Twenty First Mahaveer Awards – 2018

21st Mahaveer Award for excellence in human endeavour in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism, Smt. Shiranee Pereira, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, for excellence in human endeavour in the field of Medicine, Bhagwan Mahavir Jain Relief Foundation Trust, Hyderabad, Telangana, for excellence in human endeavour in the field of Community & Social Service, Rural Health Organisation, Imphal, Manipur presented by Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu, Honourable Vice President of India.

Smt. Shiranee Pereira, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

The People for Animals (Chennai) was established in 1995 to champion the cause of voiceless animals. Dr. Shiranee Pereira is one of the founders of People for Animals, Chennai. Working with compassion and dedication, PFA has revolutionized the concept of animal welfare with its proactive approach.

From powerful presentations on international platforms to midnight rescues on highways and surviving attempts on their lives, the PFA has consciously worked to promote the concept of “Ahimsa” and non-violence in every arena of animal use and abuse. The PFA, Chennai looks after over 1500 animals on a daily basis, providing them food and veterinary care. Dr. Shiranee Pereira initiated Animal Birth Control and immunisation program in 1995 for the street dogs which put an end to the 60 year old practice of brutal electrocution of street dogs in the city.

She pioneered the rehabilitation of sick and abandoned animals. She has rescued and rehabilitated thousands of laboratory animals since 2000. She prepared the India National guidelines for the ethical use of equines in anti-snake venom serum production in 2002.

In 2007, she co-founded I-CARE, creating a mass movement among the teachers and students to stop the use of animals in dissection. Dr. Shiranee rescued about 100 wild animals in dangerous and life threatening situations and prevented cruelty to animals.

Since the last 15 years she has been personally looking after the PFA Jinendra Animal Hospital & shelter, at Red Hills, Chennai. She is totally committed to the prevention of abuse and cruelty to animals and their general welfare.

Bhagwan Mahavir Jain Relief Foundation Trust, Hyderabad, Telangana

The Bhagwan Mahavir Jain Relief Foundation Trust was founded by sixteen like minded Jain friends in 2009 in Hyderabad to improve the quality of life of people who require dialysis and cannot afford the medical expenses incurred. Dialysis is an expensive process and the monthly expenses of dialysis alone run into several thousands of rupees. Added to this, most dialysis patients have a few other complications such as anaemia and cardiovascular problems. Due to this, they need a host of other medications.

The Foundation provides much needed service of dialysis to patients at no cost to patients. Patients seeking special wards are charged Rs.200.

Majority of patients are indigent. The service is provided to all deserving patients irrespective of caste, creed and religion. The Foundation operates 124 dialysis machines in 4 places. On the last Sunday of every month, coupons are distributed to the patients entitling a person to a single session of dialysis at a particular hospital. The patient can avail any number of coupons. The Trust has supplied injections that cost more than Rs. 1,000 in the market at Rs. 380 only.

In the last nine years, they have supported more than six thousand patients with dialysis or medicinal support and have not denied any patient for support. They are also a model for partnership between Government and not-for-profit organisation.

Rural Health Organisation, Imphal, Manipur

Rural Health Organisation (RHO), Imphal, Manipur was established in 1986 with the funds from Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Central Social Welfare Board, National Children’s Fund and organisation’s own source. It has been extending various services like Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (30 bedded centre), Short Stay Home for Women and Girls (30 women & 7 children), Education & Health Care for 30 Girl Children and Sensitization Programmes for Mothers, Rural Homeo Dispensary, Primary Health Care Centre, Mobile Health Service, Pre-School for Disabilities and Day Care Centre for Aged etc.

Its welfare services especially in the remote hilly areas of Manipur has largely benefitted the tribal poor, SC & ST populations. This NGO’s services for women and child welfare are noteworthy. Its short stay home has sheltered and rehabilitated over 800 disadvantaged women and 200 children. It has educated 30 ST & OBC girl children, secured self-employment to 150 deserving ST/ SC women through vocational training programmes and rehabilitated more than 90 child labourers.

The awareness programmes of the NGO focus on substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. It has counselled 3800 addicts, treated over 2300 addicts and created awareness among 10200 highly vulnerable groups.

The other programmes conducted are national integration camp, pre-school for disabled, day care centre for the aged, national environment awareness campaigns, Bio-medical waste management, rural homeopathy dispensary and mobile health services. A large number of people have been benefitted by the services of this organisation.

Twentieth Mahaveer Awards – 2017

Twentieth Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Animal Aid Charitable Trust, Udaipur, Rajasthan, for Excellence in the field of Education AIM for Seva, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, for Excellence in the field of Medicine to Dr. M C Nahata, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, & for Excellence in the field of Community and Social Service to Arpana Research & Charities Trust, Karnal, Haryana, from Honourable Member of Rajya Sabha Dr. Subramanian Swamy at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 8th September 2017 at Chennai.

Animal Aid Charitable Trust,Udaipur, Rajasthan

Animal Aid Charitable Trust has been serving abandoned animals in Udaipur, since 2002. This Trust takes efforts to stop the illegal dog catching and displacement. It has saved the lives of 6000 dogs since 2015.

Animal Aid Charitable Trust receives many calls for help and assistance to control, capture and transport sick, abused, abandoned animals. The staff promptly respond to these calls and undertake the difficult task and prevent harm and accidents to the animals and public. The Staff of the Trust descend deep wells, pipes and other enclosures to rescue distressed, trapped, injured and sick animals. Animal Aid provides shelter for over 700 abandoned animals at any given time.

The Trust also encourages people to be Vegetarians by reaching out through leaflets and conducting bi weekly outreach programmes.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the 20th Mahaveer Award in the field of Non-Violence & Vegetarianism on Animal Aid Charitable Trust, Udaipur in recognition of its exemplary service for protection and care of animals. We believe many others will be inspired to emulate them.

AIM for Seva, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

AIM for Seva, established in 2001, helps children in rural and tribal areas to overcome barriers to their education. It has projects in 16 States. AIM for Seva, has set up more than 100 Free Student Homes and helped thousands of children access quality education without any cost. This has helped their families and communities to escape poverty and live with dignity. Needy children are taken into the Free Student Home and given free food, accommodation and education.

It has set up vocational training institutes which provide skill and training. Initiatives like 'Theatre for Development,' assist children to learn curriculum.

The Trust focuses on the all-round development of the students which includes excellence in academics, communication skills, character building and encourages literacy along with creativity.

Healthcare activities are also undertaken to ensure good health for the children. Salt fortified with micronutrients is given to children to address deficiencies in nutrition. . In 2012-13, organic farming was introduced in several homes.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the 20th Mahaveer Award in the field of Education on AIM For Seva in recognition of its exemplary service. We believe many others would be inspired to emulate them.

Dr. M C Nahata, Indore, Madhya Pradesh

Dr. M C Nahata, an Ophthalmologist has been rendering services for over six decades in the field of Eye Care focussing on Prevention, Rehabilitation, Academics and Social work. He has been a pioneer in establishing and developing newer services like Retinal & Laser Units, Cryosurgery technology (1971) and Low Vision Services.

The Professor has conducted 700 eye camps and performed 2 lakh operations. He has detected and corrected refractive errors in a population of 2.5 lakhs spread over 283 villages in Vidisha district in Madhya Pradesh and free spectacles were distributed. He started campaign for promotion of Eye Donation.

He is credited with management of calamities at the time of outbreak of Epidemic Conjunctivitis (1979), Methyl Alcohol poisoning and Bhopal gas tragedy (1984). He visited seven tribal districts of Madhya Pradesh – Dhar, Jhabua, Alirajpur, Badwani, Khargone, Khandwa and Burhanpur and implemented a unique programme called‚ Prayas to prevent blindness. He was instrumental in getting the first Braille Press established at Indore.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the 20th Mahaveer Award in the field of Medicine on Dr.M.C.Nahata in recognition of his exemplary service. We believe many others would be inspired to emulate him

Arpana Research & Charities Trust, Karnal, Haryana

Arpana Research & Charities Trust was established in 1980 to serve the rural folks of Karnal district, Haryana. It runs a 135 bedded hospital, with 3 operation theatres, well equipped ICU and has specialised clinics and daily OPD. This hospital is catering to the needs of over 1000 villages.

Arpana Rural Development Services provide loving care to neglected children under five years of age. They have assisted in starting women Self Help Groups in remote villages of Himachal Pradesh.

Farmers clubs are formed where they are taught effective farming and irrigation methods for the terraced plots. Over 8000 meetings have been conducted to create awareness about antenatal care, AIDS, nutrition, prevention of seasonal diseases, family welfare, right to education and domestic violence.

The Trust has identified 1878 differently abled persons from 55 villages and assisted in forming 48 Differently Abled Persons Organisations. The DPOs have generated savings of over Rupees 24 lakhs. Some have started their own businesses. This has given them confidence, immense self-esteem, dignity and opportunity to participate in village activities.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the 20th Mahaveer Award in the field of Community & Social Service on Arpana Research & Charities Trust in recognition of its exemplary service. We believe many others would be inspired to emulate them

Nineteenth Mahaveer Awards – 2016

Nineteenth Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, Bangalore, for Excellence in the field of Education Dr.Sapam Nabakishore Singh, Assam, for Excellence in the field of Medicine to Dr. R.V. Ramani, Coimbatore, & for Excellence in the field of Community and Social Service to Smt. Shamshad Begum, Durg, Chhattisgarh, from Shri S Gurumurthy, Academic and Corporate Adviser and well known commentator on Political and Economic Affairs at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 29th September 2016 at Chennai.

Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA),Bengaluru, Karnataka

Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) provides total care in the form of rescue & rehabilitation of animals. It has an exclusive animal care clinic, geriatric & second chance adoption centers.

The NGO is authorised by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to respond to complaints against people who do not give their pets due attention and care. Such pet animals are confiscated and brought to CUPA’s shelter where re-homing process begins. CUPA organizes Humane Awareness Programmes in Colleges and local Schools.

CUPA encourages people to visit Second Chance Adoption Centre where rescued dogs are adopted. CUPA’s ABC Centre carries out Animal Birth Control & Anti Rabies Vaccination (ABC-ARV) work in Bengaluru which is important for the welfare of animals.

It has round the clock ambulance facilities for attending to the injured and stray, large and small animals, mainly dogs and cats. Outpatients and Inpatients facilities are extended through its 8 centers in Bengaluru. It provides medical care for all animals averaging 2200 cases per month. It also takes up legal issues for protecting the interest of animals.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the Nineteenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Non-Violence & Vegetarianism on Compassion Unlimited Plus Action in recognition of its exemplary service for protection and care of animals. We believe many others will be inspired to emulate them.

Dr. Sapam Nabakishore Singh, Silchar, Assam

Dr. Sapam Nabakishore Singh is a research scholar and a devoted social worker, doing services for the upliftment of the misguided youth in the North Eastern parts of India for more than 3 decades. He has been transforming the lives of hundreds of young people of this region who are exploited by anti-social forces through moral education, creative programmes, publishing books, radio talks and character building exercises.

