NGO Award Conferred On Deepalaya Second Time!!

Deepalaya has been selected as a Joint Regional Recipient for the India NGO Award 2008 in the Large category from the Northern region. Deepalaya has been adjudged the best NGO by the Resource Alliance and the Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation yet again. This year Deepalaya shares the award with Bharti Foundation of Haryana.

Last year, Deepalaya won the same award independently in the Medium NGOs category. The award giving ceremony took place at the India Habitat Centre on March 30 and Ms. Sayeeda Hamid, Member, Planning Commission graced the occasion.

The India NGO Awards were instituted in 2006, 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 award, a joint initiative of the Resource Alliance and The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation, seeks to:

* Promote good standards and practices in resource mobilisation, accountability and transparency
* Recognise and celebrate excellence in the non profit sector
* Identify and strengthen successful resource mobilisation practices
* Create examples and inspiration for other non-profit organisations and promote cross-regional learning
* Promote the overall credibility of the non-profit sector for long term sustainability

The NGO Awards programme has grown every year both in outreach and quality. From a total of 115 applications in the first year and 131 in the second, a record 167 applications were received in 2008. Pragati, Koraput, was declared the NGO of the year in the small category. Other Awardees were Action for Social Advancement (ASA), BAIF Development Research Foundation, Sankara Eye Care Institutions, Matsya Mewat Shiksha Ewam Vikas Sansthan, Vishala, Catalysts for Social Action, Mitra Technology Foundation, Mobility India, Harsha Trust, Centre for Rural Development, Centre for Youth and Social Development and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme.