Bringing national recognition to Chhattisgarh, the Lingo Mudiyal College of Agriculture and Research Centre, Narayanpur, under Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur, has been honoured with the prestigious Environment Champion Award 2026 for its outstanding work in environmental conservation, water management, biodiversity protection, organic farming, plantation drives and community-based awareness campaigns. The award was presented at a national programme organised jointly by the Namami Gange Project under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun. More than 100 nominations were received from across the country, of which only nine institutions were selected after a rigorous evaluation process. The selected institutions included one university, five schools and three colleges. Representing Chhattisgarh, the Narayanpur college earned recognition for its innovative and sustained efforts in promoting environmental awareness and sustainable agricultural practices.

 

Institutions from Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal were also among the awardees. During the programme, participating institutions showcased their achievements through video presentations highlighting initiatives in environmental protection, water conservation, biodiversity enhancement, afforestation and public awareness. The presentation by Lingo Mudiyal College received appreciation from experts and environmentalists attending the event. The award, comprising a trophy, certificate and shawl, was presented to Dr Ratna Nashine, Dean of the college, at Dehradun on June 1. The honour was conferred by Padma Shri awardee Kalyan Singh Rawat, noted environmentalist and founder of the Maiti Movement, and Padma Shri Madhuri Barthwal, renowned folk singer and cultural ambassador of Uttarakhand. Dr Ruchi Badola, Dean, Faculty of Wildlife Sciences and Nodal Officer of the WII-NMCG Project, was also present. The college earned national recognition for its work in organic farming, water conservation, biodiversity protection and community awareness, bringing pride to Bastar and Chhattisgarh through its sustainable environmental initiatives.