Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

Deepalaya has been felicitated as ‘Regional Awardee’ of the Year 2007 in Northern India at the India NGO Award ceremony held at Sheraton Hotel, New Delhi. The award was conferred on Deepalaya by The Resource Alliance and The Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation for promoting best practices in accountability and transparency through its various programmes on education, health and community development initiatives. Deepalaya has been adjudged as an excellent NGO that also successfully plays the role of building capacities of smaller organizations to be effective in eradicating poverty.

Mr. A.J.Philip, President, Deepalaya represented the organization and received the award from the Chief Guest Mr. P Chidambaram, Honourble Minister of Finance, Government of India and Guest of Honour Mr. N. R Narayana Murthy, Chairman & Chief Mentor- Infosys Technologies Ltd on 5th March 2008. Deepalaya was honoured as the Regional Winner in the Medium category.
Mr. P Chidambaram appreciated the most deserving winners and said, “It is a delight to see such selfless devoted people who don’t look at monetary awards but serve humanity and create a better place for people.”
Overwhelmed with this recognition, Rtn. T.K.Mathew, Secretary and Chief Executive of Deepalaya said, “This award is in recognition of our working culture and ethics. We will keep up the good work for the development of the society irrespective of any awards. I take this opportunity to thank all our friends and co-workers who have supported us in this endeavour over these years.”
Mr. Chidambaram further added, “These awards have encouraged the Non Profit sector to work towards excellence and other CSOs to enhance their working practices in accordance with National Policies”.
Among other NGOs the three National winners were – Goonj, The Banyan,Childline Foundation of India and CRY - Child Rights & You. The India NGO Awards were instituted in 2006 as a joint initiative of the Resource Alliance and the Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation, with an aim to advance the country’s non-profit sector by promoting financial and organisational sustainability, and strengthening community support of civil society.

This year The Resource Alliance and The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation collaborated with COVA, Gram Vikas and SP Jain Institute of Management and Research to select and award the ‘NGO of the Year 2007’ in India. Three finalists among small, medium and large NGOS were selected from all the four regions- north, south, east and west as award winners. Registered organisations working for a minimum of 5 years towards social and environmental transformation were evaluated on effective and sustainable mobilization of resources from the local community, demonstration of efficient management of resources, good governance practices and transparency and accountability and the impact of the services it provides to its beneficiaries. The Awardees were selected after a rigorous process of audits and multiple rounds of elimination, conducted by the knowledge partners Grant Thornton and a panel of eminent jury members comprising of Mr. Ramesh Ramanathan (founder of Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy), Dr. Syeda Hameed (Member-Planning Commission, Government of India), Dr. Maxine Olson (United Nations Resident Coordinator), Mr. Deep Joshi (co-founder and former Executive Director of PRADAN) and Mr. Vinod Chandiok (National Chairman of Grant Thornton India). During the ceremony, Mr. Simon Collings, CEO, The Resource Alliance added, “India NGO Awards were launched with the aim of motivating NGOs in India, promoting financial and organizational stability, and strengthening community support of civil society, by recognizing the excellent work that they do in the voluntary sector.”
Mr. Don Mohanlal, President, The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation concluded that, “We congratulate the winners and indeed all the finalists of the India NGO Awards 2007. They epitomize best practices in self-governance and accountability. Leading by example, they are setting the ultimate standard for civil society organizations to emulate. We hope that other organizations will be encouraged to focus on transparency, effectiveness and impact on the ground.”
Undoubtedly, this is another feather in Deepalaya’s cap and a matter of pride for each and everyone working towards achieving Deepalaya’s mission.