&K) ; Mr. Vilas Shinde ( Director, Sahyadri Farms (FPO), Maharashtra); Mr. Popatrao Baguji Pawar ( Former Sarpanch, Hiware Bazar, Maharashtra) ;

Mr. Koosam Rajamouli ( Former Sarpanch, Gangadevipalli, Telangana) ; Mr. Harikrishna Amirneni, (Executive Editor, Annadata Farmers Monthly Magazine; Brig. Pogula Ganesham(Founder of Palle Srujana) ; Mr. Sivakumar Surampudi ( Group Head of Agri and IT Businesses, ITC Limited); Mr. Govinda Rajulu Chintala ( Chairman, NABARD) ; Dr. V. Praveen Rao ( Vice Chancellor, PJTSAU)

Ms. Sudha Murty ( Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, Bangalore) , Mr. Sabu M Jacob ( CMD, Kitex Garments, Kerala ); Mr. Sudheendra Kulkarni ( Eminent Columnist) ; Ms. Satya Vani (Spiritual Leader); Mr. B. Vinod Kumar ( Vice-Chairman, Telangana State Planning Commission ); Mr. Mereddy Shyam Prasad Reddy (General Secretary, Telangana Retired. Engineers Association);

Mr. Ananthula Shyam Mohan ( President, HPS Society) ; Dr. B. Pratap Reddy ( Former president of Indian Medical Association, Telangana) ; Mr. Nana Patekar ( NAAM Foundation, Mumbai);

Mr. Sushil Kumar Singh ( MP, Aurangabad, Bihar) , Mr. V V Lakshmi Narayana (Founder, JD Foundation, Andhra Pradesh); M/s Tata Trusts, Mumbai ; M/s Swami Ramanand Tirtha Memorial Trust, Hyderabad; M/s Tarun Bharat Sangh, Alwar, Rajasthan and M/s Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society, Chandupatla, Yadadri Bhongir District.

These awardees will be felicitated at a grand ceremony once conditions become normal or else on the Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, in the meantime the citations are being reached out to them through mail, the release added.

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