Sarda award for LEAD director

N Radha, executive director, League For Education And Development (LEAD), has been nominated for the prestigious national-level `Sarda Equal Opportunity Award', instituted by the Nashik-based Sarda Group.

She will be presented with the award at a function to be held at Walchand Hirachand Hall in Mumbai on February 6. The award comprises a citation and a cheque of Rs 5 lakh.

The national award is given every year to individuals and organisations, who make outstanding contributions to provide equal opportunities to women, backward classes and weaker sections of the society, especially in the field of sustained income generation and education.

Radha started LEAD as a women's initiative in 1987 at Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. LEAD is involved in integrated water, sanitation and hygiene education, natural resource regeneration programme, microfinance programme, women's empowerment, empowerment of dalits and the disabled and child rights, among others.

"This year's awardee continues the tradition of 'the greatness of spirit in selfless service to the people'. Her purposeful leadership, unwavering convictions, and earnest compassion towards society are making a real difference," said Niranjan Katariya, CEO, Sarda Equal Opportunity Award.

The Sarda Group has business interests in food & healthcare, mall, floriculture, hospitality and TMD sector.

The group has two state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Nashik and Anand (Gujarat).