The 31st edition of the Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award for Environmental Protection was held in Chennai on Sunday, as part of the M.S. Swaminathan 100th year celebration. The award, instituted by the Rotary Club of Madras East, recognizes individuals, companies, or NGOs that have contributed to environmental protection and awareness. This year, two noteworthy initiatives were honored with the award. The first recipient was Sahaja Samrudha, a people’s movement from Mysuru that aims to preserve India’s traditional farming practices and conserve indigenous crop varieties. N. Devakumar from Sahaja Samrudha highlighted the organization’s efforts in conserving traditional paddy varieties and millets.
The second recipient of the award was Veerappan, a 60-year-old Irular fisherman from Cuddalore, who was recognized for his contributions to environmental protection. Veerappan explained how he and his team propagated mud crabs and now train college students in crab and fish propagation. The award ceremony was presided over by Balaji Sreenivasan, President of the Rotary Club of Madras East, and C.K. Ranganathan, Chairman and Managing Director of CavinKare, which supports the initiative.
Soumya Swaminathan, chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, emphasized the importance of coastal conservation and the impact of climate change on these areas. She recalled a recent initiative to address plastic pollution, where her team cleaned 100 beaches with local volunteers and collected over 30,000 kg of plastic waste, including 10,000 kg of ghost gear that can harm marine life. The event was attended by notable figures, including Satyakam Arya, Managing Director and CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, who presented the awards to the recipients.
The Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award is a significant recognition of efforts to protect the environment, and this year’s recipients showcase the diverse range of initiatives that are making a positive impact. The award ceremony served as a platform to highlight the importance of environmental conservation and the need for continued efforts to protect India’s rich biodiversity. By recognizing and supporting such initiatives, the award aims to inspire others to take action and contribute to a more sustainable future.