AWARDS JUNE 2011

 AWARDS JUNE 2011

• Maharatna Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) received the prestigious Golden Peacock Environment Management Award for the year 2011. The award was presented to SAIL in recognition of it’s initiatives and achievements in the field of environment management. The award was presented by Union Minister for Home Affairs Shri P. Chidambaram in New Delhi. SAIL in the last four years the company succeeded in reducing particulate emissions by 52%, specific water consumption by 11% and specific energy consumption by 5%, and increased solid waste utilisation by 18%. 
• Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar became the first Indian to receive the Crans Montana Forum Award. The Crans Montana Forum Award was conferred upon him at a ceremony in Brussels. 
• Minster of Communications & Information Technology and Human Resource Development conferred the Meghdoot Awards on postal employees for 2009 and 2010. Fifteen individuals including five women bagged the award. The Best Post Office award was given to Chandragiri Head Post Office, Andhra Pradesh. Sibal at the award ceremony mentioned that skill and capacity of 3.25 lakh Gramin Dak Sewaks will be developed through a comprehensive and time bound Rural Entrepreneurship Programme which is being finalized by Department of Posts and Ministry of Human Resource Development together. The scheme of National awards known as Meghdoot Awards was instituted in the year 1984 to provide encouragement to the postal employees by recognizing performance of high standard. 
• Leading international business school INSEAD on 22 June 2011 honoured Sunil Bharti Mittal,Founder, Chairman and Group CEO of Bharti Enterprises, with its Business Leader for the World Award. Sunil Bharti Mittal was given the award for his success in having grown Bharti Enterprises from a manufacturer of push button phones to India's leading business conglomerate. The award is given to business leaders who have set new standards in building successful, sustainable, global enterprises that span multiple cultures, embrace diversity, and contribute to economic and social prosperity. 
• India's famous magician Gopinath Muthukad received the International Merlin Award also known as the magicians' Oscarfor the year 2011 on 23 June 2011 from Tony Hassini, President of the US based International Magicians Society. Gopinath Muthukad is the second Indian to be chosen to receive the Merlin Award after PC Sorkar Jr. 
• On 14 June 2011, Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot presented the Anuvrat Ahimsa international peace award to noted Gandhian philosophy exponent Thomas Clough Daffern. The award consisted of a memento, a cheque for Rs.1 lakh and a certificate of merit.Dr. Daffern is a Director of London-based International Institute of Peace Studies and Global Philosophy. The institute works across several academic fields for study and application of peace and philosophy to various spheres of life. 
• Two Indian companies Abellon Clean Energy Ltd. and Husk Power Systems have been awarded this year’s Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, claimed to be Britain’s most prestigious green energy awards. The awards were launched in 2001 to encourage greater use of local clean energy to address climate change and alleviate poverty. 
• Irish writer Colum McCann’s Let The Great World Spin, a novel set in the shadow of Philippe Petit’s 1974 tightrope walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center, has won the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, one of the world’s most lucrative book prizes. The prize is worth €100,000.