Further, he conducts free medical check-ups for students and youngsters. His dedicated service for the welfare of the youth has made him popular among the people and many NGOs in Assam and Manipur.

In 1989, he established the Institute of Industrial Training and Production Centre for the educated unemployed youth at Imphal. He is also closely associated with the activities of ISKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness).

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the Nineteenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Education on Dr. Sapam Nabakishore Singh in recognition of his significant services in the North Eastern parts of India. We believe many would be inspired by his services to society.

Dr. R V Ramani, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu

The Founder & Managing Trustee of Sankara Eye Care Institutions, Coimbatore, Dr. R V Ramani has been rendering exemplary service to the visually impaired for the past 4 decades with the primary aim of providing quality vision care to the poor and the underprivileged of rural India.

With the blessings and guidance of Shri Kanchi Sankaracharyas, Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Medical Centre was established by him in 1977, a clinic which provides health care to the poor. He established Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Medical Trust in 1982 and the Sankara Eye Hospitals in 1985. Through programmes like “Gift of Vision” and “Rainbow” it serves the rural population and children.

The “Gift of Vision” programme has conducted 17,774 rural outreach camps, screened 3.13 million persons and performed about 1.2 million free vision restoration surgeries so far in 69 Districts across 11 States in India. The paying patients cover the cost of the treatment of poor patients. The Institution also provides services in Cambodia, Nigeria, Nepal and Seychelles.

Since 2010, the Sankara Academy of Vision trains doctors and paramedical staff, promotes research & development and extends professional consultancy.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the Nineteenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Medicine on Dr. R V Ramani in recognition of his exemplary service. We hope many would be inspired to emulate him.

Smt. Shamshad Begum,Durg, Chhattisgarh

For the past 25 years Smt. Shamshad Begum, has been championing the cause of Women Empowerment, Literacy and Prohibition in and around the District of Durg, in the State of Chhattisgarh. She has been the rallying point for all the rural women folk in the area to fight against illiteracy, child marriage, dowry and other social evils. She has transformed the lives of innumerable women with hard work and a strong determination and has provided leadership to women.

She has promoted literacy amongst the rural people. In 163 villages, she has made the people completely literate, most of them belonging to SC/ST and backward classes.

She is actively involved in the socio-cultural & economic empowerment of women and promotes family welfare, pulse polio immunization and anaemia control. She organizes eye camps, helps widows to live independently and has established women commando clubs to fight against social evils and alcohol addiction.

Smt. Shamshad Begum has ensured setting up of more than 4000 Self Help Groups and encourages small savings habit among women. The members of these groups are today involved in farming, soap making and manufacturing of wheels for bullock carts. Such activities have given dignity and economic independence to women. Her dedicated service has secured her many awards including Padmashri in 2012.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the Nineteenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Community & Social Service on Padmashri Smt. Shamshad Begum in recognition of her exemplary service. We hope many would emulate her in the service of society.

Eighteenth Mahaveer Awards – 2015

Eighteenth Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Visakha Society for Protection & Care of Animals, Visakhapatnam, A.P., for Excellence in the field of Education Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam, Vedaraniam, for Excellence in the field of Medicine to SEVAC (Sane and Enthusiast Volunteer's Assn), Kolkata, & for Excellence in the field of Community and Social Service to Vikas Bharti Bishunpur, Jharkhand, from Sri Thaawarchand Gehlot Hon'ble Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt of India at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 21st August 2015 at Chennai.

Visakha Society for Protection & Care of Animals, Visakhapatnam

Established in 1996, by Sri. Pradeep Kumar Nath, at Visakapatnam, A.P, VSPCA has been working for the cause of animals, birds, reptiles and promotion of vegetarianism. Banning of Animal Transports & Sacrifices, implementation of programs like Animal Birth Control (ABC), cobra, monkey & parrot rescue operations, disaster & flood relief, migratory bird & sea turtle protection, providing nutritious vegan (vegetarian, also avoiding milk products) meals for the “animal friendly - poor people”, animal adoption and cattle respect projects, prevention of auctioning and illegal slaughtering of cows & oxen and usage of plastics etc. are some of its major activities.

It has two shelters for housing hundreds of cows, monkeys, parrots, dogs, cats etc., where natural fertilizers are also manufactured. The construction of the third one at about 100 kms from the city is nearing completion.

The lengthy list of huge numbers of cows, turtles, baby parrots, cobras etc. saved also include 2500 painted storks and pelicans, besides protection of 40 endangered monitor lizards, handing over of 24 lions rescued from circuses to Animal Care Center for Rehabilitation etc.

During the 2004 Tsunami and floods in the subsequent three years, the Society has extended medical aid to about 35000 animals & 30000 humans at Orissa. Since last 5 years VSPCA has provided nutritious lunch to over 50000 poor persons compassionate towards animals. At its 'Shelter/ Hospital/ Refuge centres various trees and plants, vineyards totally organic are grown as well as natural fertilizers and bio gas are produced from the rescued animals & bird’s excreta etc. Banning the auction of about 20000 male calves annually by the Simachalam temple as also protection of sea turtles and legal prevention of usage of coloured plastic bags (which when eaten by cowsresult in their severe suffering) deserve special mention.

VSPCA was listed as one among the top ten of the World, by the Animal People Magazine.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is privileged to confer the Eighteenth Mahaveer Award on Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals in recognition of its yeomen service in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism inducing others to follow.

Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam, Vedaraniam

Inspired by the father of our nation’s statement "When we educate a man we educate an individual, when we educate a woman we educate a family", "Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam", was founded at Vedaraniam, Nagapatinam district, Tamilnadu, by the Freedom Fighter Sardar A.Vedaratnam ; for the betterment of the underprivileged and orphaned girls . “They are taken care of, adopted, brought up, educated, sent for higher education / skill trained, made self reliant and married to suitable grooms". Abhayadhanam, Annadhanam, Vastradhanam, Sastradhanam, Vidyadhanam, Aushadadhanam, Kanyahdanam and Gosamrakshanam are some of its major projects.

Currently, around 2000 girl students are educated free of cost (600 hostelries and 200 coming from broken families/orphans). A target population of 3 lakhs from the thirteen surrounding coastal villages of Vedaraniam are so far benefitted by the Gurukulam which extends 'stay and study' for the socially deprived girl children, also offering higher studies to deserving students, all free of cost. Further, the Gurululam promotes literacy as also environmental and 'AIDS' awareness by conducting various programmes.

Moreover, it also runs a Goshala (Cow Care Centre) with 70 cattles in a 30 acred land, where agriculture activities are also carried out. This NGO that also holds the Guinness World Record (2003) for planting maximum number of saplings has rushed to extend its helping hand during natural calamities like Tsunami.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is honoured to confer the Eighteenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Education on Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam in due recognition of its significant services hoping that it would inspire many more to emulate it.

SEVAC (Sane and Enthusiast Volunteers' Association of Calcutta), Kolkata

In 1994 – 95, SEVAC was established to serve the mentally ill, focusing on treatment, rehabilitation and promoting their ‘human rights’ (HR). SEVAC’s activities range from unchaining of mental patients languishing in temples under the name of faith-healing to working in prisons & custodial houses, extending effective treatment by providing occupational therapy and ensuring Psycho-Social rehabilitation.

It runs a licensed Mental Health Institution, besides continuing with its Day Care Centre with occupational therapy & rehabilitation activities and an Out Patients Department. Further it launched a 30 bedded Halfway Home, being used as a transit home for those who are on the way to recovery, a unit for handling violent ones, a rehabilitation centre in the ‘club house model’ also extending Psychiatric care to disaster victims and toiling for the cause of the marginalised including the senile.

Through its pioneering projects nomenclatured Operation Commitment, Operation Oasis, Operation Disha etc. and instruments for advocacy of HR, SEVAC is rehabilitating the mentally affected A few thousands of mental patients have already been treated at the SEVAC's main centre at Calcutta. Further, the OPD at Dumdum Central Jail, SMM Liluah Home and the Female Vagrant Homes at Litharepada - Hooghly District have taken care of 100s of such patients. So far under Operation Oasis around 3000 persons were screened in Jails to detect and treat mentally ill. So also out of 700 mentally affected ones in the 5 Vagrant Homes about 550 were found to be mentally retarded, out of whom about 10% could only be cured.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the Eighteenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Medicine on Sane and Enthusiast Volunteers' Association of Calcutta in fitting recognition of their quality services anticipating it to inspire many to follow them.

Vikas Bharti, Bishunpur, Jharkhand

Established in 1993 “Vikas Bharti” has been striving for upliftment of tribal folks in theareas of education , health, agriculture and livelihood in 24 backward districts of Jharkhand through SHGs, running education institutions like Koyleshwar and hospitals like Mobile Medical Unit.

Mr. Ashok Bhagat, its secretary revived the Tana Bhagat movement started in 1914 for propagating the concept of non-violence, by starting to live together with tribal groups. They were made aware about utilization of forest and other natural resources, economic, cultural and spiritual requirements thereby initiating the civilization process in the tribal belt of Jharkhand.

Since 2008, 28 lacs of patients have been examined through mobile medical unit and extended training for capacity building to 25,000 health workers inclusive of government officials & Angan Wadi Sevikas. While Special bridge courses for dropped out and never enrolled students have benefitted 20,000 children, vocational training helped another 20,000; SC/ST including.

Vikas Bharti’s activities profoundly influenced the behavior of the primitive groups by aiding the shift from their animal hunting to agriculture practices for sustained livelihood leading to the tribal community’s empowerment. Education and Health care were introduced one by one. Transforming to new livelihood openings, trimming down violence & naxalism, the NGO has elevated them into a civilized lot, self reliant and cultured. Awareness on health and hygiene were also slowly inculcated amongst the schedule and primitive tribes. The nominee’s devising novel projects, partnering with the various Government departments, reputed universities, National & International agencies and implementing them successfully; using the expertise of dedicated human force, huge financial requirements being met through Government grants, International development relief funds and agencies such as NABARD, National Child Protection Council etc., aid paving the way for the emergence of a robust Society.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation proudly confers the Eighteenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Community and Social Service on Vikas Bharti duly recognizing their pioneering services envisaging that it would certainly motivate many others to follow them.

Seventeenth Mahaveer Awards – 2015

Seventeenth Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Sri. Mohd Shafique Khan, Sagar, M.P., for Excellence in the field of Education Gandhi Vidya Mandir, Churu, Rajasthan, for Excellence in the field of Medicine to Dr. R. Ravi Kannan, Silchar, Assam, & for Excellence in the field of Community and Social Service to Smt. Sushila Bohra, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from Dr. S S Badrinath Chairman Emeritus Sankara Nethralaya at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 14th February 2015 at Chennai.

