Amruta Subhash, Mangesh Tendulkar bag awards

PUNE: Noted actress Amruta Subhash, surgeon Anant Bagul and famous cartoonist Mangesh Tendulkar are among those selected for Pune Ki Asha and Asha Deep awards for 2004, instituted by city-based Asha Foundation.
Addressing a news conference here on Wednesday, Chandrakant Kudal, managing trustee of the foundation said that the Pune Ki Asha (Pune''s hopes) awards are given to young achievers while the Asha Deep awards recognise outstanding achievements in a field.This is the seventh year of the Pune Ki Asha awards and second of Asha Deep award.
The Pune Ki Asha awards will be given to international shooting champion Anisa Sayyad, surgeon Anant Bagul who has devoted his life to polio corrective surgeries, actress Amruta Subhash and entrepreneurs Vikas Dangat and Suresh Warade. Cartoonist Mangesh Tendulkar will receive the second Asha Deep award.
Elaborating on the selection of entrepreneurs Dangat and Warade, Kudal stated that both manufacture robotic machinery which helps save valuable foreign exchange. "Their clients include major companies like Cadbury and Tata Motors", he said adding that the indigenous robotic machinery came for one third of the cost of imported machinery.
The awards comprise Rs 5,000 cash, shawl, coconut and a memento and will be presented in a function to be held at Balgandharva Rang Mandir on February 9 at 6 pm. Noted cricketer Chandu Borde will preside over the function while Doordarshan station director Mukesh Sharma will be the guest of honour.
Kudal stated that there will be no speeches at the award presentation ceremony. "Instead compere Prakash Paigude and Shaila Mukund will conduct open interviews of the award winners", he said.