As many as 20 individuals and nine self-help groups (SHGs) from Angul, Barbil and Tensa were conferred with the first-ever Swayamsiddh Samman, instituted by the JSPl Foundation, here on Thursday in recognition of their exemplary courage, commitment and confidence that has enabled them to overcome adversities and create a unique identity of their own.
The awardees were chosen from every major CSR initiative, undertaken by the JSPl Foundation in the three areas. The 20 awardees will work as JSPl Foundation Ambassadors, who will go to different areas in the State and in the country to work for upliftment of the underprivileged people. JSPl Foundation co-chairperson Shallu Jindal gave away the awards at a function held here and said the award aims at recognizing and nurturing talent at the grassroots level.
The awardees include Balikram Munda (entrepreneurship), Bari Pradhan (adolescent healthcare), Bijay Behera (pottery), Chittaranjan Samant (teaching), Geeta Munda (business), Hemanta Kumar Sahu (fitter), Magdal Purty (middle school teacher), Philicita Toppo (nursery teacher), Namrata Pradhan (entrepreneur) and Pradeep Sahu (mushroom farming). They had been shortlisted on the basis of their contributions to the particular initiative that they have been a part of, leadership qualities and the ability to work in a team coupled with their strategies for the future.