Company title

2013

Outstanding service to society award
Hand in Hand India’s CEO Dr Kalpana Sankar was awarded the ‘Outstanding Service to Society’ by the Institute of Directors – Tamil Nadu State Chapter – on 29 March 2013. The Institute of Directors (IOD), founded in 1990, is a registered non-profit apex association of company directors committed to improving the competitiveness of Indian Business.
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2012

Hand in Hand wins the UNEP's World Environment Day Challenge 2012
Hand in Hand India’s entry for the World Environment Day (WED) Challenge 2012, organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), won the ‘Most Creative, Unique and Fun’ prize. The organisation wins a Kia Motors fuel efficient/hybrid vehicle as an award.

For WED, Hand in Hand India brought together around 570 volunteers to create a colourful Rangoli carpet based on environmental themes. The 10,000 sq.ft. Rangoli depicted ten environmental themes using the traditional art form, aiming to encourage and create environment awareness among people.

For this year’s WED, people across the world were challenged to come up with innovative ideas to help raise environmental awareness across the globe. Five projects were chosen as the winners of this challenge. The other winners were from Colombia, Kenya, Australia and Bangladesh.

Manimegalai Award for the Best SHG
Hand in Hand India’s Thendral Self-Help Group (SHG) bagged the Manimegalai award, constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu, for the year 2010-2011. This SHG was formed on 6 November 2006 in Koovathur Village of Lathur Block in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. Having been adequately trained by Hand in Hand India, this group has been maintaining remarkable standards in savings, bookkeeping and loan repayments. Every member in Thendral SHG is an entrepreneur. Under the Tamil Nadu Government’s Mahalir Thittam, an evaluation was conducted at the District Level to select the SHGs with best practices for the Manimegalai Award. This Award was given to the Group on 18 June by the District Collector of Kancheepuram.
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Best NGO in Villupuram for the year 2010-11
Hand in Hand India has been selected as the best Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) for the year 2010-11, for its work in all spheres in Villupuram District. This award was presented on 8 March 2012 by the District Collector, Mr. Sampath, at the Collectorate. Of the 15 NGOs working in the Mathi* - affiliated areas, three NGOs were chosen for this award. Hand in Hand India was one of the three selected. Villupuram, the third largest district in Tamil Nadu comprises of 22 Blocks. Hand in Hand India works in seven of these Blocks.

Bharathi SHG, one of Hand in Hand India’s self-help groups (SHG), from the Vallam Branch of Villupuram was also adjudged the best SHG on account of its good repayment record. The group, has so far, received INR 1,450,000 as loan from Hand in Hand and bank linkages.

"A" grade for the year 2011-12
Tamilnadu Corporation for Development of Women Limited, Chennai (A Government of Tamilnadu undertaking) evaluated Hand in Hand India and accredited an "A" grade for the year 2011-12.
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2011

Hand in Hand's Intervention at Mamallapuram SWM project
Hand in Hand initiated its Solid Waste Management (SWM) Project at the historic town of Mamallapuram in January 2008. Through this initiative, about 60 percent of the nearly four metric tonnes of waste produced everyday is processed. The degradable waste is converted to vermicompost and the non-degradable, recyclable wastes are segregated and sold to respective recyclers. In addition to the waste management initiative in the town, Hand in Hand, in association with the town panchayat, also worked on banning disposable plastics in Mamallapuram. The highlight of the SWM Project, however, is the setting up of a 100 cubic meter bio-methanation plant with a capacity of handling 500 to 800 kilograms of food waste every day. The food waste is converted to methane which is in turn converted to electricity.
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CSO Partners, in association with the Financial Management Service Foundation has announced its Fourth Outstanding Annual Report Awards for the Voluntary Sector. Hand in Hand India’s Annual Report has been adjudged as the winner in the ‘Large’ category this year.

Entries for the awards were invited in three categories — small, medium and large — based on the organisation’s annual budget. The Annual Reports were judged on financial reporting, transparency and effectiveness of communication. CSO Partners recognise an Annual Report as the most important tool for demonstrating an organisation’s work, best practices, accountability towards their stakeholders and transparent processes. The prize money of INR 300,000 was awarded to Hand in Hand India at a function on 10 March 2012 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Anupam Mishra, eminent Gandhian and environmental activist.
Click here to view our Annual report

SCHWAB – Shortlisted for Social Entrepreneur of the Year India 2010

International Women's Day
The President of India launched a pilot project on “Value Added Services through Mobile Technology” based on Hand in Hand - Uninor Partnership Project. A three minute film focusing on Hand in Hand’s self-help group women was screened in the presence of Mr Kapil Sibal, Union Minister, HRD, IT & Communications and Mr. Sachin Pilot, Minister of State, Communication & Information Technology. This was in connection with the International Women's Day.

2010

Touching lives in Latin-America and Caribbean Region

Inclusion in the mWomen initiative
Hand in Hand’s Citizen Centre (CC) Project has been widely recognized for introducing the mobile phone component in their CC Project by its inclusion in the GSMA mWomen initiative. The initiative highlight projects that seek to close the gender gap in mobile phone ownership in countries across the world. The project was among the three that were selected for a worldwide pilot by GSMA. A project manager has been appointed by GSMA to support and study the Uninor-HIH Project in TN. This pilot enables underprivileged women to start a CC enterprise with proper branding and visibility besides handholding support for marketing of the products and services through the CC.

MF Sector Report
HiH is mentioned in the MF State of the Sector report 2009, highlighting HiH’s credit-plus role, its pregnancy loan product, and its HR scheme to support staff for the Diploma in Microfinance.

Top ten MFIs in India
The United Nations Solution Exchange’s Microfinance community report (dated 26 Aug 2009) recognizes Hand in Hand as one among the top ten MFIs in India doing commendable work.

2009

Helping reconstruct Afghanistan

Srijan Microfinance Awards

Best NGO of the State
For its diligent work on creating linkages with banks, Hand in Hand was honoured by NABARD as the Best NGO in the State for continuing excellence in SHG-Bank linkage programme.

Felicitation for Child Friendly Panchayats
Felicitation of 300 Child Friendly Panchayats by Dr. Shantha Sinha, Chairperson NCPCR.

2008

Manthan Award
Short listed for Manthan Award by Digital Empowerment Foundation in association with Ministry for Information Technology for creation and delivery of SHG-Bank linkage software “Kuzhu Nidhi” through Citizen’s Centre in Rural areas.

Solid Waste Management
Appreciation from Kancheepuram Collector for implementing Solid Waste Management programme

2007

Total Sanitation Campaign
Appreciation from Kancheepuram District Collector for implementing sanitation programs under Total Sanitation Campaign

Manimekalai Award
Manimekalai award for the Best SHG was given to Hand in Hand’s Om Sakthi women’s SHG, Brahmadesam, Villuppuram District by Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

2006

Best Enterprise Development
Award presented by the then President His Excellency Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam to Mahalakshmi Women’s SHG, a Hand in Hand SHG, for enterprise development on behalf of Indian Bank