Sri Sarada Ashram, Ulundhurpet, Tamil Nadu

Sri Sarada Ashram founded in 1979 at Virudhachalam and run by 40 monastic sisters (sanyasinis), Sri Sarada Ashram is functioning at Ulundurpet since 1985.

It is running an orphanage, two schools- Gurukulam with 600 and another at Ulundurpet with 3700 students and the recently started Arts & Science and B.Ed colleges educating hundreds of students. Besides family counseling, an old age home is also run by it. Further, it manages free dispensaries, laboratory, hospital, organising camps etc., besides coordinating with about 500 SHGs (spread out in 130 villages), running vocational training programmes, entrepreneurship development projects and organizing free computer classes for girls.

In co-operation with Government agencies the Ashram has been actively working for rural development & resources management, aimed at sustainable and improved agriculture growth; propagating organic farming; water shed programmes, maintaining herbal gardens etc.

Relief operations aimed at reaching out the victims of natural calamities, cultural and spiritual services also form part of its activities. Over the decades, the Ashram’s activities have been benefitting lacs of people from many villages.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is honoured to confer the Seventeenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Education on Sri Sarada Ashram.

Blue Cross of India, Chennai

One of our country’s largest animal welfare organizations, Blue Cross of India (BCI), was founded in 1959 by Captain Sundaram and the current Chairman Emeritus Dr. Chinny Krishna being one among the Founders.

BCI has toiled to ban export of frogs legs & monkeys for experimentation and Jalli Kattu (Bull Racing). As the humane way to control street dog population, BCI’spioneering launch of ABC (Animal Birth Control) programme for sterilization of dogs and vaccinating them against rabies is being replicated by advanced countries.

BCI has various departments like puppy & dog, kitten & cat shelters, aviary, goshala, operation theatres, outpatient clinics & humane education centre that educates the youth on ahimsa (non-violence), vegetarianism & environmental protection. Through its three shelters at Chennai, Kanchipuram & Thiruvallur Districts, BCI has rescued cattle from being illegally transported to slaughter houses, fought various cases to save many animals and has been serving the cause of sick, confined & injured animals.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is privileged to confer the Seventeenth Mahaveer Award on Blue Cross of India.

Dr. Sunil Sanon, Mussoorie

"Healer in the Hills” Dr. Sunil Sanon along with his doctor wife has been extending health services by running a hospital and conducting health camps for the rural poor besides promoting education by financially assisting the unaffordable students through “Divine Light Trust” founded by them. Further this motivational guide is working on environmental issues also.

Since 1980, he has organised over a thousand free medical camps, treated about a lakh of patients free of cost, planted around 15,000 saplings, distributed 1000 pressure cookers for limestone workers in Mussoorie Hills to reduce wood consumption for fuel, addressed hundreds of meetings on state of environment to various agencies produced the first video “Mussoorie Calls for Help” on ecological sensitivities. He is nominated by Government of India, to impart training to farmers.

People not only from Mussoorie but Dehradun, far-flung areas of Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal of Uttarakhand, Saharanpur and Western U.P are benefitted by his services. Indeed, he is revered as “God Sent” by hundreds of coolies, petty traders and poor farmers of many villages in and around Dehradun.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the Seventeenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Medicine on Dr. Sunil Sanon.

Smt.Phoolbasan Bai Yadav, Rajnandgaon, Chattisgarh

Smt. Phoolbasan Bai Yadav, 44, became the first women in the district of Rajnandgaon in organising the ‘Pragya Women Self Help Group’. Its activities include village cleanliness, sanitation, teaching tailoring, brick manufacturing and running cottage industries for income generation. She established 12,000 women SHGs with 2 lakh members and a group saving of Rs.17 Crores.

Further, she has organised national campaigns on health, literacy, save water etc. She has prevented 600 child marriages, adopted 2800 girls, influenced 4000 women to learn cycling and arranged for the closure of 250 liquor shops in rural areas. Moreover she has persuaded many men in 625 villages to quit drinking. She has also ensured women participation in Gram Sabhas and served the earthquake victims of Gujarat. Her activities cover organising “Bal Bhoj” (serving food items) for 4000 infants from Anganvadis and supply of food for 1600 Women Self Help Groups which run mid day meal programmes.

She has also become the brand ambassador for Janai Suraksha Yojna (maternity security scheme) for the Rajnandgaon district. The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation proudly confers the Seventeenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Community and Social Service on Smt. Phoolbasan Bai Yadav.

Sixteenth Mahaveer Awards – 2013

Sixteenth Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Sri. Mohd Shafique Khan, Sagar, M.P., for Excellence in the field of Education Gandhi Vidya Mandir, Churu, Rajasthan, for Excellence in the field of Medicine to Dr. R. Ravi Kannan, Silchar, Assam, & for Excellence in the field of Community and Social Service to Smt. Sushila Bohra, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from Hon’ble Vice President of India. Sri. M Hamid Ansari at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 4th June 2013 at New Delhi.

Sri. Mohd Shafique Khan, Sagar, M.P.

Sri Mohd Shafique Khan is a crusader for animal protection, a propagator of Non-Violence & Vegetarianism and a social worker. The 54 year old bachelor, post graduate in criminology and forensic science, vehemently protested against animal sacrificing on Bakrid. This resulted in thousands of local inhabitants attacking his house and Mufti of Jama Masjid issuing a fatwa against him socially boycotting and imprisoning him on false complaints. He is relentlessly fighting against cruelty towards animals, alcoholism and works for environmental protection and social reforms.

Emotionally attached to Jain Acharyas, this nominee strongly opposes “Animal Sacrifice”, works for the welfare of tribals, eradication of prostitution and justice for weaker sections. He is also the Vice President of one “Vichar”, an NGO that works for welfare of weaker sections. Further, this orator and writer has been organising blood donation camps for Thellisimia Children since 2001.

He holds many positions like Life Member of “The Indian Society of Criminology”, Former Honourary Secretary of “Ahimsa Research Foundation”, Honourary Secretary of “Animal Rights International” (M.P.State), etc.

In his friends’ circle he is fondly known as: “The Vegetarian Tiger of Bundelkhand having the Brain of Socrates, Words of Kabir and Heart of Bhagwan Mahaveer”.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is privileged to confer the Sixteenth Mahaveer Award on Sri Mohd Shafique Khan in recognition of his yeomen service in the field of Non-violence and Vegetarianism; fervently hoping that it would inspire scores of others to emulate his stupendous works.

Gandhi Vidya Mandir, Churu, Rajasthan

Aimed at “Lighting the lamp where it is darkest” Gandhi Vidya Mandir (GVM) was established in 1950 at Churu, Rajasthan to serve about 200 surrounding villages. With its primary objective of providing education in the remote rural area from pre-primary class to Ph.D., GVM has successfully been working for the cause of education, rural welfare and empowerment of women. Further, through nearly 100 village centres, over 3000 boys and girls (in the age group of 6 to 14 years) are being extended Non-Formal Education.

GVM also provides home and security to orphans (Nirashrit Bal-Griha), teaches infants on Montessori systems, runs courses on Paramedical and allied health sciences, a dozen schools and about 4 dozen educational centres with ‘in-service’ trainings etc. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, a Farm Science centre run by GVM for turning the desert of Churu into a granary of substance etc., lays stress on vegetarianism. It is in fact catering to the needs of about 35000 students all over the country through its academic and study centres, despite being situated in an unfavourable location that too with no great external support.

The outstanding services rendered by GVM was duly recognized by elevating the status of one of its educational units IASE to the level of Deemed University.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is honoured to confer the Sixteenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Education on Gandhi Vidya Mandir in due recognition of its great services hoping that it would definitely inspire many more to emulate this institution.

Dr. R. Ravi Kannan, Silchar, Assam

The 48 year old Dr. R. Ravi Kannan who had previously worked at the Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai for about 15 years is serving as the Director of Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre since 2007. His primary aim, is to develop it into a state of the art comprehensive Cancer Centre that would offer the best treatment to all, especially to those who could not afford it, that too free of cost inclusive of accommodation, food and an employment centre in which able patients and attendants can work and earn daily income.

This hospital, the only somewhat full fledged cancer centre with modern facilities located in Barak Valley of Assam, is catering to needs of the patients from Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur etc. also. From a meagre 20 beds (with hardly 6% occupancy) and 23 staff, within a span of 5-6 years, it has grown in leaps and bounds. Presently with 63 beds (with almost 100% occupancy level), about 150 staff, ambulances etc., the hospital attends to above 3000 new and 14000 follow up patients annually. This development is attributable substantially to Dr. Ravi Kannan.

Roughly about 75% of the patients are benefitted by free treatment or at subsidized rates. More than 60% of the treated patients are equipped to earn around Rs.3000/- p.m. by imparting professional training. This doctor is revered almost like a God in most of the Cancer prone areas of northeast.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the Sixteenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Medicine on Dr. Ravi Kannan in fitting recognition of his quality services anticipating that it would inspire many others to follow his footsteps.

Smt. Sushila Bohra, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

The 1940 born Smt. Sushila Bohra is a multifaceted personality in Social work, Academic institutions and Voluntary agencies. After the sad demise of her husband at her early age, she resumed studies and worked as Project Director, District Women Development Agency, Jodhpur which is devoted to the upliftment of women, the betterment of the visually impaired and deprived sections of the society. Though she has retired in 1999, she continues to devote herself to social work.

Further, she has been providing guidance in resolving family problems and in the abolition of the social evils like child marriages, dowry practice, untouchability etc. She is focused mainly on issues of women and child development.

In 1977, she founded Netraheen Vikas Sansthan (a school for blind, deaf, dumb and mentally retarded children). She subsequently also established Bal Shobha Sansthan (an orphanage), Samgra Vikas Sansthan (a khadhi institute), etc. So far more than 500 blind students (of whom above 150 being girls) are benefitted due to her tireless service.

A multi purpose disabled unit Acharya Hasti was started by her in association with Department of Social Welfare, Government of Rajasthan for rehabilitation of deaf & dumb, mentally retarded and blind students. At present about 200 students are being provided free lodging, boarding and education here.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation proudly confers the Sixteenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Community and Social Service on Smt. Sushila Bohra duly recognizing her pioneering services envisaging that it would certainly motivate many others to follow her suit.

Fifteenth Mahaveer Awards – 2012

Fifteenth Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Dr.Chiranjee Lal Bagra , Kolkatta, for Excellence in the field of Education Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Orissa, for Excellence in the field of Medicine to Dr. Anant Sinha, Ranchi, & for Excellence in the field of Community and Social Service to Ramakrishna Mission Hospital, Arunachal Pradesh, from His Excellency Dr.K Rosaiah Governor of Tamil Nadu at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 10th October 2012 at Chennai.

