Kathmandu: Ms. Lily Thapa, a social worker of international standing is being awarded the “Ashoka Award” early next year.

Ms. Thapa is currently engaged in the upliftment of widows in Nepal.

According to Ms. Thapa, she has been invited to receive the award in Bombay next January 2004.

The award is presented to those who work for bringing about a change in the society. The Ashoka institution is based in Washington D.C and the personality who initiated this award is, according to Ms. Thapa, Bill Drayton, an American national.

Mr. Drayton constituted this award inspired by Emperor Ashoka who, as the history goes, changed his life-style after the battle of Kalinga.