The Hindu : National : U.S. award for Goa-based NGO

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U.S. award for Goa-based NGO

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: Sangath, a Goa-based public health institution focusing on child development, adolescent and family guidance and behavioural and mental health services, is one of the eight organisations from six countries that have won the 2008 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.

The award was announced on Thursday by Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grant making institution dedicated to building a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.

“Sangath is a leader in providing direct services to benefit Goa’s 1.4 million people and conducting research to generate evidence to influence policies to promote the health of over 400 million children and adolescents in India,” stated the Foundation’s press release, issued while announcing the award on Thursday.

Expressing great satisfaction at “the recognition received by the institution’s creativity, energy and breadth of vision,” chairman of Sangath Vishram Gupte told The Hindu here on Saturday that the institution would utilise the award grant of $350,000 to build a new centre for its expanding clinical, training, and research activities.

Misconceptions

Dr. Vikram Patel, founder of Sangath, said Sangath had run training programmes on child and youth health and mental health, emotional or behavioural health problems.

Considering the reality that for many Indians behavioural health and mental health was still a taboo, this recognition would help to dispel misconceptions on the mental and emotional health still prevalent among many Indians, he said.

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