Hyderabad, June 11 (Hydnow): Hyderabad based Deccan Development Society (DDS) has won Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Award, one of most coveted environmental awards in the world for the year 2020. This is in recognition of “the individuals and Organizations who dedicate their actions and organisations for their deep commitment to preserving our planet, in each of the Foundation’s three priority areas: limiting the effects of climate change, preserving biodiversity, managing water resources and fighting against desertification.” The award of 40,000 Euros (approximately Rs.35 lakhs) has been given to the DDS “in recognition of the work of DDS women to rehabilitate degraded lands and promote biodiversity”.
In a global teleconference that took place today (in place of the normal live ceremony because of the Covid situation), the award was announced by the, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Vice President and CEO, Olivier Wenden. The Prince Monaco Award comes in a series of special awards for DDS announced by various groups in the last 12 months, on top of which was the UNDP’s prestigious Equator Award followed by Shinning World Protection Award for “its noble, gracious and loving efforts to improve our world”.
The DDS feels both privileged and humbled that the women of DDS sanghams who have struggled against biting poverty, ecological degradation and social deprivation have been able to get such global ovation for their environmental excellence in the last one year. In a befitting article on the world environment day the UNDP title “From untouchables to internationally-celebrated-farmers‘ describes the DDS communities as “Dalit women have risen to global fame through their model for resilient and climate-smart agricultural practices, actively contributing to a more sustainable future for their communities.”
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In a renewed commitment to its principles and goals the DDS has begun an initiative for becoming self-abundant communities. As per this resolve , the DDS communities will take an ecological path to double their farm income, produce 100% organic food, fight climate change and become a model for similar communities all over the country, said the director of the NGO PV Satheesh. (Hydnow)