14^th Ummedmal Lodha Environment Awards were presented today to various people and organizations working towards making the environment greener and pollution free. The award was instituted by Seva Mandir and Ummedmal Lodha Memorial Trust to honor and encourage the people safeguarding natural environment.

Chief Guest on the occasion was Professor Ishwaran Somanathan from Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi. Somanathan has been associated with Seva Mandir’s program to save wildlife and natural environment for past two years.

In the program, Bedd Village Group and Girva Prakhand were felicitated with a certificate and Rs 10,000 to each. Forest Conservation and Maintenance Committee, Pipalwas, and among the individuals, Manishankar Taral, Shantidevi Jhabla, Soniram Garasiya and Mawaram from Kotada, Girva, Jhadol and Girva areas respectively were awarded with Rs 2000 and a certificate.

On the occasion, a couple of scholarships worth Rs 12000 each were awarded to two students. An exhibition showcasing the work done by Seva Mandir was also displayed.

Thereafter, Seva Mandir and Van Utthan Sangh Jhadol conducted a peaceful march to catch the attention of the government and the society towards the Forest Rights Act. The march started from Vidhyabhawan Auditorium and passed through Kharol Colony, Fatehpura Police station etc to conclude at the office of Tribal Commissioner where they submitted a memorandum.

In the march, several villagers and social activists participated.