Environment conservers awarded with EcoWarrior Awards

Company Brief

New Delhi, June 09, 2008

EcoWarrior Awards, India’s first and only awards to recognize and felicitate the silent crusaders for astounding work done towards the cause of environment were given out by Vice President Shri M Hamid Ansari today at a glittering function and amidst an august gathering. The awards coincided with World Environment Day, and celebrate the spirit of conservation in people who have been silently working to protect our natural heritage and resources.

The EcoWarrior Awards are the most credible and non-partisan recognition of conservation efforts and will strive to be the most sought-after awards in this category. EcoWarrior Awards are an effort by Earth Matters Foundation and the vision and brain-child of Mike Pandey, world-renowned environmentalist film-maker, activist, crusader and a winner of three Green Oscars. The recipient of the award included:

1.Mr.M.Y.Yoganathan- A bus conductor from Tamil Nadu, who has planted 38,000 trees in 26 years. He has made also made commendable efforts to rescue injured wildlife animals. He has been extensively covering schools and creating awareness amongst the students for conserving the earth.

2.Mr.Chewana Norphel: Popularly known as ‘Glacier Man’ for his splendid effort to save and made artificial glaciers in Ladakh. He is actively moving ahead with his vision and working in an NGO - Ladakh Nutrition Project.

3.Ms.Madhu Bhatnagar: She has been working towards geting dynamic change in young minds for protecting nature. She is working diligently in shaping the minds of school children in protecting wildlife and nature. Initiated projects like rain water harvesting system, zero garbage zones and grey water recycling.

4.Mr.G.V.Reddy, his work has exemplified the dictum ‘One can make a difference, a lasting difference at that’. He stood up energetically for the cause of conserving Tigers in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve to protect the national park from poachers.

5.Mr.Suraj Mewara: Devoted towards saving many forms of environment and nature; he has formed a nature club to save snakes from agriculture land and to protect their identity and to treat them as pests. Awakening people in the matters of less use plastic, cutting trees, saving water bodies ponds and lakes.

6.Mr.Tilak Vij: A thriving business man who is completely working as a ground level activist in Himachal Pradesh. Serving his activities for forestation in the states, setting up water harvesting projects, working towards setting up a leopard conservation centre with the state government with his own funds.

7.Ms.Sonya Ghosh: She legally fought for the habitation exclusively for monkeys, with orders from honorable high court to relocate them in Asola wildlife sanctuary. She is also protecting street dogs by providing them sterilization and anti-rabies immunization.

8.Ms.Monali Manohar Warwade: A teenage school girl who is utilizing her hobby of art propagate the message of conservation of natural resources, through greeting cards from the waste material and posters and pamphlets that make people aware about pollution.

9.Dr.Madhulal Valliate: His work with animals in distress and suffering went beyond the call of duty to save the lives of two elephants that has been badly burnt in a major fire in Amer. His timely presence helped in saving a dying elephant which collapsed on a Jaipur road.

10.Komal Prakash and Mahesh Parekh: Their tireless and consistent commitment over three years has helped to sensitize local communities and also opening up a new chapter in public private partnership with the government. They are working towards the creation of the elephant village and tribal areas especially empowering the women.

11.Mr.Brahamanand Pandey: His work to protect the dolphins in the remote regions of eastern UP Baral Gunj resulted in saving the life of dolphins in the tributary of the River Ganges, Surju nadi. He has formed Earth Matters club and is holding awareness camps towards the reforestation, elimination of plastic and group discussions.

12.Rahul Rohitashwa: He is a life member of Earth matters club, Bihar. Inspired by the earth matter series he formed a nature club and actively participate in various nature conservation and awareness activities, the club has about 30 active members and is working continuously by conducting seminars, competitions and tree planting drives.

13.Dr.D.N.Choudhary: He has been involved in grass root level, successful campaigning against the poaching of migratory birds in Bhagalpur and the surrounding areas. He has also been running extensive campaigns against the trade and illegal poaching of wildlife and specially birds and river dolphins.

14.Abdul Wadud Banatwala: Shocked by the merciless killing of the Whale sharks along the Gujarat coast, he started working towards their protection by organizing conferences, seminars and get-togethers for fishermen. Through the novel method of film screenings he helped people relate to the environment and conservation of planet earth. He has been a crucial part of the success in the ongoing conservation effort of the Whale Shark. He has worked with Mr. Mike Pandey since 1992 on the whale sharks project.

15.John Abraham – John, has been working with the grass root communities for creating habitat and animal welfare. His commitment towards the elephants has helped towards realising the country’s first elephant village in Maharashtra. An effort which will return these wild animals back to their natural home.

Speaking at the occasion, Mike Pandey, CEO, Earth Matters Foundation said’ “These awards have been instituted to acknowledge the efforts of the unsung heroes who have been crusaders and have dedicated their lives to the conservation of environment and wildlife. These awardees are the role models for millions of people out there who will be encouraged to save our most precious natural resources. Earth Matter Foundation, is grateful to Shri M. Hamid Ansari to have acknowledged the work done by these heroes at grassroot level and to have taken out time to felicitate them.”The awardees have been selected on the basis of their contribution in saving the environment and wild life.

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