Page 19 - AIMA : Foundation Day Souvenir

All INdIA MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
Confers
“AIMA Public Service Excellence Award”
2022
on
Sanjit Bunker roy
A man on a mission to help rural communities to become self-reliant, he has transformed millions of lives. He brought water, light, education, livelihood, healthcare empowerment and technology to the poorest last-mile population by devising simple rural solutions.
Coming from a privileged background, he learned about rural struggles and potential while deepening wells as an unskilled labourer in the desert of Rajasthan. He learnt the significance of traditional knowledge, practical skills and village wisdom while developing poor rural communities, which was the foundation of the Barefoot College in Tilonia. Over a period of 50 years, he has established that villagers can be self-sufficient and live with selfrespect and dignity.
He founded the Social Work and Research Centre, better known as the Barefoot College, in 1972 to provide drinking and irrigation water in a few villages. Today the barefoot model has reached 96 countries around the globe south of the equator and become a global brand. The Barefoot College has received tremendous support from the Ministry of External Affairs under the India Technical Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. He also trained illiterate rural women to be solar engineers in 6 months whom the Prime Minister called Solar Mamas.
His work has been globally acknowledged with several national and international awards conferred for his efforts and innovations.
An astute rural economy strategist, he draws on rural resources and wisdom to develop sustainable solutions to local problems. He has taught villagers to be self-reliant instead of waiting for external aid. He also drives village transformation through women and was instrumental in achieving pay parity for women workers in Rajasthan government's welfare projects.
All India Management Association is pleased to present the AIMA Public Service Excellence Award on Mr Sanjit Bunker Roy, Founder Barefoot College.
21 February, 2023, New Delhi
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