India Habitat Centre in association with National Geographic Channel invites undergraduate students from across the country to participate in the fifth annual ‘Habitat Young Visionary Award 2008’ - a unique opportunity for youngsters to share their vision of a better India.

The Habitat Young Visionary Award provides a platform to undergraduate students to share their vision of a better India.

Application for the Habitat Young Visionary Award involves submission of a 1,500 words essay in English or Hindi on a specified topic in the first stage. Based on the essay, fifteen participants will be short listed for the semifinals and would be required to elaborate and defend their vision before a panel of eminent judges. Out of this, five participants will be chosen for the finale to be held in January 2008.  The idea of the award is not to test the oratorical aptitude of the participants but to identify cogent and novel solutions germinating in their minds to the issues faced by our country. The last date for submission of entries is November 15, 2007.

The winner of the award will get to attend a fully paid summer programme sponsored by the India Habitat Centre at the Cambridge University, UK. The first runner-up will get a unique internship opportunity with the National Geographic Channel and the other three finalists will get a chance to intern with an established NGO.

For more guidelines and further clarity on the topic, award and selection procedure, log on to www.indiahabitat.org or www.nationalgeographic.co.in

Participation and Selection Procedure
Stage 1: Write a 1,500 words essay in English or Hindi on the given topic:
'My Journey To The Parliament Through The Classroom'
'Meri Jivan Yatra Mahavidyalaya Se Sansad Ke Ore' (In Hindi)

The essay should be the synopsis of a larger, realistic and practical vision. All entries should be typed in double space or A4 size paper. The participant is also required to enclose his / her CV in about 250 words and a bonafide certificate from the institution / college.

Entries should reach before November 15, 2007 at the following address: Director’s office, 6th Floor, Core 5A, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003 or can be submitted online through the Young Visionary microsite at www.nationalgeographic.co.in

Stage 2: Fifteen participants will be short listed for the semifinals to be held on December 17, 2007 in Delhi. The semifinalists will be asked to elaborate and defend their vision before a reputed panel of judges.

Stage 3: Five participants will be short listed for the finals to be held in January 2008 at India Habitat Centre, Delhi.