The women sangams (groups) of the Deccan Development Society have bagged the United Nation’s Equator Prize for 2019.
They have been selected for standing as ‘an outstanding example of a local, nature-based solution to climate change and sustainable development.’
The women farmers, majority of them are Dalits, have been building their own seed banks and growing millets in the predominantly rain-fed villages of Sangareddy district.
To mark the achievement, the DDS is felicitating six women for their contribution to the ecology and innovations in rainfed millet cultivation on June 5. The six women farmers are: Maisanagari Ratnamma, Begari Tuljamma, Chilkapalli Ansuyamma, Nagwar Sunandamma, Yerrolla Kanakamma, and Nadimidoddi Anjamma.
“This year, a total of 847 nominations have been received by the UN from 127 countries. Of them, only 20 were given this prestigious award,” said PV Satheesh, Director, DDS.