| Dr. Prakash Amte | |
|---|---|
Prakash Amte with a rescued owl at his animal shelter. |
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| Born | Anandwan, India |
| Website | |
| www.lokbiradariprakalp.org | |
Prakash Amte (Marathi: प्रकाश मुरलीधर आमटे) is a medical doctor and social worker from Maharashtra, India. Son of Magsaysay awardee and legend Baba Amte, he and his wife, Dr. Mandakini Amte were awarded the Magsaysay Award for 'Community Leadership' [1] in 2008 for their philanthropic work in the form of the Lok Biradari Prakalp amongst the Madia Gonds in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra and the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
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He obtained a medical degree from GMC, Nagpur. His brother Vikas, also a medical doctor, coordinates the activities at their father's ashram at Anandwan and manages the satellite projects and hospitals.
He moved to Hemalkasa to start the Lok Biradari Prakalp in 1973, a project for the development of tribal people, most of whom were the Madia Gond in the forests of Gadchirolli district in 1973.[2]
The project transformed into three things: a hospital, Lok Biradari Prakalp Davakhana, a residential school Lok Biradari Prakalp Ashram Shala and an orphanage for injured wild animals the Amte Animal Arc. It seeks to improve health and educational services for tribals in the area. Hemalkasa lies in a tribal belt and the project provides health care to about 40000 individuals annually. The Lok Biradari Prakalp Ashram School has over 600 students, residents and day scholars.[3]
He was awarded the Magsaysay Award for community leadership for 2008, jointly with wife Mandakini, his citation reads as follows:
| “ | enhancing the capacity of the Madia Gonds to adapt positively in today's India, through healing and teaching and other compassionate interventions".[1] | ” |