Dr.Chiranjee Lal Bagra , Kolkatta

The 66 year old nominee, Dr.Chiranjee Lal Bagra, Kolkatta has been rendering yeomen service to vegetarianism and non-violence since many decades. He is holding important responsibilities in various NGOs like the Indian Federation of Ahimsa Organizations (Secretary General). He has widely travelled, participated in National & International, Seminars / Conferences and represented India in World Vegetarian Congress thrice at USA, Thailand and Canada. He is instrumental in getting cancelled around 60,000 proposed slaughter houses in rural areas. He has authored many books like Vegetarianism in Life, Indian Cattle Wealth. besides editing Vegetarian guide (English Quarterly) and Disha Bodh (Hindi Monthly). Further he has won a number of awards including National Unity Award (91), Ahimsa International Award (97) & Ahimsa Ratna (2006).

Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Orissa

In 1993 Dr. Achyuta Samanta, aged 47 years had set up the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences at Bhubaneswar, Odisha with 125 tribal students. Today this institution has grown into a world class university. As a model institution of our nation, currently about 15500 underprivileged tribal children (62 tribes & 13 primitive tribes) are provided education (from Kindergarten to Post graduation), accommodation, food, health care, study material, clothing, vocational training, including games and computer education, all free of cost. It runs various courses in a large building of about of 6 lac sq.ft and a library in around 15,000 sq.ft. Two computer labs where 600 students can work at a time, and a 100 bedded in house medical facility are also available. A Solar water heating system and a Solar power plant take care of its cooking /electricity requirements. Promoting “Earn while you learn” discipline among students, vocational training is made compulsory. Against the State result of about 69%, 90% result is regularly achieved here in Class X Board Examinations and 85% in +2 Board Examinations. Despite its annual expenditure of around Rs.14 crores it is setting up a fully free residential school for tribal children in Chhattisgarh. About 50,000 tribal people are already benefitted due to the education and vocational training imparted through the institution. It is working in association with: UNICEF, UNESCO, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Hanseco University etc. The services rendered by this institution have brought down exploitation of poor tribals considerably.

Dr. Anant Sinha, Ranchi

Dr. Anant Sinha, aged 49 years was a product of Pune Army Medical College. After completing his Masters in General Surgery and M.Ch (Plastic surgery) he has also specialized in micro vascular reconstructive surgery. Initially he practiced in Pune at Bandorawala Leprosy Hospital and after formation of Jharkhand State (which happens to be his native state) in 2000, he moved to Ranchi in 2001, as he felt that it lacked expertise in reconstructive surgery. In 2008 he established the Devkamal Hospital with all the modern facilities with the co-operation of his doctor friends. The treatment provided here is all free of cost and 90% of patients are tribals. Doctors from the hospital are going to villages for conducting medical camps. Dr Anant Sinha’s wife is also working here as an ENT surgeon. The hospital has recorded, as on 31.01.2012, a total admission of over 8700 patients and performed over 7500 operations. He has so far performed more than 1000 reconstructive surgeries for the leprosy afflicted and has also been the main cause in bringing in USA’s Smile Train Funds to successfully carry out over 5000 cleft palate operations in Jharkhand rural areas during the past five years.

Ramakrishna Mission Hospital, Arunachal Pradesh

Established in 1979, by Swamy Prathamananda (Preeti Maharaj) Ramakrishna Mission Hospital is currently the lifeline for health care at Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh with all facilities where free services to the needy is extended. It is being run by monks of the Ramakrishna Mission and the beneficiaries are from the remote parts of Arunachal Pradesh and neighboring districts of Assam. It has a mobile medical unit with an eye section and has treated over 8500 patients, besides running a school of nursing. Since the last 3 years alone, it has handled about 2.40 lacs outdoor patients and over 10,000 indoor patients, mostly from the tribal population.

The 200 bedded hospital, now situated on 26 acres of land leased by the Government serves as a referral hospital for the whole of the State. The Government has constructed a Helipad within the hospital premises to help in airlifting critically ill patients to other major hospitals for further treatment and to bring patients from interior parts of the area.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation proudly confers the Fifteenth Mahaveer Award in the field of Community and Social Service to honour Ramakrishna Mission Hospital in recognition of its pioneering services envisaging that it would inspire others to emulate this Organisation.

Fourteenth Mahaveer Awards – 2011

Fourteenth Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetaraiism to Sri Dayananda Swamiji Basava Dharma Jnanapeetha, Bangalore, Karnataka, for Excellence in the field of Education Sri Pradeep Kumar Shingavi (The Indian Planetary Society, Mumbai), for Excellence in the field of Medicine to Dr. E S Krishnamurthy (Voluntary Health Services, Chennai), & for Excellence in the field of Community and Social Service to Dr. J J Rawal (Snehalaya Social Charitable Trust, Solapur), from His Excellency Shri M K Narayanan, Governor of West Bengal at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 9th November 2011 at Chennai.

Sri Dayananda Swamiji Basava Dharma Jnanapeetha, Bangalore

He persuaded the Karnataka State Government to replace the supply of eggs for school students with serving of milk and made it enact "The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2010" Further he established two movements for protection of animals; called CPF- Cow Protection Force and APF- Animal Protection Force involving respectively all the communities and Vegetarians only. Also he successfully stopped the establishment of a mechanized slaughter house at Bangalore and closed the Al-Kabeer slaughter house at Hyderabad for about eighteen months, through his aggressive agitation

In his native and other neighboring States, he has rescued more than 1000 cows and other animals. He halted animal sacrifice in many places in Karnataka, especially in temples. Further, he has led rallies and addressed many gatherings towards propagating vegetarianism. Swami Dayananda who secured a Diploma in Electrical Engineering and got trainined in Medicine of biochemistry, homeopathy science and acupuncture is holding many vital positions including that of the Chairmanship of World Animal Welfare Board. This full time crusader hailing from a farmer’s family dreams to establish a Cow Protection Force covering all villages.

Sri Pradeep Kumar Shingavi The Indian Planetary Society

The Indian Planetary Society , established in 2000 endeavours to popularize Planetary Science, Solar Physics and Astrophysical Science among children, students and the general public. With 7 powerful telescopes, 4 planetaria, 200 frames on science & astronomy etc at its disposal to organise exhibitions in schools to familiarise science and scientists. The Society conducts correspondence courses on scientific subjects like Astronomy, Astrophysics, Earth Quake Studies, Vedic Maths etc., aids researches, publishes books and and runs Vedhsalas at Naranpura and Science centres at Bhuj and Borivali. It further organizes seminars, workshops and has so far has also conducted Four international conferences. The Society which has so far produced 4 documentary films in 3 languages has come out with the bimonthly science magazines namely Virat Surya and Kids science. The Society has arranged thousands of people to view many astronomical happenings and has bagged many recognitions, including a National award (2004). And also, it is recognized as a Research Organization by Govt. of India,. About 10 lakh people are estimated to be utilising its services.

Dr. E S Krishnamurthy Voluntary Health Services

Voluntary Health Services, a non-profit charitable organization catering to the medical needs of the poor and middle income groups of the community was founded in 1958 by Dr. K S Sanjivi, a doyen of the medical arena.Today it is a tertiary teaching 405-bed hospital with almost all the specialties and is being served by over a hundred reputed doctors, honorarily. About 60% of the patients are treated free of cost, inclusive of diet and medicines. Since the past four decades, the hospital is conducting PG diploma courses in Medical Lab. Technology, Health and Hospital Administration, Nutrition and Hospital Dietetics and in Nursing. VHS has established a Care Centre for Haemophilia jointly with the later Society’s Madras Chapter. As per its visionary founder’s foresight, to cover a wider population living in the rural areas, VHS has spread its wings into outreach programmes by opening mini centres. Fourteen such centres (each covering a population of 5,000 to 10,000) of VHS is presently serving the villagers. Dr. Sanjivi who believed that “Nothing given free will be appreciated” had suggested levying of a small fee towards annual subscription, paved the way for health insurance. With the Government of India and U.S. Agency, VHS is into AIDS Prevention and Control Project. Since 2004 TAI (TN Aids Initiative) project, funded by Bill and Melinda Gates administers through VHS, the Aids prevention programme in 13 districts of T.N. Under this project the VHS-MAC Institute manages 31 STI clinics. The VHS YRG Care centre with 24 beds treats HIV patients. The air-conditioned Jayammal Chakravarthi Acute Care Centre with round the clock service has 24 beds including private rooms. The VHS-Rajaji Centre treating alcoholics and drug addicts has 22 beds. This institution’s services are fairly well known.

Dr. J J Rawal, Snehalaya Social Charitable Trust, Solapur

Snehalaya Social CharitableTrust, an ISO 9001 certified organization has been rehabilitating commercial workers and their children over a decade. Besides taking care of more than 300 such children it has rescued 400 women and 28 minor girls from red light area and counselled above 500 families. It runs a Children’s hostel, Primary and High School, a Rehabilitation Centre for HIV/AIDS positive children and women, a Vocational and an Agro Training Centre and a cows Shelter. The schools teach the children from K G to 12th standard with a strength of around 800, of which about 500 are coming from a little over a dozen surrounding villages. The Trust takes tiny Children aged between 3 and 6, so that it is easier to teach them their responsibility and moral values. In fact Snehalaya has seen these children grow up and maturing to pull up their mothers out of harlotism; besides teaching them about good hygiene, ill effects of smoking and consumption of alcohol etc Some have recently completed the Master’s and Business Degrees. Ummid, its sister institution rehabilitates and extends medical support to HIV positive women and children. The Trust has bagged more than fifty awards, including the coveted national honour (2006), State Government and many NGO’s recognitions.

Thirteenth Mahaveer Awards – 2010

Thirteenth Award for Excellence in the field of Education & Medicine to Tribal Health Initiative, Dharmapuri, Tamilnadu, for Excellence in the field of Community and Social Service to Sri Karni Nagar Vikas Samiti, Kota, Rajasthan, & for Excellence in the field of Community and Social Service to Swami Vivekananda Integrated Rural Health Centre, Pavagada, Karnataka, from Prof. M S Swaminathan M.P. & Chairman M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 9th July 2010 at Raj Bhavan Bhavan, Chennai.

Tribal Health Initiative, Dharmapuri, Tamilnadu

Tribal Health Initiative was started in Sittilingi village of Dharmapuri in Tamilnadu as a small outpatient unit in a thatched hut by Dr. Regi M George and Dr. Lalitha Regi in 1992, when the Tribal people of Sittilingi had to travel 48km for hospitals. Today, The Organisation runs a full-fledged 24 bed primary-care hospital and conducts education programmes and outreach clinics in 21 villages and has extended its services to more than 80,000 Tribal people so far. It has brought about a behavioural change in Tribal women to take medical treatment. TB & leprosy are almost hundred percent controlled in its work area. The Tribal girls are trained as health workers and as health auxiliaries to help mother feeding, basic health and to give simple treatment for minor illness. The Organisation runs “Thulir”, an educational resource centre for tribal children. It also forms farmer’s groups in the villages for effective cultivation.

