P. Sainath, Rural Affairs Editor of The Hindu, has been selected for this year's Bharat Asmita national award set up by the Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT) group of institutions here.

He will receive the Bharat Asmita Jana Jagaran Shreshta award for public awakening on February 3.

In a press note, the MIT said his writings initiated important changes in drought alleviation programmes in various States including Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. "Almost single-handedly he focussed the nation's attention on the farmers' suicide problem. He is one of the most recognised international journalists having received a number of awards and honours for his unflinching and dedicated reportage."

Mr. Sainath is the co-recipient of the award along with film director and theatre personality Jabbar Patel, who has made the landmark films in Marathi, Saamna, Sinhasan, Umbartha, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

The Bharat Asmita Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar has gone to Infosys founder and chief mentor Narayana Murthy and to his wife, Sudha Murthy. She is the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, a philanthropic organisation working in social service areas.