Water for 2000 villagers for 25 years

Dr. B.P. Agrawal wins the $100,000 Purpose Prize for Bringing Desperately Needed Drinking Water to Thousands of Villagers in India Encore.org recognizes the Dr. BP Agrawal for his extraordinary contributions to society. Now in its seventh year, The Purpose Prize is America's only large-scale investment in social entrepreneurs and other creative problem solvers in the second half of life. The Prize program, which recognizes people 60 and older, is funded by the John Templeton Foundation and The Atlantic Philanthropies. The Prize is awarded by Encore.org (formerly Civic Ventures), a nonprofit that promotes encore careers - work that is both personally meaningful and serves the greater good. "Because of B.P. Agrawal's work, thousands of people in remote desert villages have access to a vital, life-sustaining resource," said Marc Freedman, founder and CEO and of Encore.org and author of The Big Shift. "He's an inspiration for all of us who want to use our experience in new ways to help others." Agrawal will join four other 2012 Purpose Prize winners at an awards ceremony on February 11 in San Francisco. "India's chronic water scarcity keeps girls out of school and women out of the workforce. It denies children good health," said Agrawal, 68. I have been moved by many accounts from villagers who shared their experience with our services. Kamruddin, a 45-year-old native of Kakreu Kalan, where he has served as the school's head master for two decades; he insisted on hosting a town celebration when Aakash Ganga built a water fountain in the school. With tears in his eyes mirroring the sweat on his forehead, he told me that he'd never thought he'd see the day when education's greatest impediment, water scarcity, would go away. Now, student retention is up by 100% as students no longer have to skip classes to rush (or stay) home for a drink of water.