Sri Karni Nagar Vikas Samiti, Kota, Rajasthan

Sri Karni Nagar Vikas Samiti is run by Shri M. C. Bhandari and Smt. Prasanna Bhandari who are in the field of social service for more than forty years in Gordhanpura, Rajasthan. The Samiti runs a Destitute Children’s Home and provides shelter, education and vocational training to its inmates. The inmates of the Samiti have become doctors, engineers, chartered accountants and post -graduates. The Samiti runs a Foster Care & Adoption home for destitute infants, a Short Stay Home for distressed girls & women and has arranged marriage for 32 girls including two disabled girls. It also runs a family Counselling Centre, an old age home, Day care centre for elderly persons and conducts legal literacy camps for women. The Samiti supports victims of natural calamities and through Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, it runs a limb/caliper fitting centre and its services are made available in Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra through camps.

Swami Vivekananda Integrated Rural Health Centre, Pavagada, Karnataka

Swami Vivekananda Integrated Rural Health Centre of Pavagada in Karnataka runs various health projects for Leprosy Eradication and TB control in backward areas. The Organisation also runs various other projects like HIV projects, Blindness control programme, maintaining Primary Health Centers, Pediatric Ophthalmic projects and HIV Integrated Counseling & Testing Centre. Food grains are also provided to TB patients. The Organisation has served nearly 1000 villages for the past two decades. The institution has specialized in leprosy reconstructive surgery and a number of young leprosy patients have been completely cured. The Health centre has a capacity to accommodate thirty TB and Leprosy inpatients and has two operation theatres with all the facilities and a Glaucoma Clinic. Medicines are provided by the institution at the patient’s door steps. Eye camps are conducted at remote villages with full fledged mobile eye care unit. The Organisation renders all the services to the community free of cost.

Twelfth Mahaveer Awards – 2008

Twelfth Award for Excellence in the field of Non - Voilence and Vegetarianism to Action for Protection of Wild Animals, for Excellence in the field of Education & Medicine to Shri. Dhirubhai Mehtha, & for Excellence in the field of Community and Social Service to Amar Seva Sangam, Ayikudy, Tirunelveli Dist, from Honourable President of India Mrs Pratibha Patil at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 19th May 2008 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Action for Protection of Wild Animals ( APOWA ),Orissa

The Jury felt that the NGO's activities in the field of animal welfare and animal rights in the coastal part of Orissa as commendable and deserve the award. Apart from caring for stray animal, the NGO has also done outstanding service during natural disaster in the areas requiring relief operations. A 400 year old practice of sacrificing animals was also stopped as also possible sacrifies of about a dozen horses at Yagna.

The NGO has taken considerable initiative in stopping these sacrifices. These were stopped with the help of Animal Rights Activists. This apart, the organization has also taken considerable initiative in educating children and motivating volunteers to take up the cause of non - violence towards animals.

The NGO has persuaded a large number of students from using leather items wherever possible. Its role in pursuading young men and woman to take up non - violence values such as protection of animals, vegetarianism is really impressive. The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation takes great pleasure in making the award to the NGO.

Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences,Sevagram

The students and faculty adhere to an unique code of conduct which includes wearing Khadi, Sarva - Dharma community prayer, Shramadan, Vegetarianism and Eschewing alcoholb and tobacco. On ethical grounds, the Institute does not accept sponsorship of pharmaceutical companies in organizing academic activities.

The College has functioned as an agency for change of values by insisting of community ownership in health, self help groups, social health education, Kisan Vikas Manch etc. To sum up, the institution is a model institute in community health care.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is Happy to confer their award for excellence in education and medicine on the institute.

Amar Seva Sangam, Ayikudy

The award for Excellence in Community service has gone to Amar Seva Sangam, Ayikudy, Tirunelveli Dist. This Institution was established by Mr. S. Ramakrishnan, a totally physically challenged person in the year 1981. Even though it was feared that his life was doomed after an accident during an interview at Air Force Training process, by sheer determination, he has succeeded in setting up an example to the entire physically challenged population to prove that even they can be assets to the community.

He has been joined by Shri. S Sankara Raman, another physically challenged person and both are running the institution with a basket include establishment and maintenance of a gaushala, a middle school having about 480 students and holding of medical camps.

Even though a relatively modest effort, the fact that they are spearheading an effort by largely disadvantaged people has ompressed the jury and the Foundation is happy to make the Award for social and community service to the Amar Seva Sangam.

Eleventh Mahaveer Awards – 2008

Eleventh Award for Excellence in the field of Non - Voilence and Vegetarianism to Shri Bharat Amritlal Kothari, for Excellence in the field of Medicine Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin, & for Excellence in the field of Education to Acharya Dr. Kishore Kunal, from Honourable President of India, Mrs Pratibha Patil at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 19th May 2008 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Dr.Sharadkumar Dicksheet, Pune

Shri Bharat Amritlal Kothari hails from the drought prone Banaskantha District of Gujarat. He is passionate in the cause of saving animals from the slaughter houses and is facing 300 trials in different courts. He has saved animals even at the cost of grave personal danger.During drought he had rescued and provided shelter to thousands of cattle / animals in his gaushala at Rajpur Village in Banaskantha District in Gujarat. He has saved the lives of seven newly born children abandoned by their parents and had also arranged their adoption into childless families. He is a source of inspiration to those who consider all forms of life precious and inter-dependent.

Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin

Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin was instrumental in getting universal Hepatitis B vaccination introduced in the State of Delhi and Sikkim. His classification of gastric varices Sarins classification identification of a new disease entity portal biliopathy is widely recognized. His work with hepatitis B virus infected patients and its prevention is a land mark in the country.

He has created public awareness about Hepatitis by launching the Yellow Ribbon Campaign and by initiating Hepatitis Awareness Day on December 4, 1998.He is not only helping the society to eradicate the menace of hepatitis and liver diseases by his untiring efforts but has also dedicated his life to the service of suffering humanity as the poor mans liver doctor.Dr. Sarin is a Trustee of a Charitable Trust, Udayan Care, which looks after nearly 100 underprivileged children. He is considered a very humane, humble and compassionate physician.

Acharya Dr. Kishore Kunal

Acharya Dr. Kishore Kunal has got to his credit, the setting up of a number of institutions like the Mahavir Arogya Sansthan, Mahavir Cancer Institute, Mahavir Netralaya and Mahavir Vaatsalaya which caters to the deprived and disadvantaged sections of the society. He is instrumental in getting a number of students their scholarships and free medical treatment.

His special area of interest has been to serve the Dalit and the neglected sections of the society and has a number of success stories to his credit. It was due to his revolutionary step that a Dalit was appointed as the priest in the Mahaveer temple in Patna who is performing all rituals. Dalits got entry in the temple after 70 years struggle.

He has been visiting all such places in caste ridden Bihar where there has been religious discrimination against Dalits and their entries in the temple have been blocked or resisted. By convincing people of opposite views he has succeeded in harmonious settlement of such disputes.

He is the author of Dalit - Devo Bhav a book which bears testimony of Shri Kunals commitment to Dalit cause. When in service in 1991 as an IPS Officer he was instrumental in the smooth conduct of the negotiations between the Hindus and Muslims religious leaders on the Ayodhya dispute.

Tenth Mahaveer Awards – 2006

Tenth Award for Excellence in the field of Education & Medicine to Dr.Sharadkumar Dicksheet, Pune, for Excellence in the field of Education & Medicine Dr. S S Badrinath, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, & for Excellence in the field of Community & Social Service to Shri Rajmal S Jain, Pali, Rajasthan , from His Excellency Shri T N Chaturvedi (Governor of Karnataka) at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 11th January 2006 at Chennai.

Dr.Sharadkumar Dicksheet, Pune

Dr. Sharadkumar Dicksheet is incomparable in his dedication and determination and is a godsend to the hapless in need of reconstructive surgery.

Dr. S S Badrinath President &Chairman Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai

Dr. S. S. Badrinath's name is synonymous with vision restoration. A doctor by profession, a humanitarian at heart, a small step taken by him has brought about a silent revolution, benefiting lakhs of people. A visionary, he established the non-profitable, Medical Research Foundation in 1979, which has since been doing yeoman service in vision care. Sankara Nethralaya, the hospital wing of the Foundation has grown into an ophthalmic center par excellence, attracting patients from all over the country and the world.

Gaining knowledge and experience in his chosen field, Dr. Badrinath came back from the USA to serve the needy here. Under his tutelage, the Foundation has grown in its stature with eighteen offshoots such as the Ophthalmological Medical and Post Graduate Centre, Vision Research Foundation, CU Shah Eye Bank, Elite School of Optometry etc. The hospital serves rural areas through its 'Outreach Camps' organized twice a month.

Dr. Badrinath has single-mindedly popularized eye donation in India. His persistent efforts have borne fruit, with many citizens donating their eyes, thus giving vision to those lacking it. More than 5800 people have benefited by these eye donations. Besides, he has pioneered 'Vitreo Retinal Surgical Practice' in our country. He is also credited with introducing 'Optometry' as a special stream of study.

His principles have helped Sankara Nethralaya retain its non-commercial approach to ophthalmic care. The hospital spends close to Rupees One Crore a year to treat those in the fringes of society. The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation appreciates his service, which shines as a beacon of light in the paths of many.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the Mahaveer Award in the field of Education and Medicine on Dr. S. S. Badrinath, in recognition of his service and hopes that it would inspire others to emulate him.

Shri Rajmal S. Jain, Pali, Rajasthan

Shri Rajmal Jain's desire to see the world a better place has taken many forms. He is a towering presence in the rural districts of Rajasthan where his initiative has seen a tremendous improvement in community welfare. Drawn by the plight of the less fortunate, he focused on alleviating their misery. As a first step towards seeing smiles on the faces around him, he founded the Shree Bhairav Netra Samiti in Bisalpur of Rajasthan.

Through numerous eye camps, Shri Rajmal Jain has been instrumental in restoring the sights of more than a lakh of people, who would otherwise have been unable to afford it.

With a strong belief in the importance of health in a person's well-being, he has been running the Shri Nakoda Bhairav. Free Dispensary for four decades. He has also established a multi facility hospital in Sumerpur.

He has left no stone unturned in ensuring the overall improvement in each individual's life. Be it eye surgeries, health screening for school children, dental camps, camps for the physically challenged or digging of wells, he looks into every aspect necessary for people 's welfare. This has resulted in tremendous improvement in the health scenario.

His efforts in eradication of tuberculosis took the form of TB camps followed by regular medication and review. Besides various welfare programs for tribal populace, Shri Rajmal Jain has established two school with residential facilities for the hearing and speech impaired. The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the Mahaveer Award in the field of Community and Social Service on Shri Rajmal Jain, in recognition of his service and hopes that it would inspire other to emulate him.

