Engineer-turned-social activist Dinanath Rajput was honored with the second Rohini Nayyar Award for his outstanding contribution to rural development. The award was presented in the memory of late economist-administrator Dr. Rohini Nayyar, and carries a trophy, a citation and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh. The award was presented by the chief guest, NK Singh, Chairman of the Fifteenth Finance Commission. The jury to select the winner of the award included Dr. Ashok Khosla of Development Alternatives, Dr. Rajesh Tandon of Participatory Research in Asia, Renana Jhabvala of Self-Employed Women's Association and Professor Sita Prabhu. Dr. Deepak Nayyar, Emeritus Professor of Economics, JNU was also present in the program.
Establishment of Farmer Producer Organization (FPO)
After a brief stint in the software industry, Rajput decided to venture into social work and founded a women-only Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) in the Naxal-affected areas of Bastar. The FPO was established in 2018 with an initial membership of 337 women from Jagdalpur, Bastar. Since then, its membership has grown to more than 6,000 across four districts in the region.
Major Initiatives of FPO
Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) implements several initiatives for upliftment and support of women farmers.
- Agricultural Extension Services: FPOs provide vital agricultural extension services to women farmers, equipping them with knowledge and skills to increase agricultural productivity.
- Cold Storage Infrastructure: Creation of cold storage infrastructure is an important component of this initiative. This infrastructure helps preserve agricultural produce, reduce wastage and ensure that farmers have access to markets over a longer period of time.
- Market Connectivity: One of the important achievements of the FPO is to connect women farmers to both national and international markets. This connection allows them to sell their products and produce to a wider audience, opening up new opportunities for economic growth.
- Diversification: FPO helps women farmers to diversify their farming activities. This involves providing them assistance in producing higher value-added products and services, which can significantly improve their incomes and livelihoods.
Information about Dinanath Rajput
Dinanath Rajput's commendable work focuses on empowering tribal women in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, which is known for its challenges including Naxalite activities. Her efforts have been instrumental in positively transforming the lives of more than 6,000 tribal women in the area. Rajput, under the aegis of Bhumgadi Mahila Agricultural Producer Organization, has played a vital role in educating the local community about efficient farming techniques, judicious use of fertilizers, understanding weather patterns and availing benefits of government schemes for farmers.
Rohini Nayyar Award
The Rohini Nayyar Award, established in memory of Rohini Nayyar, one of India's eminent economists, is awarded annually for outstanding contribution to rural development. Symbolizing excellence and commitment towards rural upliftment, this award is given with a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.