Association for Indian Americans (AIA), DC chapter felicitated Association for India's Development (AID) JeevanSaathi Dr. Ravi Kuchimanchi, co-founder of AID Inc. in their 26th Annual Academic and Outstanding Achievement Awards Ceremony on July 17th 2005.  Three volunteers from AID, College Park and recent college graduates,  Namrata Vasavani, Somu Kumar, and Brunda Kattekola  were also honored with "Scholastic Awards".

AIA is one of the oldest national association of Asian Indians in America. The organization that was founded in the year 1967, concerns itself with the social welfare of the Asian Indians in the United States, and to help them become a part of the main stream American life. AIA represents the hopes and aspirations of the immigrants who are united by their common bond of Indian Heritage and American Commitment.

Ravi Kuchimanchi was honored with the prestigious "Community Service Award" for his efforts towards holistic development of rural India.  The awards function was attended by the children from local high schools and colleges along with their parents and older members of the Indian community.

Ravi Kuchimanchi founded AID in 1991 while completing his Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Maryland. He initiated the weekly chapter community service hours to promote volunteerism and participatory decision-making, India Beckons, AID's cultural program, and was founding editor of AID's newsletter Dishaa for several years. He returned to work full-time in India in January 1998. Since then he has given direction to various aspects of our work, most importantly, with the struggle in the Narmada valley, initiating local community development, visiting projects and providing in-depth reports, and ideas for alternative energy devices.

This function was a recognition of AID's work and all the AID volunteers who are involved in bringing about a measurable change in the lives of people in India.

Ravi Kuchimanchi