Brochure Release

'Service above Self' is how his work can be described. Because his single-minded focus to alleviate the social stigma attached to birth defects saw him overcoming health setbacks and turning them into an advantageous situation. When a car accident left him paralyzed on the right side, he enhanced his cosmetic and plastic surgical skills on his road to recovery, so that he could continue his life's mission. With his left hand wielding the scalpel, soon he was back doing what he was best at - setting right the faces of his brethren.

He is unfazed by the loss of his sweet voice that enthralled music lovers to cancer and a heart that functions at 17% its capacity after three surgeries. A wheelchair is all that he needs for his deft fingers to work magic. He spends close to six months in India so as to carry out as many surgeries as possible. The rest of the year he practices in the USA to financially facilitate the surgeries in India. His gratuitous corrective surgeries, that number close to 80,000, not only change their faces but their lives as well.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is pleased to confer the Mahaveer Award in the field of Education and Medicine on Dr. Sharadkumar Dicksheet, in recognition of his service and hopes that it would inspire others to emulate him.

Ninth Mahaveer Awards – 2005

Ninth Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Shri Siddharaj Dhaddha, Jaipur, Rajasthan, for Excellence in the field of Education & Medicine Uttarakhand Seva Nidhi Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan Jakhan Devi, Almora, & for Excellence in the field of Community & Social Service to Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Mysore, from His Excellency Shri Surjeet Singh Barnala (Governor of Tamil Nadu) at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 14th February 2005 at Chennai.

Shri Siddharaj Dhaddha,Jaipur, Rajasthan

While most of us just pray for peace and non-violence, a few take it upon themselves to make these prayers a reality. Shri Siddharaj Dhadda is one of the few. A Gandhian to the hilt and hence a proponent of ahimsa and non-violence, he lives and works for his ideals. It is heartening that this nonagenarian’s advocacy of peace and non-violence have reached far beyond the shores of our country. Leading a simple life, he practices what he preaches.

Shri Dhadda was born in 1909. Right from his student days in Lucknow University, he became interested in the Gandhian principles of peace and non-violence. Armed with a post-graduate degree in political science, he started his legal practice in Bangalore and then shifted the same to Jaipur. The practice did not hold his interest for long. Inspired by Gandhiji, he was drawn into the vortex of the freedom struggle.

In 1942, he plunged headlong into the Quit India Movement started by Gandhiji, which landed him in the Varanasi prison – the ‘other home’ of Nehru. As he languished in prison for two-and-a half years, his resolve to follow the path of non-violence became stronger.

As a natural outcome of his involvement in freedom struggle, he was made the Industries Minister for the State of Rajasthan, after independence. When he realized that it was impossible to adhere to his principles in a political situation, he opted out of politics and resigned.

In 1951, he established a Sarvodaya Ashram in Khemal, a hamlet in the deserts of Rajasthan. He became a Jeevandani – a person who dedicates his life to develop an ideal and peaceful society – and experimented in various ways to bring about a peacefully co-existing community. Never one to think of the self, but only of the peaceful co-existence of people, he participated in the Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave.

With his concern towards the welfare of the society, he dedicated himself to bring relief to the drought-hit Bihar in the late sixties. For a period of two years, he served as the Secretary General of Bihar Relief Committee.

As president of All India Sarva Seva Sangh of Wardha, he raised his voice against emergency, which led to his incarceration in jails across the country for nearly two years. After lifting of emergency and subsequent formation of a new Government, he was offered the second highest constitutional position in the country. Needless to say, he declined.

He edits ‘Satyagrah Ahimsa’, a monthly magazine and ‘Gramraj’, a weekly magazine. He has also authored several books on peace and non-violence. Internationally acclaimed as an exponent of peace and ahimsa, he has been invited in various capacities by countries like UK, USA, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Thailand, Lebanon and Egypt among others, to be part of their peace initiatives. His services have been recognized with the Jamnalal Bajaj Award and the Padma Bhushan.

Uttarakhand Seva Nidhi Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan, Almora

It was twenty years since independence. But the hill tribes of Uttarakhand were as good as non-existent to the rest of the world. The slow process of nation building was slower still as far as these people were concerned. The developmental works had still not reached the villages in the hills. A group of like-minded people took the matter into their hands and established the Seva Nidhi in 1967. Started as a public charitable trust, the scope of its activities could not be constrained to a single activity.

As the activities of the Trust kept increasing, a separate society by name Uttarakhand Seva Nidhi Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan was started in 1999. With a single-minded focus and unmatched dedication, the Sansthan has brought about an unimaginable progress in five years. Education leads to enlightenment and a woman emancipated is a woman empowered. With these as their motive, the organization works in the spheres of education and women’s empowerment as the first steps towards developing the community.

The specific needs of the community had to be borne in mind in any development project that was designed and implemented. In the field of education, the Community Education Programme was started with a course designed to suit the needs of the local people. The innovative approach was to have their village as a living example of ecosystem and hence analyze and deal with issues specific to the same. These courses were introduced in classes 6, 7 and 8. Initially started in one school as a non-formal and experimental method of teaching, it is presently being offered in 1500 schools. The state government has accepted it as a regular course and hence more than 1500 teachers were trained to impart education by this method. This has benefited nearly 1.5 lakh students.

What was started as a tiny spark has grown into a far-reaching flame, spreading its glow onto increasing number of children. With 350 balwadis functioning in the villages, nearly 7000 students, most of them girls, have been trained by the pre-primary education schemes. The education has truly enlightened a number of youngsters. It has not only educated the girls in the academic sense but has given them confidence and a sense of responsibility towards their community. This is evident from the fact that the girls who attended these programmes, have studied further and have come back to be the resource persons for the same programmes. Besides, girls who never stepped out of their houses have gained self-worth and confidence and are guiding others and helping them in attending training programmes.

USNPSS works in tandem with various women’s groups. It has brought about a revolution in the mindset of the villagers, especially the men, at the same time humbly accepting its limitations as a development catalyst. The women are encouraged to participate in decision-making processes that affect them at the local, district and national levels. It did not take long for the women to realize their collective power. Thus they have started revolting against alcoholism and the changes are slowly emerging. The women have also brought about a change in the attitude of men, regarding child development. So men, who are not employed, take care of the children at home – though reluctantly – while women attend to their duties.

Management of land and water resources is crucial in Uttaranchal since most of the population depends on agriculture, which in turn depends on the forest cover and availability of water. With the efforts of USNPSS, the villagers have learnt that shortage in natural resources will lead to ecological poverty. The Sansthan is working towards alleviating this ecological poverty and achieving ecological security.

As interlinked as they are, education has improved the economic status of the women, which in turn has improved their health. Thus the Sansthan has changed the lives of the community of hill people of Uttaranchal with sustained efforts. The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation, conferring its award for Education and Medicine, congratulates the Sansthan’s dedication.

Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Mysore

Swami Vivekananda continues to inspire millions, even a hundred years after he walked this earth. Inspired by his philosophy, a handful of medical students decided to dedicate themselves to alleviating the physical suffering of our society. To them, the smile of a child cured meant more than millions. They desired for their expertise to dispel the darkness from the lives of fellow beings. Their community concerns prevailed over personal gains. Thus was born in 1984 in Mysore, the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, a non-profit organization without any religious and political affiliations.

With the noble intention of providing cost-effective healthcare to the poor-but no resources to do so - they started with distributing physicians’ free samples and graduated to conducting health camps. When the young doctors heard about the hunter-gatherer tribes who had been displaced from their homeland because of developmental projects – but not rehabilitated, the organization established the Janakalyan Tribal Hospital in Bramhagiri village.

Soon the youngsters realized that their healing touch would bring happiness but not the upliftment of the poor; so they decided to tackle illiteracy and poverty. The selfless and patient ministrations of the doctors made the tribes trust them with their life, which they would not have done with anybody else. Because they witnessed the rehabilitation of a HIV-infected mother who had been humiliated and turned away by many hospitals

The trust placed on the doctors spurred them on to do more for the community. They saw the opportunity of moulding young minds and grabbed at it. Education was the means to achieve what they desired. To banish illiteracy, ‘Viveka’ – Tribal Centre for Learning was started as a nonformal education center.As the lives of the tribes revolved around the forest, what the children learnt had to be connected to their way of life. Hence the curriculum has been designed with the local populace in mind, involving experimental learning and vocational training that is relevant to their means of livelihood. Nearly 4000 children have been benefited by ‘Viveka’ , which has been recognized School of Excellence functions in Saragur. The SVYM has introduced a unique Vidyavahini or Mobile Education Programme, primarily for the Jenukuruba Tribes. The method includes pre-school centers and mobile classrooms. The fact that nearly 100 school dropouts have come back to school after Vidyavahini was introduced speaks for its success.

Once the ill health that plagued the communities was weeded out, maintaining health devoid of malnutrition became the priority. Safe drinking water, housing and sanitation facilities have been arranged towards community development. The Movement also works towards creating awareness about water and land resource management and human rights. Training in animal husbandry, sericulture, agriculture, apiculture and tailoring are also imparted so as to make the tribes self-help groups that also serve as micro-credit enterprises. The Movement has guided and encouraged women to form self. SVYM has also founded a Vivekananda institute of Leadership Development in Mysore.

As for the prime concern with which SVYM was started, namely healthcare, various programmes are being implemented. The Vivekananda Memorial Hospital at Saragur, a 40-bed hospital offers specialized treatment in various fields of medicine. With the motto of ‘Health – A people’s Movement’, Reproductive and child Health Programme, Health Awareness Programme ‘Jagrutha Bharatha’ using folk art, Tobacco Control Programme supported by WHO, Prevention of Transmission of AIDS and Outreach Programme involving mobile clinics, field camps, etc. are being carried out.

In the twenty years since its inception, SVYM has brought about a significant change in the lives of the people among whom it is working. The rewards of the movement are not just the way doctors have shaped the lives and minds of the young and the old, but also the way in which their work has inspired many. For, a tribal girl who attended one of the Awareness Programmes started creating awareness on imbibing the information she received. She has set her mind on becoming a doctor. Another who has enrolled herself in college is impatient to come back to her own people and become a teacher. These are but two instances of a bunch of children whom the doctors have inspired.

In their attempt and success at making the lives of many meaningful, recognition has come SVYM’s way through the National Youth Award from the Government of India and Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar Award from the Karnataka Government. The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation salutes the spirit of the SVYM and is happy to confer the award in the fields of community and Social Services.

Eight Mahaveer Awards – 2003

Eighth Award for Excellence in the field of Education & Medicine to Vivekananda Rock Memorial & Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari for Excellence in the field of Education & Medicine Marudhar Mahila Shikshan Sangh,Kimel,Rajasthan, & for Excellence in the field of Community & Social Service to Dr. S V Adinarayana Rao (Director-General), Prema Hospital, Visakhapatnam, from His Excellency Shri K R Malkani (Lt. Governor of Pondicherry) at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 22nd March 2003 at Chennai.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial & Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari

The Kendra is a by product of Shri Vivekananda Rock Memorial. It is engaged in the following activities:-

• Education: It is running 34 schools (Arunachal Pradesh 19, Assam 8, Tamil - Andaman - 3) - Equal importance is given to academic and all round development of the students. Hostel accommodation is offered to tribal students. The services are entirely free.
• Rural Development Programme: This includes Balwadis, Youth Camps, Rural Libraries, Medicare, Cultural classes, competitions, eye care for old and needy.
• Natural Resources Development Project: Under this low cost housing, eco clubs, bio-gas and non-conventional resources are being popularised.

