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PUNE: Environment activist Bandu Dhotre and Nilesh Chhadwelkar, who beat the challenges associated with disability and became entrepreneurs, were conferred with Sangharsh Sanman awards by senior social activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, on Sunday.These awards are given every year to those, who struggle in their life for a cause, in memory of Muktangan Rehabilitation Centre’s founder, Dr Anita Awachat .
The awardees Bandu Dhotre and Nilesh Chhadwelkar shared their journey in a candid chat with psychiatrist Dr Anand Nadkarni, while Dr Anita Awachat’s niece Rasika Bhagwat on the occasion spoke about her aunt.
Bandu Dhotre, who is an environment activist and runs an NGO Ecopro in Chandrapur, has been consistently working for protection of the environment, particularly the wildlife. Owing to the decreasing number of tigers, Dhotre said he would focus on the conservation of tiger habitats in Vidarbha region and also inculcate a sense of conservation among school students. Similarly, Chhadwelkar also shared how he overcame the challenge of disability and started his own outsourcing company.
Activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar said it is high time everyone worked for an alcohol-free society. “Awareness, precaution and medication are the steps to achieve an alcohol-free society. Unless we do away with the prestige attached to addiction, it is difficult to have an addiction-free country,” Dabholkar said.
Dr Anita Awachat, who was suffering from cancer, had worked till the last day of her life for an addiction-free society. February 10 is observed as Memorial Day to commemorate her.
