The selection is featured in the July 7, 2008 issue of the magazine, the first in a series of special issues India Today plans to bring out in the year, celebrating the spirit of India.

Explaining the rationale behind the selection process, the magazine's editor-in-chief Aroon Purie says: "We want to recognise and celebrate perseverance, optimism and unsung achievements that are to be found in plenty in this country."

The selected pioneers of change fall under five categories: education, environment, technology, society, and the arts.

The PACS Programme was chosen under the society category, along with initiatives like Aaavishkar (a micro-equity fund), Banyan (a project that cares for mentally ill and destitute women), and individuals like the Telegu actor Chiranjeevi, who has set up an eye and blood bank that helps millions, and Anil Gupta, who has piloted a knowledge bank of innovations.

The society category also features Veena Devi, elected head of Loharpura panchayat in Nawada district of Bihar.

In the article on the PACS Programme, the magazine reports that the programme has reached out to 40.4 million people, marginalised and forgotten in the poorest areas of the country, where even a pucca road seems a luxury.

It has given voice to these people, who have been reminded and educated of their rights, and have finally learned to demand what is rightfully theirs.

Quoting programme director Kiran Sharma, the report notes that the programme concept was unique -- it was about creating awareness about rights and entitlements rather than concrete steps like building schools; it was about empowering the poor and working with the government, but it was also confrontational and agitational.

The report mentions several PACS Programme success stories such as:

• Members of the marginalised Kolam tribe becoming active members of joint forest management committees in Vidarbha.
• The Maharashtra drought padyatra ( click here to read a related story on this website).
• The setting up of grains banks in Betul district, in Madhya Pradesh (read a related story on this website here).
• Use of the right to information (RTI) by the women of Ramgarh, Chhatarpur (read a related story here).
• The Tara Akshar programme (read a related story here).

The report also mentions the NREGS campaign undertaken by the programme in the interim phase, until the launch of PACS Plus.

Read the full India Today report in PDF format here.