core sector communique

SRISTI SAMMAN 2011

Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI) has been recognizing unsung heroes of society, who have been conserving biodiversity and attempting creative solutions to educational, institutional, technological & cultural challenges. On December 16, SRISTI SAMMAN was given to eight outstanding achievers at grassroots in a function organized in collaboration with NIF, GIAN and other Honey Bee Network members.

Mr. Darge Tsering (32 years), from west Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh was honoured for conserving 22 different kinds of breeds of yak and developing a new breed known as mithak by crossing male mithun with female yak. In the process he achieved, after years of selection, a new cross breed much better able to deal with climate variability above 14000 ft. The female mithak gives much higher milk yield than other yak breeds. He is sharing this breed with various other community members.

His wife Mrs. Urgen Pema (34 years) was honoured for making Drokpa women aware of numerous value adding opportunities in sheep and yak wool, preserving traditional cheese and other livelihoods opportunities.

Mr. Kamleshbhai Kosambia and his wife were honoured for having developed such an environment in a government school in Valiya Taluka, Baruch district that children do not want to go home in the evening.

Mr Badabhai Manat and his wife Gangaben from tribal district Sabarkantha have created an outstanding ‘gyan van’ (knowledge garden) around a Government school. Children are taught about multiple uses of various species alongside other subjects in the school.

Dr. Paresh Rawal, a principal in RC Technical Institute, Ahmedabad was honoured for distributing tens of thousands of clay nests to conserve bird biodiversity in city and neighboring regions.

Mr. A Rengaswami from Tamil Nadu was honoured for developing not only a small tractor but also several other small machines for small and marginal farmers and workers.

Mr. Jitendrabhaio Tarawadia from Amreli has made a major contribution in connecting herbal healers with Ayurvedic doctors so as to enrich knowledge of school and college children. He has made rich contribution for conserving birds. Jitendrabhai also scouts for outstanding teachers n connects them with each other.

It is hoped that these role models will inspire young and old not only in India but also globally to encourage younger people to outperform them. If you know of any outstanding achiever at grassroots in bringing about social transformation through educational, technological, cultural and institutional innovations please do submit your nominations with detailed information to info@sristi.org.