Fellowships and Awards in the fiend of environment in India

Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award

This award is given for significant contribution in the field of wildlife protection, which is recognised as having shown exemplary courage or having done exemplary work for the protection of wildlife. A cash award of Rupees One lakh is presented to individuals/institutions involved in wildlife protection.

The Union Minister for Environment and Forests Shri T. R Baalu presents First Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award for Wildlife Conservation to Shri Ganga Ram Bishnoi (posthumously) of Chirai village of Jodhupur, Rajasthan at a National Workshop on Non-Wood Forest Products held in New Delhi on May 29, 2003 (Thursday). The Widow of Shri Bishnoi, Smt. Kishni Devi receiving the award, carrying Rs. One lakh, one medal and citation.

B. P. Pal National Environment Fellowship Award for Biodiversity

The National Fellowships are given each year to one scientist/expert of Indian nationality in recognition of significant research and development contributions in the fields of environmental sciences and biodiversity. The duration of the fellowship is two years.

The fellowship would be for a period of two years and the fellow will receive an award of Rs.26, 000/- per month plus allowances. The fellowship amount is Tax free as per the existing income tax rules / guidelines during the period of fellowship. In addition, a contingency grant of Rs.1, 000,00/- per annum will be paid to the Fellow who will also be entitled to engage one Research Associate as per existing Government rules.

Desert Ecology Fellowship

In September 1992, the Ministry of Environment & Forests provided a one-time endowment of Rupees 6 lakh to institute a Desert Ecology Fellowship at the University of Jodhpur in recognition of the Bishnoi community's contribution to nature conservation and to encourage studies in this field. The fellowship carries a monthly stipend of Rupees 3,500 and a contingency grant of Rupees 1,000 per month.