ISTANBUL, Turkey, Mar. 30, 2009 -- At the 5th World Water Forum, the world's premier entity dedicated to water issues, Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR), was awarded the coveted Kyoto World Water Grand Prize at a glittering closing ceremony to mark the closure of the Forum on World Water Day (March 22) at Istanbul, Turkey. The award was presented to Dr Marcella D'Souza, Executive Director of WOTR in recognition of the outstanding contribution made towards organizing rural communities for watershed development and rain water harvesting in an inclusive, equitable, sustainable and gender sensitive manner.
The World Water Forum attracted the largest ever gathering of well over 33,000 attendees including delegates from 155 countries. The Kyoto World Water Award received 67 entries from all over the world out of which India's WOTR emerged as the winner. It assumes huge significance as it is the world's premier water award given to successful grassroots initiatives that are innovative replicable and sustainable.
Organized by the World Water Council, The World Water Forum takes place once every three years. This year saw a large congregation of world leaders, educationists, economists and environmentalists from across the globe engaging in discussions and debating on key issues like raising the importance of water on the political agenda, supporting the deepening of discussions towards the solution of international water issues, bridging the various divides in the 21st century by formulating concrete proposals, bringing their importance to the world's attention and generating political commitment.
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