41st Jamnalal Bajaj Awards to be presented on 15th November, 2018 ·

by Najuka G

·   To be graced by Chief Guest Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice President, Government of India

· Dignitaries embark upon a rigorous process to select achievers in the fields of societal and national advancement

·   Over 225 nominations received across all four categories

New Delhi, 2018: The annual Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation Awards, scheduled on 15^th November, 2018 felicitates achievers in the fields of humanitarian activities and Gandhian constructive programme. These awards are presented every year in honor of the birth anniversary of Shri Jamnalal Bajaj and to globally propagate his ideals.

This year, the function would be graced with the presence of Chief Guest Chief Guest Shri Venkaiah Naidu Hon’ble Vice President, Government of India. The acclaimed winners will be felicitated at a special function which will be presided over by Shri CH. Vidyasagar Rao, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra at Taj Mahal Hotel, Colaba, Mumbai.

This award is presented to honor and motivate the unprecedented contributions of individuals towards the upliftment and development of the society, rural community and the nation, at large

Each awardee is presented with a Citation, a Trophy, and a Cash Prize of Rs. 10,00,000/-  (for the International Award, the Cash Prize is presented in equivalent foreign exchange).

 The four prime categories of awards include three National Awards and one International Award:

 1. Constructive Work – recognizes the nationwide constructive work focusing on Mahatma Gandhi’s eighteen constructive programmes in order to create a self-reliant community

2. -Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development – recognizes the nationwide contribution of application of science and technology which are relevant, accessible and affordable to the weaker sections of the society and which has created an impact on rural and tribal development

3.  Development and Welfare of Women and Children (exclusively for women candidates) recognizes the nationwide contributions towards development and welfare of women and children focusing on education, skills training, healthcare, literacy, livelihood activities, holistic development, advocacy, etc.

4. Promoting of Gandhian Values Outside India (International award) – recognizes the work of foreign individuals in proliferating Gandhiji’s vision of non-violence, peace, harmony, brotherhood and moral conscience, worldwide

The Pre-Awards Process 
      There are four selection committees, one for each award, which undertakes a rigorous evaluation and time-consuming selection process. All the nominations received from across the country and from abroad, are studied thoroughly to generate a nominee shortlist. An assessment report is prepared after each shortlisted nominee is personally visited by a Member of the Bajaj family, a few Selection Committee Members and the Secretary of the Foundation. The thorough analysis of these assessment reports then gives out the top three nominations. A final awardee is selected in each category unanimously by the Council of Advisors from these top three nominations, which are invariably acknowledged by the Trustees.

 Shri Jamnalal Bajaj was adopted by Mahatma Gandhi as his fifth son and was the alter ego of the Mahatma in the Gandhian Constructive Movement. The Foundation continues to serve the ideals to which Shri Jamnalalji had dedicated his life to and promotes the kind of Gandhian constructive activities, in which he himself was deeply involved during his lifetime.

Chairman, Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Mr. Rahul Bajaj shares, “The Jamnalal Bajaj Awards has grown both in stature as well as participation from change-makers across the world, over the decades. By these awards we felicitate those men and women involved at the grassroots level of constructive work program in line with Gandhian principles. These achievers have gallantly impacted the society and its people. They have truly represented the ethos of Gandhian way of life and hence deserve to be recognized. The acknowledgement, recognition and encouragement of the efforts of these individuals is the prime purpose of the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation.”

 Dr. Jst. C. S. Dharmadhikari (Retd.), Chairman of the Council of Advisors & Trustee of the Foundation states, “The Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation has been respected as a Gandhian establishment for four decades, since its inception.  Shri Jamnalalji was a true son of India. He dedicated his life to the ideals of Satyagraha, Khadi, the banishment of untouchability and several other movements that make a vital chunk of India’s freedom struggle.”

Mr. Madhur Bajaj, Trustee of Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation states, “Since 1977 the Foundation has been relentlessly keeping a track and recognizing the efforts of those who have tirelessly worked in keeping alive Gandhian principles of constructive work. Over the years, the Bajaj family along with the esteemed members of Selection Committees, Council of Advisors and the Trustees have been documenting and deliberating the work of individuals who have inculcated the true spirit and ideology of the Gandhian principles into our society.”

2018 Nomination Statistics This year, 208 people from across India sent applications for the national category, recommending 95 names from 18 States in the category of Constructive Work, 39 nominations from 15 States in the category of Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development and 74 applications from 18 States for the award for Development and Welfare of Women and Children. 19 nominations representing 13 countries were received for the International Award.

About the Awards: The Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation continues to work towards propagating Gandhian values and Shri Jamnalal Bajaj’s ideologies. The awards for outstanding contribution in the field of Constructive Work, Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development, instituted in 1978, and Development and Welfare of Women and Children, introduced in 1980 in the memory of Smt. Jankidevi Bajaj, wife of Shri Jamnalal Bajaj, are given to Indian nationals. The International Award, instituted in 1988 in celebration of the birth centennial of Shri Jamnalal Bajaj is presented to an individual with foreign nationality for promoting Gandhian values outside India.