Date:05/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/05/stories/2007010501870900.htm

National

U.N. award for Ashbindu Singh

Special Correspondent

For contribution to improve efficiency

NEW DELHI : Ashbindu Singh of the United Nations Environment Programme was given the UN 21 award for his contribution to improving the organisation's efficiency, at the U.N. Headquarters last month.

His best-seller on environment, One Planet Many People: Atlas of our Changing Environment, received unprecedented media coverage and led to a pioneering partnership with the Internet search engineGoogle Inc as the contents of the book were integrated into Google Earth as a featured content, providing access to millions around the world.

The 2006 awards were given to 13 projects, and seven projects received UN 21 commendations. The 13 projects were selected from over 60 from across U.N. offices.

The UN 21 Awards were established in 1996 as part of the reform effort by the Secretary-General to provide recognition to the staff for innovation, efficiency and excellence.