Gramodaya Chamber of Commerce & Tech. recognizes those ushering in Gandhiji’s dream of Gram Swarajya, through a silent revolution!

Gramodaya Chamber of Commerce and Technology (GCOT), a not for profit Social Enterprise, founded by the Alumni of Osmania University as part of its Centenary Celebrations in 2017, to emancipate the life of Rural dwellers, announced “Gramodaya Bandhu Mitra Puraskar” today on the eve of 73^rd Independence Day Celebrations. The awards are in recognition of the yeoman service rendered by individuals and institutions to provide succour and uplift the vast majority of our population dependent on agriculture and allied activities for livelihood.

GCOT has been spearheaded by Vasanth Kumar Damasthapuram (popularly known as ‘Delhi Vasanth’), an Alumnus of Osmania University and MIT School of Government, Pune. He has been extensively working for the cause of the farmers and undertook a 2,140 Km padayatra in 2007 from his hometown Zaheerabad to New Delhi, to garner the attention of the Central Government to the miserable plight of farmers committing suicide. His walk was one of the key factors instrumental in compelling the UPA government to announce the 70,000-crore farm loan waiver in 2007.

Gramodaya Chamber of Commerce and Technology has instituted the “Gramodaya Bandhu Mitra Puraskar” to commemorate the 150^th Birth Anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, and is recognizing the outstanding initiatives of Individuals and Institutionsglobally, working on Gandhian perspective of Agriculture, Rural Development and self-contained villages. These awards will be presented annually from this year onwards for exceptional contributions made to the rural economy.

Gramodaya Bandhu Mitra Puraskar is being presented as a recognition to the stalwarts ushering in a new dawn in the rural communities and working towards accomplishing the goal of Gram Swaraj endeared by the Mahatma Gandhi. Gramodaya Chamber of Commerce and Technology, is paying a tribute to the father of the nation and the ideals he represented, which are so very relevant even today, on his 150^th Birth Anniversary through these awards, says Delhi Vasanth.

The panel vetted several individuals and institutions who are bringing about a silent revolution in the rural economy and livelihood and with great difficulty shortlisted the following for their stupendous contribution:

Padma Bhushan Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, Innovator of Param Supercomputer and Educationalist
Padmasri S.P. Verma, Vice Chairman, Gandhi Global Family (GGF), J&K
Mr. Vilas Shinde, Director, Sahyadri Farms (FPO), Maharashtra
Mr. Popatrao Baguji Pawar, Former Sarpanch, Hiware Bazar, Maharashtra
Mr. Koosam Rajamouli, Former Sarpanch, Gangadevipalli, Telangana
Mr. Harikrishna Amirneni, Executive Editor, Annadata Farmers Monthly Magazine
Brig. Pogula Ganesham, Founder of Palle Srujana
Mr. Sivakumar Surampudi, Group Head of Agri and IT Businesses, ITC Ltd.
Mr. Govinda Rajulu Chintala, Chairman, NABARD
Dr. V. Praveen Rao, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, PJTSAU
Ms. Sudha Murty, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, Bangalore
Mr. Sabu M Jacob, CMD, Kitex Garments, Kerala
Mr. Sudheendra Kulkarni, Eminent Columnist
Ms. Satya Vani, Spiritual Leader
Mr. B. Vinod Kumar, Vice-Chairman, Telangana State Planning Commission
Mr. Mereddy Shyam Prasad Reddy, Gen. Secy, Telangana Retd. Engineers Association
Mr. Ananthula Shyam Mohan, President, HPS Society
Dr. B. Pratap Reddy, Former president of Indian Medical Association, Telangana
Mr. Nana Patekar, NAAM Foundation, Mumbai
Mr. Sushil Kumar Singh, Hon’ble MP, Aurangabad, Bihar
Mr. V V Lakshmi Narayana, Founder, JD Foundation, Andhra Pradesh
M/s Tata Trusts, Mumbai
M/s Swami Ramanand Tirtha Memorial Trust, Hyderabad
M/s Tarun Bharat Sangh, Alwar, Rajasthan
M/s Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society, Chandupatla, Yadadri Bhongir Dist

These awardees will be felicitated at a grand ceremony once conditions become normal or else on the Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, in the meantime the citations are being reached out to them through the mail.