The President Mr Pranab Mukherjee today conferred the Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh awards for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 at a function organised at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday.

The eighth award for the year 2005 was jointly given to the Mizoram Hmeithai (Widows) Association and the People’s Forum, Bhubaneswar for providing services to destitute and widows women.

While the ninth award for the year 2006 was given to Sumangali Seva Ashram of Bangalore for providing care, education to orphan and needy children and socio-economic opportunities for development of women.

For the year 2007, the award was presented to Snehalaya of Ahmednagar, Maharashtra for its landmark work in the rehabilitation of women of the red

light areas and other destitute women.

Speaking on this occasion, the President Mr. Mukherjee called for concerted efforts by government, private and voluntary sectors for the development of the weaker and vulnerable sections of the society.

He pointed out that the Centre, through its programmes and policies has engineered a major directional change in public policy by its focus on inclusive development.

On this occasion, the Women and Child Development Minister, Mrs Krishna Tirath said that Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh was the mother of social service in

India and the visionary founder Chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board.

She said, her Ministry is committed to supporting the Board in all its endeavors and about Rs 190 crores have been allocated to the Board for the year 2012-13.