The ‘Rotary DLF Pride of India’ Award, instituted by Rotary International 3230, was presented to former Indian Space Research Organisation chairman G. Madhavan Nair here on Sunday.
The award was given to Mr. Nair for “contributing to a self-reliant India and for his thrust on using space technology for societal benefit, specially targeting the needs of the rural and poor sections of society, and providing guidance and leadership in undertaking new technology developments related to launch vehicles, spacecrafts for communication, remote sensing and application programmes.”
The award was the highlight of the second day of “Dimensions 10,” the district conference of Rotary International 3230.
The citation also mentioned the significant aspects of his contribution after being elected president of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). Mr. Nair will be the IAA president till 2011.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Nair said people had to re-commit themselves to a public service mission as health care, education, food security and energy security were continuing to be problems. Space scientists were playing a major role in India’s development as a technologically successful country, he said.
“Technology in our country has a human touch,” said Mr. Nair.
He said islands of prosperity in the country were better than those of developed countries. But a chunk of the people in the country was living below poverty line. “Rotary was playing a significant role in bringing positive results silently,” said Mr. Nair.
Rotary International District 3230 Governor W. Anand, executive vice-president of DLF K.K. Raman and conference chairman Vinod Saraogi participated.
