Hyderabad: Deccan Development Society presented another prestigious award

Hyderabad: Deccan Development Society (DDS) has won the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Award for the year 2020. One of the most coveted environmental awards in the world, it is in recognition of "the individuals who dedicate their actions and organisations for their deep commitment to preserving our planet, in each of the Foundation's three priority areas: limiting the effects of climate change, preserving biodiversity, managing water resources and fighting against desertification."

The award of 40,000 Euros (approximately Rs 35 lakh) has been presented to the DDS "in recognition of the work of DDS women to rehabilitate degraded lands and promote biodiversity".

In a global teleconference that took place on Wednesday, in place of the normal live ceremony because of the Covid situation, the award was announced by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Vice President and CEO, Olivier Wenden.

According to P V Satheesh, the Director of Deccan Development Society, and National Convenor of Millet Network of India & Millet Sisters International, the award comes in a series of special awards for DDS announced by various groups in the last 12 months, among which were UNDP's prestigious Equator Award followed by Shinning World Protection Award.

He said that the DDS feels both privileged and humbled that the women of DDS sanghams who have struggled against biting poverty, ecological degradation and social deprivation have been able to get such global ovation for their environmental excellence in the last one year.

In a befitting article on the World Environment Day, a UNDP article "From 'UNTOUCHABLES' TO INTERNATIONALLY CELEBRATED FARMERS" hailed the DDS communities for resilient and climate-smart agricultural practices, actively contributing to a more sustainable future for their communities."

DDS has begun an initiative for becoming self-abundant communities. As per this resolve, the DDS communities will take an ecological path to double their farm income, produce 100% organic food, fight climate change and become a model for similar communities all over the country, Satheesh added.