The Kendra is playing a useful role in propagating yoga. The Kendra is laying great emphasis on development of people in tribal areas.

Marudhar Mahila Shikshan Sangh, Kimel

The Sangh is running a Degree College and a Senior Secondary School. There are about 1100 girl students. They have 4 hostels for the girl students. The students and staff take keen interest in health care activities, life values and cultural activity for the benefit of society in adjoining villages.

They work for the upliftment of the socially deprived widows and divorced women and rehabilitate them. Non-vegetarianism and root vegetables are prohibited in the campus. Karuna Mandal has a library and it motivates students for conservation of plants and animal wealth.

The institution believes in religious harmony and do Sarva Dharma Prarthana and Namokar Mantra Daily.

They have planted 300 plants in the campus. The students propagate importance of environmental cleanliness. They also do social service. The main object of the trust is the socio-economic upliftment, education, training in fine arts and industries. They also train in health and hygiene awareness and conduct expeditions and give winter training programmes.

Dr. S V Adinarayana Rao (Director-General), Prema Hospital, Visakhapatnam

PREMA HOSPITAL at Visakapatnam the coastal city in the eastern part of India is a 800 bedded hospital facility which is exclusive for the patients who are affected with Poliomyelitis. PREMA stands for POLIO RESEARCH REHABILITATION AND MANAGEMENT PREMA also means LOVE in many of the Indian languages and that is what they want to give for thier patients. Service provided in the hospital are free for the poor and the ones who can afford will have to bear the cost of plaster of paris bandages only as this is a very costly item. However, during the camps organized by donors, everybody is provided free treatment. Each month, atleast one such camp is organizations and clubs since running a rehabilitative institution of such a magnitude requires lot of financial support. The organization is a charitable trust and is mainly involved in the activities of immunization.

The reason behind its genesis dates back to the year 1978, when the doyen of polio corrective surgery late Dr C Vyaghreswarudu started the movement of free polio corrective surgeries and surgical camps. His ardent disciple Dr S V Adinarayana Rao associating himself with his guru in this yeomen service since 1978, started contiork after the demise of his mentor. A full - fledged hospital for the medical surgical & therapeutical management for the complete rehabilitation of the Polio afflicted has been the long cherished dream of Late Dr Vyaghreswarudu. This was fulfilled by starting the PREMA (Polio research Rehabilitation & Management) Hospital, which is managed by the Free Polio Surgical & Research foundation.

Campus

It is estimated that nearly 75% of the Polio afflicted patients are living in rural areas of India and most of them are still unattended. It is not always easy to bring the disabled person to a rehabilitation centre. It involves a lot of expenditure, strain and time. To bridge this gap, the Free Polio Surgical and Research Foundation is conducting free polio surgical camps all over the country, thus bringing service to the patient at his doorstep. So far, nearly 752 such camps have been conducted in various parts of operating on 1,70,000 patients with more than 4 lakhs surgical procedures.

During the last year 39 Free Polio Surgical camps and 39 review camps have been conducted in various States.

Seventh Mahaveer Awards – 2003

Seventh Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Late Dr. Nemichand Jain, Indore, for Excellence in the field of Education & Medicine Dr. H Sudarshan Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra, B R Hills, & for Excellence in the field of Community & Social Service to Bharat Sevashram, Jharkhand, from His Excellency Shri K R Malkani (Lt. Governor of Pondicherry) at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 22nd March 2003 at Chennai.

Late Dr. Nemichand Jain, Indore

He has been, for long promoting the culture of non-violence and the practice of vegetarianism, through writing books, articles, substantive speeches at national seminars and nationwide tours, using convincing facts and scientific presentation techniques. All his books and booklets expound the basic tenets of Ahimsa, Anekantvada and Aparigraha with accent on behaviour of individuals and groups in day to day life. He has written more than 100 books, thousands of articles and many moving and inspiring poems in Hindi language and his books/articles/ poems have been widely read and appreciated.

His most noteworthy contribution is the presentation of 100 facts each about eggs, meat, slaughter houses, addiction to drinks, tobacco and other intoxicating products and these have made a very wide and convincing impact on public opinion.

He is the recipient of Samta Puraskar (1987), George Bernard Shaw Award (1993), Gyanodaya Samman (1998), Gomatheshwar Vidyapitha Puraskar (1997), Shakahar Priya Award (1998), Patra Maharshi Honour (1998), Ahimsa Jeevaraksha Award (1998), Chaitanya Van Award (1999), Samaj Bhushan Honour (2000) and Acharya Hasti Ahimsa Karyakarta Award (2000).

The Selection Jury has awarded the Seventh Mahaveer Award 2001 for Non-Violence and Vegetarianism to Dr.Nemichand Jain for his excellent service in these fields.

However, before the award could be formally handed over to him. Dr Nemichand Jain passed away on 8th August 2001. As the award was personal to Dr. Nemichand Jain the Foundation has decided that the cash component of the award should form part of an endowment, the proceeds from which would be utilized to recognize outstanding work in similar fields.

Dr. H Sudarshan, Karnataka

Founder Member of the Vivekananda Foundation, a Federation of voluntary organizations and individuals Dr. H. Sudarshan has worked tireless to specially in the field of public health, education and medicine, rehabilitation of the blind and orphans and for the comprehensive development of tribals in certain areas of Karnataka keeping in view the tribal culture and intrinsic values. His programmes covered areas such as health, education, vocational training, community organizations conservation of bio-diversity and medical plants, revitalisation of a local health tradition, housing tribal co-operatives, agriculture, dairy, and social forestry.

Dr. Sudarshan had also worked in the Ramakrishna Health Project at Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka. The integrated tribal project was started by him in the year 1980 and the Karuna Trust started by him in 1987 at Yelandur took up the service of tribals in the treatment of leprosy, tuberculosis and epilepsy, etc.

Dr. Sudarshan has involved himself totally in realizing the dream of comprehensive human development particularly of tribals.

He is at present associated with bodies like CAPART, New Delhi and various task forces of the Government of India and the State of Karnataka.

The Selection Jury has awarded the Seventh Mahaveer Award for Excellence in Human Endeavour in the field of Education and Medicine to Dr. Sudarshan; for his devoted services specially in the fields of education of tribals and provision of public health and medical facilities to them particularly in the districts of Mysore and Chamaraj Nagar of Karnataka State.

Bharat Sevashram, Jharkhand

The Sangha founded in 1917, is a spiritual brotherhood of monks and selfless workers, devoted to the service of humanity. With registered office at KOLKATTA, Sangha has 42 branches all over the country and six foreign associates in UK, USA, CANADA, SOUTH AMERICA, WEST INDIES AND BANGLADESH.

The Sangha successfully conducted relief activities during Bengal famine, Midnapore Cyclone, Noakhali riot, earthquakes in Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttarkashi, drought, famine flood in Orissa, W.Bengal, Assam. Cyclone in Andhra Pradesh and “Supercyclone” 1999 of Orissa.

Charitable dispensaries are maintained in all big centres of the sangha to provide medical relief to the pilgrims and the distressed / destitute people of the locality. The Jameshedpur Branch of the sangha attends Leprosy Patients mostly from scheduled castes/tribes, aborigines and their rehabilitation in badly affected Singhbhum District. “Home for Cancer Patients” set up about a couple of years ago at Vashigaon Navi Mumbai provides free accommodation to 100 economically weak patients.

At Bansda (Gujarat) facilities of orphanages, a charitable dispensary, Mobile Medical Unit, Library etc are provided under the name ADIBASI KALYAN KENDRA.

At Tatiba in Singhbhum Dist, the Sangha has established a project for the financial and social upliftment programme. The project commenced in 1993, has widely spread among primitive tribes even in deep forest areas in six blocks – Sonnal Goelkara, Noamundi, Bandhgaonm Nimidh and Potka.

Through Sangha’s Tribal Welfare Centre at Barajurl, a modest attempt has been made to reach out medicare, education income generation activities to various tribal groups in Midnapore, Gondi Kalakady and Baster regions.

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Sixth Mahaveer Awards – 2000

Sixth Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Dr. Kalyan Motilal Gangwal, Pune, for Excellence in the field of Education & Medicine Cancer Institute(W I A), Chennai, & for Excellence in the field of Community & Social Service to Tripura Adibashi Mahila Samity, Tripura from Shri P.T.R. Palanivel Rajan (Hon'ble Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly) at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 5th October 2000 at Chennai.

Dr. Kalyan Motilal Gangwal, Pune

Born in the year 1945. Dr. Kalyan Gangwal hails from Sangamner in Maharashtra and has had a brilliant academic and professional career. He is associated with a number of prestigious institutions such as the KEM Hospital, Poone Hospital, Pune and the Sasson General Hospital, Pune. He is a Medical Practioner by profession has chosen vegetarianism as one of the subjects of his special interest throughout his life and believes that vegetarianism is the ideal food for human beings.

He has set apart every weekend for propagating vegetarianism as a basis of life. His campaign for vegetarianism is done through the means of exhibitions, lectures, slide shows, books in various Indian languages and in English. His campaign against killing animals has resulted in the closure of a number of abattoirs in the country and his fights for the rights of animals include opposition to bullock cart races, cock fights, the custom of sacrifice of animals on religious grounds, etc. He has written a number of books in Marathi and Hindi advocating vegetarianism and all his agitations in favour of vegetarianism have always been peaceful. He has received a number of medals and awards both for his performance as a doctor and for his advocacy of vegetarianism. He has also taken considerable interest in the "Movement for freedom from addiction".

The Selection Jury felt that on account of his sustained and continuous propagation of vegetarianism for over for a long period he richly deserves the Mahaveer Award 2000 for Excellence in Human Endeavour in the field of Vegetarianism and Non-Violence.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation considers it an honour to recognise the services of Dr. Gangwal in the cause of Vegetarianism.

Cancer Institute(W I A), Chennai

THE CANCER INSTITUTE was established by Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy an eminent social worker of Tamil Nadu and a freedom fighter. Under the dynamic leadership of Dr. V. Shanta and Dr. S. Krishnamurthi (both of whom have sacrificed their lucrative professional career for building up the institution), the institute has grown from strength to strength and has developed as a premier institution providing over 400 beds for treatment of cancer of which nearly 300 are utilized for free treatment of the poor.

