Subject: The Venu Menon Animal Allies Foundation
is a small, private trust set up
in memory of Mr. Venu Menon by his family and close friends. Venu, a
highly respected and successful public relations expert, was an
inveterate animal lover who, in the short 33 years of his life, cared
for all forms of life with the same largeheartedness that made him such
a popular figure.
Like him, the Foundation is committed to the much-ignored cause of
animal welfare. And this is the second year we are commemorating his
sincerity and beliefs with the Venu Menon Animal Allies Awards.
Instituted to recognise the most remarkable contributions to animal
welfare by individuals and organisations around the country, these
awards drew in more than 300 responses last year and started what we
believe is the beginning of a continued and growing campaign.
Today, I invite you to send in your nominations for the Second Venu
Menon Animal Allies Awards to be held at New Delhi on 19th February,
2000. All you have to do is tell us about any individual or organisation
who you feel deserves recognition and appreciation for their selfless
battless against injustice to animals.
But first, let me tell you about the awards. There are 6 different
categories, which look at every aspect of animal welfare. The awards for
each involve recognition through citations, statuettes and cash prizes.
And the jury, like last year, will comprise of a cross section of
eminent personalities from diverse fields.
The categories:
* Venu Menon Animal Allies Award - Awarded to any citizen of India
who has significantly contributed to animal welfare on his or her
own accord. The initiative must not be a part of an individual’s or
group’s professional responsibility.
* Venu Menon Lifetime Achievement Award - Awarded to any individual
who has shown extraordinary respect for animal life over an
extended period of his or her life.
* Venu Menon Young Achiever’s Award - Awarded to any student who has
made remarkable contributions to the cause of animal welfare.
* Special Organisation Award - Awarded to an organisation that has
done commendable work in the field of animal welfare. This includes
private organisations as well as zoo authorities and private NGOs.
* Jury’s Special Award - Awarded to any individual or organisation by
the jury for any outstanding contribution outside of the above.
* David Shepherd Wildlife Award – Awarded to any individual who has
significantly contributed to conservation of wildlife. This
special award has been sponsored by David Shepherd Conservation
Foundation
To nominate an individual or organisation, simply fill in the enclosed
Nomination Form in full and mail it to Venu Menon Animal Allies
Foundation; Post Box No. 3557, New Delhi – 110 024, latest by 15th
November, 2000. Do feel free to attach as much additional information
and supporting material as is necessary. However, I request you to index
and organise these annexures carefully to make it easier for the jury to
go through them in detail.
In case you have sent your nomination for self or the same individual
organisation earlier and wish to be reconsidered, simply fill in the
nominateion form enclosed, with a comprehensive update.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
K.B. Menon
Trustee, Venu Menon Animal Allies Foundation
PS I have enclosed a sheet with the names of last year’s
recipients and last year’s
jury for your information.
THE VENU MENON ANIMAL ALLIES AWARDS 1999
Nomination Form
1. Name of the Individual / Organization nominated:
2. Address:
Tel. No.:
Fax No.:
Email:
3. Age (if individual): In operation since (if
organisation):
4. Profession/ Occupation (if indivdual) :
5. Area of work (award nominated for):
* Running a shelter
* Protecting wildlife
* Creating awareness
* Mobilising resources
* Providing medical care
* Providing animal care in general
* Any other
6. Significant contribution made by nominee (in the past 3 years):
Period / Date :
Place :
Nature of contribution :
7. Source of funds (if any):
8. Memorable impact or likely impact in the animal welfare field:
9. One single reason, in not more than 50 words on why you think this
person or organisation deserves this award.
_____________________________________________________________________
Your name:
Your address:
Your relationship to the nominee (if applicable):
Supportings enclosed (please provide a short description of each)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Have you nominated yourself or the same individual/organisation in the
past ?
Date: Signature
Rules of Entry
1. Deadline
Completed entries in the nomination form must reach us by 15th November,
2000 directly to Venu Menon Allies Foundation, Post Box No. 3557, New
Delhi – 110 024
2. All entries must be sent by ordinary mail only and not by registered
post, speed post or courier.
3. For additional copies of nomination forms, photocopies may be used.
4. Each entry must be submitted in a separate nomination form.
5. More than one entry, even in the same category, can be entered by the
same person or organisation, but in a separate nomination form.
6. The name and address in the nomination form should preferably be
written in English in capital letters (typed or hand-written).
7. All columns on the nomination form need to be completed to ensure
accuracy.
8. All shortlisted candidates/organizations will be informed by 31st
December, 1999. Shortlisted nominee may be asked to furnish further
details.
9. The finalist will be informed two weeks prior to the presentation of
the award on 19th February, 2000.
10. The award presentation ceremony will be held in New Delhi on 19th
February, 2000.
Last year’s recipients of the Venu Menon Animal Allies Awards
(Presented at a function Inaugurated by Shri I. K. Gujral,
former Prime Minister of India at the India International Centre,
New Delhi on February 19, 1999)
* Ms. Kamlabai Shine, a poor cobbler woman who has been running an
animal shelter in Mumbai from many years, who received the Venu
Menon Animal Allies Award carrying a citation, statuette and Rs.
25,000/- in cash ;
* Ms. Maneka Gandhi, who was conferred the Venu Menon Lifetime
Achievement Award carrying a citation and a statuette ;
* Mr. Satya Priya Gautam, a young teenager from a town on the fringes
of Corbett National Park, who received the Venu Menon Young
Achiever’s Award which carried a cash prize of Rs. 5,000/-, a
citation and a statuette ;
* Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), an organisation that has
done commendable work in the field of animal welfare, which was
awarded the Special Organisation Award carrying a cash prize of Rs.
15,000/-, a citation and a statuette;
* Ms. Sally Walker, a foreigner who has made India her second home,
who was accorded the Jury’s Special Award for her significant
contribution towards making Indian zoos better. The award carried a
cash component of Rs. 5,000/-, a citation and a statuette.
* Late Mr. Soumen Biswas from Siliguri who gave up his life fighting
for protection of wildlife, who was posthumously awarded the David
Shepherd Wildlife Award, with a cash prize of Rs. 20,000/- a
citation and a statute
The Jury:
All the nominations were screened and judged by a seven-member
jury comprising
Mr. Ruskin Bond, author of famous books such as “A Flight of Pigeons”
and “The Room on the Roof” and now a Padamshree holder;
Dr. Iqbal Malik, noted environmentalist, a doctorate in animal behaviour
and head of Delhi-based NGO, Vatavaran,
Mr. Ashok Kumar, Vice President of the Wildlife Protection Society of
India,
Ms. Bulbul Sharma, renowned painter and writer,
Ms. Nafisa Joseph, former Miss India,
Mr. Bunty Peerbhoy, Chairman of MAA Group of Communications and
Mr. Vivek Menon, trustee of the Foundation and Executive Director,
Wildlife Trust of India and Sr. Technical Consultant at the Asian
Elephant Conservation Centre.