SOS- India has been felicitated as The NGO of the Year 2007 in Northern India at the India NGO Award ceremony held at Sheraton Hotel, New Delhi. The award was conferred by the Resource Alliance for setting and promoting best practices in resource mobilisation, accountability and transparency by SOS-India towards disabled and differently abled children. Mr. S. Sandilya, President, SOS India, received the award on behalf of the entire SOS – India family from chief guest Mr. P Chidambaram, Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Govt of India and guest of honor Mr. N. R Narayana Murthy, Chairman & Chief Mentor- Infosys Technologies Ltd. SOS- India was honoured as the Regional Awardee in the Large category.

The India NGO Award is an initiative of The Resource Alliance in partnership with The Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation. Launched in 2006, it seeks to acknowledge and felicitate organisations that are setting and promoting best practices in resource mobilisation, accountability and transparency. 131 NGOs from across the country participated in the India NGO Award under three different categories- Small, Medium, and Large based on their annual budget for 2006-7. Entries were evaluated on the effective and sustainable mobilisation of resources, the demonstration of efficient management of resources, good governance practices, transparency, accountability, and the impact of the services it provides to the community they aim to serve. The process for applying for the award included two stages of information gathering and a field study, which was undertaken at SOS Greenfield’s.

Mr. P Chidambaram appreciated the most deserving winners and said, “ It is a delight to see such selfless devoted people who don’t look at monetary awards but serves the humanity and create a better place for the people.”

Overwhelmed with this recognition, Mr. S. Sandilya, President of SOS Children’s Villages of India said, “This award is recognition of our working ethics and culture. SOS- India has always tried to fulfill its purpose with the optimum utilization of resources available at its disposal. I take this platform to thank all our friends and co workers who have supported us in this endeavour over these years.” Adding to this Mr. Pradeep Singh, National Director, SOS India said, “ Such awards are an acknowledgement of works and efforts of hundreds of people for over almost half a decade.”

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About SOS Children’s Villages of India

SOS Children’s Villages of India is a non profit, non-government, voluntary organization, committed to the care of children in need. The aim & objective of the SOS Children’s Villages of India is to help orphaned and homeless children by giving them a family, home and a strong foundation for an independent and secure life.

Since its inception in 1964, SOS-India has expanded its services for children in need at a rapid pace. Today, there are 39 SOS Children’s Villages including new projects under establishment and 122 allied projects like Kindergartens, Schools, Social, Medical, Vocational Training Centers and Outreach Initiatives spread across the country reaching out to thousands of children. SOS-India is a member of SOS-Kinderdorf International, operational in 132 countries. For more information please visit website www.soscvindia.org

For further information please contact:
Jerin Verghese/Lalit Pandey
Sampark Public Relations
9818117244/9818806924
011-41731526/7/8