Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur
with the VIII WT Global Award 2012On the 5th June 2012 Shriji received the WT Institution Award 2012 on behalf of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur, (MMCF). Shriji was awarded for his leadership and work through MMCF. The Award was given for 'contribution to universal culture' at the VIII Annual Gala at the General Assembly of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. WT is an NGO with Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Shriji is the second Indian to be awarded for the Eighth Women Together Award. The Women Together Association, a not- for- profit organization in Spain with its headquarters in the Madrid. It was created in 1996 in association with the United Nations to work towards eradicating poverty.

The MMCF, founded by the late Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar was unanimously selected for the award by the Women Together (WT) in association with the UN. It is the largest of nine public charitable institution set up in 1969 to sustain the responsibility of the House of Mewar towards humanity after the amalgamation of the state of Udaipur into the Indian Union in 1948. It has a dedicated 260 member team in promotion including academics, environment, philanthropy and heritage conservation.

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur addressing
the delegates at the VIII WT Global Award 2012 ceremony In his speech Shriji told the audience that it was a rare tribute to be placed amongst the ranks of former illustrious awardees whose work had made a positive difference to society.

He thanked the Office Bearers of the WT Global Award Committee, the Jury and all those who were instrumental in selecting the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation from a land so far away from the Head Quarters.

He said "I stand before you today as a Chairman and Managing Trustee of MMCF and also as the 76th Custodian of the House of Mewar, acknowledged as the world's oldest-serving dynasty and a humble follower of the tradition that we have held sacred for the past 14 centuries in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

As early as 566 A.D. our family was following the timeless concept of Custodianship. This legacy commits us to the principles of 'custodianship from governance' and it is this ideology that forms the basis of Eternal Mewar.

On this occasion we wish to express our deep gratitude to the people of Udaipur and the Joint Custodians of MMCF with whom we share the pleasure and the commitment to continue making Udaipur a valued destination in the world through our engagement in academics, eco-management, philanthropy, living heritage and other areas of socio-economic relevance."