Shalin Manav Ratna Award – 2012
Sushri Dr. Swati Ajay Piramal (India)
Today in 2012, as India is proudly celebrating the World Health Organization’s official proclamation removing India from the list of polio-endemic countries, we need to recall one of those hot afternoons of mid-1970s, when a young 19 years old visionary girl driving through the street of Mumbai’s mill district Parel, saw a polio-affected girl child limping with tiny crutches. That poignant sight shaped the initial contours of life goals for that visionary girl, who subsequently acquired the knowledge and capacity to eradicate polio and backed her knowledge and capacity with result-oriented action. Today after about three decades, it is a proud moment to recognize that young, visionary, unsung, and far-seeing girl as Dr. Swati Ajay Piramal, a highly adorned lady now a member of the Hall of Fame for the Most Powerful Women, who has during these long decades, made immense contributions in the fields of health, environment, women’s entrepreneurship, trade and commerce, national integration, regional development, and art.
Shri Dr. Vijay Bhogilal Dave (USA)
Dr. Vijay Bhogilal Dave is a multi talented personality based in the United States of America. By profession, he is an eminent Cardiologist; however, by interest he is a proficient philatelist, a perceptive connoisseur of art, a gifted stage artist, a sagacious educationist, a keen Indologist, and an unassuming philanthropist. Dr. Dave has contributed significant resources for the welfare of his native Vasai village in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat. As a young volunteer he joined hands in relief and rehabilitation of drought-affected citizens in Bihar, led by the legendary leader Late Shri Jai Prakash Narayan, and later during the relief services for the flood-affected victims of Surat in Gujarat. He has been instrumental in facilitating world-class medical education and for providing free access to health and medical services to thousands of under-privileged citizens. Dr. Dave has been a highly decorated personality with awards and recognition from various organizations in the U.S. and India including the Gujarat Gaurav Sanman.
Shri Rajesh Girish Bhat (India)
Shri Rajesh Girish Bhat is a dedicated professional working for the enhancement of Life Standards of the under-privileged citizens of India. His core competencies in the sectors of alleviating rural poverty, facilitating micro finance, child care and protection with particular focus on child rights, local self-governance, disaster risk reduction and NGO Management have helped a very large number of beneficiary individuals and organizations.
Shri Bhat’s expertise and consultancy have helped a large number of voluntary organizations in India and overseas in capacity-building and augmentation of their adeptness in serving the sectors of child education and protection, women empowerment, conservation and environment education, drinking water, NGO networking and music. The publication of several of Shri Bhat’s articles and reports has enriched the knowledge-base of the voluntary service sector.
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