Kohima, Dec 31 : Noted Gandhian and social worker Natwar Thakkar has been conferred with a Lifetime Service award by the villagers of Chuchuyimlang in Nagaland where he started to work in the early fifties as a Sarvodaya worker.

The Chuchuyimlang Senso Mongdang (People''s Union) gave the award to Thakkar, who is the founder of the Nagaland Gandhi Ashram.

Born at Dhami in Maharashtra, Thakkar volunteered to come to Nagaland on a mission of service in 1955 at the age of 23. He thereafter made Nagaland his home.

According to Senso Mongdang President, Supongmatong, the award of Rs 1 lakh was given in recognition of Thakkar's service to the people of Nagaland and particularly to Chuchuyimlang and surrounding villages for over five decades.

The ceremony was attended by over 3,000 people, which included women and children. Thakkar returned the money to Mongdang and asked to use it for development works. (ANI)