The Hindu : National : U.N. award for Vasundhara Raje

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
ePaper

National

National

U.N. award for Vasundhara Raje

Special Correspondent

— Photo: AP

HONOURED: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje receives an award for her contribution to further the Millennium Development Goals, in New York on Monday.

JAIPUR: Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje received the prestigious "Women Together Award" at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday to join the league of Nobel laureates, social workers and celebrities from the field of music and cinema.

Heba Abdel Latif of the UN Department of Political Affairs handed over the award to Ms. Raje for her pioneering initiatives among the weavers of Kota doria saris.

Those who received the Third Women Together Award, along with Ms. Raje, this year included Nobel laureates Shirin Ebadi and Wangari Maathai, artiste Yoko Ono, novelist Barbara Probst Solomon, TV producer Francine Le Frank, economist Isabel Estape and journalist Rosa Maria Calaf. The award comprises a trophy and a certificate.

Those who have received the award in the past include singer Shakira and Senator Hillary Clinton.

The Rajasthan Chief Minister was selected for the award in recognition of her "understanding compassion of the miseries of the citizens of Rajasthan as well as her long- lasting dedication to social causes".

Ms. Raje had initiated the setting up of "Fashion for Development" with the support of internationally reputed designer Bibi Russel to improve the skills of women weavers and artisans, make funds available to them and to profitably market their wares.

Ms. Raje termed the award an honour to the women of Rajasthan. Draped in a pink and gold gilded sari, Ms. Raje, who had received flak from her rivals and moralists from within her own Bharatiya Janata Party for the catwalk she did some time back to promote the products of local weavers, talked about the "magic" of those who wove the fabric she was wearing.

"The fabric I am wearing today is an example of their magic," Ms. Raje said remembering the weavers and the women who constitute 1.30 lakh self-help groups in the State."They are the real claimants of this award. I am just their representative," she said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National