'I first saw a sanitation project in 1977 and somehow after that I was drawn to the development of the rural population.'

In his reckoning, India had the best social sector programmes in place but the problem was in its implementation and improving delivery systems.

'There are a myriad programmes and if you look around the world, India has the best policies. Look at the rural health mission, the employment guarantee programme. The idea is to see if it is being implemented and if it is linked to progress,' he said.

'What's the point of sending a mission to the moon when one third of the population lives in poverty in the rural outback?'

Every year, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards foundation presents awards in six categories: government service; public service; community leadership; journalism, literature and creative communication arts; peace and international understanding; and emergent leadership.

Joshi's citation says he has been recognised for 'his vision and leadership in bringing professionalism to the NGO movement in India, by effectively combining 'head' and 'heart' in the transformative development of rural communities.'

'The awards are named after the late president of the Philippines, Ramon Magsaysay, who died in a plane crash in 1957.