Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar (IGPP) (lit. Indira Gandhi Environment Award) is an environment award instituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India in the year 1987, in order to encourage public participation in environment. It is awarded to individuals and organizations that have made significant and measurable contributions in the field of environment protection and improvement. The prize is presented every year on an occasion related to the environment.
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History of the award
The is named after the former Prime Minister of India, late Indira Gandhi. From 1987 to 1990, the award was presented either to an individual or an organization for their contributions. Since 1991, the award has been presented in two categories - one for individuals and another for organizations. Each award carried a cash prize of 100,000 rupees, a silver lotus trophy and a citation. In 2005, the governing body of the award revised the cash prize for the organisation category to 500,000 rupees. In the individual category, two cash prizes of 300,000 rupees and 200,000 rupees were instituted. Since 2009, for the individual category, three prizes of 500,000 rupees, 300,000 rupees and 200,000 rupees, each with a silver lotus trophy are awarded. For the organization category, two cash prizes of 500,000 rupees and a silver lotus trophy are awarded.
Award committee
The award committee has seven members: the Vice-President of India who is the Chairman of the committee, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Minister of Environment, three expert members (who are chosen from a panel of nine expert members), and the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Selection criteria
Any citizen of India or an Indian organisation engaged in scientific or field work in the protection of the environment is eligible; however, self nominations are not considered. The term environment is interpreted in a broad sense and can include areas such as pollution control, conservation of natural resources, creating awareness on environmental issues and for outstanding field work for the enrichment of the environment, such as afforestation. Criteria such as replicability of the work, innovativeness, target groups — such as women, rural populations and urban poor, impact of the programs in relation to the resources employed and the sustainability of the project are considered before a decision is taken on the award. If in the opinion of the committee, none of the applicants are deserving of the award, the prize may be withheld for that year.
List of award winners
The winners of the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar from 1987 to 2010 are as follows: