New Delhi, 26th January 2022: As an acknowledgement of their exemplary work in disaster management, the Government of India has felicitated SEEDS (Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society) with the ‘Subhash Chandra Bose AapdaPrabandhanPuraskar 2021’ in the institutional category. The announcement of this prestigious award coincided with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on 23 January, in whose honour it has been instituted.
Talking about the evolution of disaster management, Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said, “Whenever calamity strikes, people do not remain victims, they fight the disaster by becoming volunteers. Disaster management is no longer just a government job, but it has become a model of ‘SabkaPrayas’. Youngsters are coming forward with schemes like ‘Aapda Mitra’ of NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority.”He also laid emphasis is on reform along with “Relief, Rescue and Rehabilitation.”
SEEDS is that gentle idea that has transformed for its nearly three decades of existence into this powerful movement, fuelled by momentum and dynamism. The endeavour to transform and positively impact the lives of the bottom one per cent populace affected adversely by the climate crisis has embraced the changing nature of disasters. SEEDS has been a part of the resilience journey of over 3 million lives through its programmes and humanitarian efforts. Having been actively engaging with the local leaders to build community resilience at large, this award is a testimonial to the fact that it is on the right path.
Dr Manu Gupta, Co-founder of SEEDS, responded to the news, “We startedin 1994 while still in college before we knew it was called that, with a singular objective of building community resilience for those who were at risk to disasters. This award today, bears testimony to the fact that we are on the right path while being conscious that we have always had help along – from communities, local leaders, volunteers, community-based organisations, government officials, local partners and donor agencies.
