Goonj declared best NGO

Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 10 Mar 2008

GOONJ, a Delhi-based voluntary group, was selected as the NGO of the Year at the annual India NGO Awards function held in the capital on Saturday evening.

Giving away the awards, Union Finance Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram said the Awards encouraged the non-profit sector to work towards excellence and enhance their practices in accordance with the national policy on the voluntary sector.

N.R. Narayanamurthy, CEO and chief mentor, Infosys Technologies, shared the dais with the finance minister. The three national winners were Goonj in the small category the Banyan and the Childline Foundation of India tied for medium category  and CRY – Child Rights and You in the large category. They were presented a trophy and a cash prize amount of Rs 4 lakh. Goonj was presented an additional prize amount of 2 lakh as ‘NGO of the Year’. The Awards ceremony was organised by Resource Alliance and the Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation.

Simon Collings, CEO, Resource Alliance, during the ceremony, added, “India NGO Awards were launched with the aim of motivating NGOs in India, promoting financial  and organisational stability and strengthening community support of civil society”.

Besides the top three awardees, Dream a Dream, Pragati, Society for Promoting Rationality (SPRAT), Raigarh Ambikapur Health Association (RAHA), SOS Children’s Villages of India, Aide and Action, Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency (Biswa), Centre for Environment Education (CEE) were also appreciated for their work.