Calcutta, Dec. 4: Barefoot College, founded by Bunker Roy to train poor rural youths, has become the first Indian organisation to win the $1-million Alcan Prize, the world’s biggest award for sustainability.

Barefoot College, based in Rajasthan’s Tilonia, was selected from a field of almost 200 entries from 55 countries by an international adjudication panel.

“Barefoot College makes a valuable contribution to India’s rural and impoverished citizens by providing them with practical skills to improve their communities,” Daniel Gagnier of Alcan said in statement issued from Montreal.