Anna Hazare
Anna Hazare is one of India’s well-acclaimed social activists. A former soldier in the Indian army, Anna is well known and respected for upgrading the ecology and economy of the village of Ralegan Siddhi which is located in the drought prone Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state. The erstwhile barren village has metamorphosed into a unique model of rural development due to its effective water conservation methods, which made the villagers self-sufficient. Earlier, the same village witnessed alcoholism, utter poverty and migration to urban slums. Inspired by Hazareji’s unique approach of salvaging a hopeless village, the state government has implemented the `Model Village? scheme as part of its official strategy.
Hazare deservedly won the coveted Padma shri and then Padma Bhushan, Care International of the USA, Transparency International, Seoul (South Korea) also felicitated him.
Anna Hazare Ji is now synonymous with rural development in India.