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Alcan Prize to Barefoot College

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: The Alcan Prize for Sustainability for the year 2006 has been awarded to the Barefoot College in Tiolina, Rajasthan. The prize, created by Alcan Inc.to recognise outstanding contributions to the goal of economic, environmental and social sustainability by non-profit, non-governmental and civil society organisations, carries a cash award of 1 million US dollars.

The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) manages the Alcan Prize.

The Barefoot College, founded by Bunker Roy in 1972 as part of the Social Work and Research Centre (SWRC) in Tilonia in Ajmer district, was picked up from a shortlist of 10 finalists by IBLF coordinated panels in Barzil, Bulgaria, Canada, Pakistan and the UK. Almost 90 representatives of business, government, academia and the NGO community participated in the assessment process. Their finding was endorsed by the adjudication panel, which finally reviewed and awarded the prize to the Barefoot College.

Among the finalists were CIIFAD/Cornell University, USA; Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Canada; Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW), Germany; Naandi Foundation, India; Fundacion del Empresariado Chihuahuense, Mexico; International Development Enterprises (IDE), India; Sustainable Energy Africa, South Africa; the Energy and Resources Institute, India and Instituto Terra, Brazil.

Mr.Roy said the Barefoot College would utilize the award money to train semi literate rural women to solar electrify their own villages through grass-root partners all over the world

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