Founder of Sulabh movement and well known social worker Dr Bindeshwar Pathak was on Tuesday conferred with the highest award in the field of Environment, Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, on the occasion of World Environment Day.

External Affairs minister Pranav Mukherje presented the award which carries Rs 5 lakh, a citation and a memento to the Sulabh founder in a ceremony organised by the Union Ministry for Environment and Forest. The government selected Dr Pathak for this prestigious award under individual category for the year 2003.

Pathak, a Padma bhushan recipient, is known for his low cost toilets technology which he had designed over three decades ago and which is now becoming a byword for sanitation in developing countries all over the world.

Sought to check global environmental degradation, this award is given to pioneers who come out with ideas and projects that can reduce pollution and promote the environment in the country.

Pathak had earlier received the Dubai International Award for Best Practices, besides a number of awards at national and international levels. The UNDP, in its latest Human Development Report, had also appreciated the Sulabh technology.