Sant Ishwar Awards Celebrate a Decade of Honouring India’s Great Social Workers

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th Oct: The Sant Ishwar Foundation celebrated the 10th edition of its prestigious Sant Ishwar Awards at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium in New Delhi today. Marking a decade of selfless service, the foundation honoured 18 individuals and organisations and disbursed a total grant of ₹32 lakh across three award categories.

Since its inception in 2015, the annual awards have recognised 153 social workers, providing them with financial support exceeding ₹3 crore. The initiative is dedicated to unsung heroes who have made notable contributions in tribal development, rural upliftment, and women and child welfare.

Distinguished Guests:
The event was graced by Sarsanghchalak of RSS, Shri Dattatreya Hosabale as the chief guest, while Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Rural Development & Agriculture, and Shri Bhupendra Yadav, Hon’ble Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, attended as special guests. Social workers, academics, government officials, and civil society representatives from across India also participated.

Ceremonial Highlights:
The programme commenced with an emotional cultural showcase, featuring Mallakhamb, devotional dances dedicated to Ganpati Bappa and Mahadev, performances on women empowerment, patriotic presentations, and the powerful dance-drama ‘Operation Sindoor’. The foundation also launched a commemorative coffee table book highlighting its inspiring 10-year journey.

Statements by Dignitaries:
Speaking at the event, founder and president Kapil Khanna said, “Ten years ago, we began this foundation to honour those who selflessly serve society without seeking fame. Today, as we recognise these remarkable individuals, we feel immense pride. This year, we also made our invitation cards pocket-sized to reduce paper waste and protect the environment.”

Hon’ble Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav noted, “A self-reliant India means every individual progresses collectively. The coffee table book, subtitled ‘Building the Better India’, gains meaning when we recognise those who work selflessly for society. This is the essence of Sant Ishwar Foundation’s decade-long effort.”

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan remarked, “The true purpose of life lies in being useful to others. Today, we bow to those great souls who made service to humanity their life’s mission.”

RSS Sarsanghchalak Dattatreya Hosabale added, “The Sant Ishwar Foundation has been recognising selfless individuals who embody the spirit of ‘Service to Man is Service to God’ over the past ten years. I sincerely appreciate their contributions.”

Award Categories and Recipients:

• Special Service Award (₹5 lakh each, 4 recipients):
  • Govardhan Panda (Koraput, Odisha) – Tribal development
  • Devendrappa (Yadgir, Karnataka) – Rural development
  • Jeevan Anand Sansthan (Maharashtra) – Women & child welfare
  • Samarpan Foundation (Uttar Pradesh) – Contributions to Indian thought & society
• Service Award (₹1 lakh each, 12 recipients):
  • Tribal Development: Mahamandaleshwar Raghunath Das Farsivale Baba (Maharashtra), Dr. Ambedkar Vanvasi Kalyan Trust (Gujarat), Katung Vaghe (Arunachal Pradesh)
  • Rural Development: Gram Vikas Sangham (Andhra Pradesh), Rekha Prabhakar Chauhan (Maharashtra), Nidhi Tripathi (Uttar Pradesh)
  • Special Contribution: Maringmei Gangmalung (Manipur), Matru Chhaya Trust (Goa), Keshav Seva Dham Divyang Ashram (Madhya Pradesh)
  • Women & Child Development: Kisnarav Anjana Babnarav Chaure (Maharashtra), Chitra Shah (Puducherry), Manav Seva Sansthan Educational & Social Welfare Trust (Bihar), Potukuchi Srinivas (Telangana)
• Special Recognition (National Level, 2 recipients):
  • AWWA (Army Wives Welfare Association): Supporting skill development, education, and rehabilitation of army families since 1966.
  • Netra Kumbh 2025: Providing free eye check-ups, medicines, spectacles, and treatment to millions of devotees at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh.

The Sant Ishwar Awards highlight stories of selfless service, compassion, and humanity, inspiring society to embrace these values and recognise unsung heroes who contribute to a better India.