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Dhakal with his hydel power set. Picture by Suman Tamang

Siliguri, Dec. 5: The youth, who lit up a remote village near Kalimpong using his mini-hydel project, is finally getting recognition.

The Darjeeling Initiative (a youth forum) and the Darjeeling Press Guild have decided to present the first Shasheesh Prasad Memorial Citizen of the Year Award to 26-year-old Bharat Dhakal. Dhakal has used his project to provide electricity to 13 households in his village, Lingsey, over the last two years.

The award, named after a Darjeeling-based architect and social activist who died of cancer last year, will be given once a year to a youth from the hills for significant contribution towards society, said members of Darjeeling Initiative, which organises the Darjeeling Carnival every year.

On December 16, while the carnival is on, the award comprising a silver citation and Rs 10,000 in cash will be handed over to Dhakal, said Samir Sharma of the Darjeeling-based youth forum.

The carnival begins on Friday.

“We decided to give away the award during the carnival as Prasad had been one of our major patrons,” said Suraj Sharma, an organiser.