PM's address at the presentation of Indira Gandhi prize to Bill Gates

The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, presented the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year 2007 to Mr. Bill Gates who received it on the behalf of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation today. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said:

''The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, set up just over two decades ago in memory of one of the most charismatic leaders of the last century, honours those who have made extraordinary contributions to these causes, so dear to her. We are both proud and humbled that so many great men and women and so many distinguished institutions, on whom the world showers awards and distinctions, honour Indiraji and us by accepting this Prize.

''Improving standards of public health was one of Indiraji's top priorities, and in 1996 we gave this award to Medecins Sans Frontieres in recognition of their work. This year we once again recognise the work of an organization, and its truly extraordinary leaders, whose contributions to public health around the world, have been truly exceptional and an inspiration to others. The Prize for 2007 is being conferred on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

''The Foundation has, of course, done more than focus on health care and the eradication of disease. It tackles the root causes of illness and disease by seeking to eradicate poverty. Indiraji gave us the watchword ''Garibi Hatao''. Banish Poverty. There can be no better tribute to her memory than for us to recognise some of the most outstanding work being done to eradicate poverty worldwide.

''This ideal is also the focus and inspiration of our work in Government. We have undertaken a very ambitious programme for the social and economic rejuvenation of the millions of our people who have been on the margins of India's growth story. The National Employment Guarantee Programme, Bharat Nirman and the National Rural Health Mission have been successful, but huge challenges remain. There is still so much to do and we are grateful for the help offered so generously by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the many other NGOs working in the field for rural reconstruction and uplift.

''One of the pioneering initiatives of the Foundation is the Avahan programme – a large-scale HIV AIDS prevention programme which has targeted 280,000 individuals from high-risk categories. Under our third National Aids Control Programme, the National Aids Control Organisation has worked closely with the Foundation while developing key strategic interventions and formulating programme guidelines. It is a shining example of partnership between government and civil society in a critically important sector. I commend their work.