Vikas Amte
| Vikas Amte | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
27 October 1947 Warora, Maharashtra[1] |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | MBBS |
| Alma mater | Government Medical College (Nagpur) |
| Occupation | Physician, Social Worker |
| Known for | Leprosy rights activism |
| Website | www.vikasamte.com |
Dr. Vikas Amte (born 27 October 1947) is medical doctor and eminent social worker from Warora, Maharashtra, India. [2] He is elder son of Baba Amte.
Work
Amte is the elder son of social worker and Magsaysay Award winner, Baba Amte (1914 – 2008),[3] Dr. Vikas heads the organization 'Maharogi Sewa Samiti', and is the chief functionary of Anandwan, the community set up by Baba Amte in 1948 primarily for leprosy patients on the outskirts of Warora in Chandrapur district in Maharashtra. He also runs a hospital along with his wife Dr. Bharati Amte at Anadawan and coordinates operations between Anandwan and satellite projects.[4]
Amte has advocated for the disabled and disadvantaged sections of the society, including those suffering leprosy. He is chief functionary at Maharogi Sewa Samiti since 1985 where he has ushered in a number of sustainable technologies, development strategies, and rehabilitation measures for the benefit of people with other disabilities. He has developed a concept of empowerment of physically challenged people with the aid of music, giving rise to the musical group ‘Swaranandwan’ composed of 400 disabled patients who perform professionally across the state.
Awards
Amte is bestowed with many awards from society. Some of the awards include:
- In January 2012, Amte was given the Chandrapur Bhushan award.[5]
- Lokmanya Tilak award for the year 2012 was jointly given to Dr. Vikas and Dr. Prakash Amte.[6]
- United Nations Right Livelihood Award from Sweden in 1988
- Manav Sewa Award by Young Men's Gandhi Association, Rajkot
- Kustha Mitra Purskar by Vidarbha Maharogi Sewa Mandal, Tapovan, Amravati
- Shri. Nemichand Shrishrimal Award for Outstanding Role in Social Work
- Late Shri. Mahadeo Balvant Natu Purskar, Pune
- SARTHI Award, Nagpur
- Kumar Gandharva Puraskar in 1998
Honors
- Government of India had appointed him as an honorary member of the General Council, Standing Committee and Executive Committee of Council for Advancement of Peoples Action and Rural Technology (CAPART)
- Adviser to National Leprosy Commission
- Agricultural adviser to ministry of economic affairs, and he was the youngest of eleven eminent leprologists and social workers called by late prime minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi for eradication of leprosy in India by 2000 A. D.
- He is presently a member of executive committee of YASHADA.
- Member of standing committee CAPART, Govt. of India (On Disabilities)
- Member of Regional Committee – Council For Advancement Of Peoples Action and Ahmedabad Rural Technology (CAPART)
- District Committee of People for Animals (Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals)
- He is a consultant to Water distribution and sanitary committee of Govt. of Maharashtra and Ministry of Railways, Central India.
- He was appointed as Chairman of Maharashtra Govt. Tribal Sub Plan Committee (Five Year Plan) in 1996 – 97 and later as a member, on state planning board for integrated watershed development program and member of Dr. Bhagvati Committee of Public Health Department of Government of Maharashtra.
- He has also served as a member of the workshop of [Tata Institute of Social Sciences]], on issues related to relief and rehabilitation of people affected by earthquakes in Koyna, Uttar Kashi, Osmanabad and Latur in 1994 – 95.
- He was specially invited to participate with a select group of experts from the health and education sectors, by the Hunger Project, at the global office in New York City and Round Table Conference by the Commonwealth Secretariat, London on strategy issues in development management - June /July 1987 and again in 9 May - 13, 1988.
Personal life
Amte married to Dr. Bharati Amte in the year 1976. He holds a doctoral degree from Government Medical College of Nagpur University. He did Post Graduate Certificate Course in Leprosy from Central Leprosy Training and Research Institute, Chingleput, (CLTRI) Tamil Nadu. Dr. Bharati is a pediatrician who looks after medical and general administration at Anandwan. They have two children, Kaustubh, a Chartered accountant who is now Assistant secretary of Maharogi Seva Samiti and Dr. Sheetal who is a medical professional with a M.B.B.S. degree and also has a master's degree in Social Entrepreneurship from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
Books
He has authored the book titled 'Anandwan Prayogwan' which shares about his experiences and experiments at Anandwan.
See also
References
- ↑ Hans Staffner (2000). Baba Amte: A Vision of New India. Popular Prakashan. p. 6. ISBN 8171546749.
- ↑ Times of India - 8 April 2012 Non-resident Vidarbhaites form NGO to help farmers (Accessed on 23 November 2016)
- ↑ Tahelka Magzine Vol 5, Issue 33, Dated 23 August 2008 The Quiet Soldiers of Compassion
- ↑ "Maharogi Sewa Samiti".
- ↑ Times of India, 3 January 2012 Chandrapur Bhushan bestowed on Vikas Amte (Accessed on 28 November 2016)
- ↑ Times of India - Jul 28, 2012 Tilak award for Amte brothers (Accessed on 23 November 2016)