Sachin’s mom-in-law & activist gets UK honour

Mumbai, June 17 

Sachin Tendulkar’s mother-in-law and social activist Annabel Mehta, a British national, has been awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her work and service to the underprivileged.

The award will be presented to her at Buckingham Palace in London later this year. “Her Majesty the Queen approved the award to Mehta, a British national, in recognition of her work and service to underprivileged communities in Mumbai, and the NGO, Apnalaya,” a statement issued by the British Deputy High Commission said.

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“The Order of the British Empire (which has several ranks) was created in 1917 by King George V to recognise individuals, who have contributed valued service to their communities. MBE is a rank of the order and stands for Member of the Order of the British Empire.

“Annabel has been recognised and honoured for over 40 years of service to under-privileged communities in India. Much of this has been through her leading role within the NGO, Apnalaya, of which she has been President since 2013,” it said.

“In the last 25 years, Apnalaya, led by Annabel has particularly focused on the Shivaji Nagar slum community, adjoining the Deonar dumping ground, with a population of around 600,000, many of whom live in challenging conditions.

Apnalaya works to promote issues of health care, gender, education and livelihoods using an integrated community development approach.

Annabel was born in Birmingham in 1940 and trained in Social Administration at the London School of Economics where she met her Indian husband, Anand Mehta. Annabel moved to India in 1966. — PTI