The institute has developed state of art facilities for detection and treatment of cancer and patients from all over India and even from the Far East attend the hospital in large numbers. On an average more than 70000 patients attend the hospital over a year. Combining research, training and treatment in the field of cancer, the institute was the first college to be recognised for superspeciality degrees in the country. In the half century that it has been in existence, the hospital has managed to convey a message that cancer can be prevented and cured if detected early. The institute's guiding principle has been the total care of the patients whatever their social standing or economic status (quite a few of them receiving totally free treatment) - to give the patients access to the best state of art technology. One can do no better than India's first Prime Minister Shri Jawaharlal Nehru who described the Institute as "an inspiring example of good work done". The Institute has become the symbol of humanity's eternal quest to conquer cancer.

The Selection Jury felt that the pioneering work done by the Cancer Institute deserves recognition and has therefore awarded the Mahaveer Award for Excellence in Human Endeavour in the fields of Medicine and Education, to the Cancer Institute for the year 2000.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation congratulates the Institute and its motive force Dr. V. Shanta and Dr. S. Krishnamurthi for their dynamic role in providing hope to the thousands of patients who suffer from cancer.

Tripura Adibashi Mahila Samity, Tripura

THE TRIPURA ADIVASI MAHILA SAMITHY, KRISHNA NAGAR, AGARTALA was established in the year 1953 by a group of women social workers of Agartala with the goal of bringing rural tribal women into the development process.

The main objectives of the organization is to promote better economic conditions of the weaker sections of the society in particular, the women, children and destitutes through self supporting and income generating economic and other welfare projects, to promote gender equality through social awareness, to implement an integrated approach in solving the problems of developing rural communities and to specially work for the educational upliftment of the tribals. The activities of the society, inter alia include starting of centres in the remote corners of Tripura for educating tribal women and the setting up of Balwadi Centres for education of children. In addition the Samithy is arranging condensed courses for the girls who have dropped out in the middle of the educational stream and to ensure that atleast they acquire the qualification of 10th standard. Most of the girls have come out successful in the examinations and have obtained worthwhile employment enabling them to stand on their own legs. In addition the society has arranged various income generating programmes such as Mushroom cultivation, leaf plate making, spice processing, sericulture, rubber nursery, animal husbandry, tailoring and weaving. Further the society has under taken to house destitute and orphan girls for periods upto 3 years and making them independent by imparting vocational training such as weaving, tailoring, etc. during their stay. The Society is also implementing a project of installing water tanks at water starved tribal villages to gather rain water which would otherwise go waste. The society has also been implementing in several villages a scheme to encourage thrift among tribal women by forming small self help group which finance constructive projects through small, but regular contributions collected from its members and made available to the needy at modest rates of interest. Thus the society has established itself as an organization deeply interested in developing the upliftment of tribals under the leadership of Smt. Anurupa Mukherjee, President of the Society. Smt. Anurupa Mukherjee {popularly known as 'Maani' (Mother)} the President of the Samithy, at the age of 72, is the inspiration and driving force of the organization. Born in a conservative tribal farms and married to a non-tribal (an officer of the Indian Navy). Smt. Mukherjee has been a symbol of communal harmony in the State. Her commitment to the upliftment of poor tribal women has opened a new chapter in the evolution of NGOs in the development administration of the State. She has played a significant role in the affairs of the State and at the National level in defining and vitalising the role of women - particularly from poorer sections - in community welfare, specially in the fields of Education and Social service.

The Selection Jury felt that the society has done an excellent job in its objective of promoting the welfare of tribal women in an under developed tribal area of the country and has selected the society for the awards under the category of Community and Social service. The Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation extends its warmest congratulations to the society and its founder Smt. Mukherjee for their inspiring leadership role in improving the lot of Tribal Women in Tripura.

Fifth Mahaveer Awards – 1999

Fifth Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Delhi, for Excellence in the field of Education & Medicine Dr. G Venkataswamy Aravind Eye Hospital & P G Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai, & for Excellence in the field of Community & Social Service to Shree Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur from Dr. M. Karunanidhi (Former Chief Minister of Tamilnadu) at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 3rd April 1999 at Chennai.

Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Delhi

Notwithstanding the strict injunctions, against exploitation of the weak by the physically strong, by almost all the world religions, humanity has been exploiting animals and birds for satisfying their own needs and desires, be it for food or for enjoyment, taking the form of hunting of animals or taking part in nauseating events such as bull fighting or bull baiting. In fact even killing of animals for food is rarely done with mercy or consideration; the animals are tortured and allowed to die slowly and painfully. Even the so called domestic pets such as the loyal dogs are rarely taken good care of. In most of the cases, they are at best tolerated for their use in guarding one's person or property.

It is in this context, that the role played by Mrs.Maneka Gandhi assumes greater significance. She is one of those rare people who have real empathy for all God's living creatures specially those which cannot protect themselves against the villainy of what is euphemistically known as the superior race. For over two decades now, Mrs.Gandhi has played a dynamic role in designing and implementing measures for the protection of animals, birds and other living creatures such as reptiles. Be it a hospital for taking exclusive care of birds, or a Ghousala or a Pinjarapol or a Kennel for the dogs, she is finding ways of improving their structuring and contents with an eye on the ultimate beneficiary. Over this period she has been carrying on a running fight with official bodies seeking greater consideration in sterilising stray animals and in destroying rabid ones. She has found a home for a large number of unwanted pets and is helping in building hospitals and animal sanctuaries to take care of animals at places where none exist so far. She has agitated valiantly against cruel practices amounting to torture of animals and birds. She has exploded a large number of myths such as the one that states that snakes possess nagamani. Her large number of books and her T.V. shows focusing on animal welfare continue to attract millions of readers and viewers. She is also the Chairperson of the "People for Animals" movement whose sole aim is to provide for the well being of all living creatures.

She has been a staunch supporter of vegetarianism mainly because non-vegetarianism involves destruction of animals even if the means adopted for slaughtering them are the most merciful. Her argument is that one section of God's creatures can ill afford to kill another section belonging to the same category for their personal pleasure. She has also disproved a large number of reasons usually attributed by non-vegetarians in support of meat eating by pointing out that there are equally nutrient vegetarian alternatives available to take care of our needs for growth.

Even though the laws of the country provide for stringent punishment for violation of the dignity of the animals by overloading them or ill treating them otherwise, cruelty to animals in one form or another is still widespread mainly because of the ignorance of the Law Enforcement Agencies, particularly at the grassroot level, of the provisions of these laws. She has made a dent in this area of ignorance by arranging for a compilation of all laws relating to animal welfare. She is also chairing a number of committees engaged in the work relating to animal welfare, providing that spark which is so necessary to ignite the noble but dormant instincts in a large number of individuals and organisations. Her dynamic leadership in this area has resulted in the spread of public awareness of the long neglected need for protection of animals and birds which as part of the nation's valuable inheritance, contribute to its environmental balance. All these only go to show that even a single candle is enough to light a million lamps, if there is even a single individual who is willing to go round lighting these lamps. This is the backdrop against which the Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation has chosen her for the Mahaveer Award'99 for Excellence in Human Endeavour in the field of Non-violence and Vegetarianism. The country particularly the animal kingdom owes Mrs.Gandhi a huge bouquet for her emotional support, dynamic leadership and the effective results she has achieved in promoting their welfare notwithstanding her other more demanding and urgent preoccupations Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation joins the millions of Indians interested in animal welfare in congratulating Mrs.Maneka Gandhi for getting the Mahaveer Award'99 for Non-violence and Vegetarianism.

Dr. G Venkataswamy

Till recently people were resigned to accept, whatever in their view fate had in store for them. These include millions of our countrymen who are born blind or became blind by accident or neglect or were making good with bare minimum vision. They thought that this was God's way of punishing them for their sins in their previous births. But over the years, people have started realising that if one believes in a divinity which is kind and considerate, obviously such a divine being would not believe in punishing a large chunk of humanity by depriving them of one of the basic human needs, namely vision. They also realised that the means of restoring or atleast improving vision did exist in certain parts of the world obviously provided by the same Almighty and were available to all its children. Once this became general knowledge coming up of an institution to assist the people in curing them of their blindness or defective vision was just one step ahead. A large number of individuals and institutions started taking the lead in setting up hospitals for treatment of diseases connected with the eye.

One of the few institutions which have come up in Tamil Nadu in this field, is the Aravind Eye Hospital & Post-Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology. From a modest beginning in 1976 the institution has developed into what it is today, namely a full fledged Eye Hospital and a Post-Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology. The Hospital provides comprehensive services relating to Eye treatment including surgery and over 90 lakhs of people have been so far benefited by these services during the last two decades. The Hospital has developed a number of institutions providing related facilities such as the manufacture of intra-ocular lenses pharmaceuticals etc. The Aravind Medical Research Foundation is also involved in basic clinic and operation research in collaboration with leading international institutions.

Most of these services are provided by the Hospital at reasonable costs. What is equally relevant is that people who are relatively well off are able to get themselves cured either through operation or by purchase of spectacles at their own cost. But as matters stand today, almost 2/3rd of the population are under the poverty line which does not permit them to have recourse to any effective treatment. It is in this context that the services rendered by the Aravind Eye Hospital & Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology assumes significance. A large percentage of the patients treated by the Hospital are below the poverty line and the treatment provided to them is entirely free of cost.

As no vehicle can move without a prime mover providing the motive force, no institution can develop into a successful one, i.e. an effective one in the absence of a leader capable of pulling and where necessary pushing it in the desired direction. Dr.G.Venkataswamy the Founder of the institution has provided this type of leadership to the Hospital for over two decades and has been almost single handedly responsible for the growth of the institution. The institution has branched out all over Tamil Nadu with Branches at Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and Theni. It has become virtually a household name in Tamil Nadu for its quality treatment with emphasis on use of the latest techniques of treatment and surgery.

Deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhiji and Shri Aurobindo, Dr Venkataswamy realised early in life that the best way to serve our nation was to do the best in whatever role one is trained for and one need not become a sadhu or a martyr to serve humanity and God. Even though theoretically he retired from active service in 1976 his best was to come during the subsequent years of his life. Though suffering from rheumatoid arthritis from his early years and also weakened by the ravages of time, Dr Venkataswamy set about systematically to set up a comprehensive organisation for providing treatment to millions of our countrymen suffering from eye defects. Though grateful patients revere him virtually as God, he considers himself only as a tool in the hands of God while serving the patients. His goal is to spread the hope of relief from pain to every nook and corner of the country.

Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation is happy in congratulating Dr.G.Venkataswamy for his getting the Mahaveer Award for Excellence in Human Endeavour for the year 1999 in the field Education and Medicine. We fervently hope that the presentation of this Award would stimulate many more individuals and organisations to come forth to serve the public.

We are sure that Dr. Venkataswamy will also welcome the competition!

Shree Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur

Our ancient lores are full of stories of handicapped men ruling kingdoms and emerging victorious in wars even ending up marrying beautiful princesses notwithstanding their handicaps, be it a lost arm or a leg. But these successes even if they were true, were confined to very few. Virtually the entire handicapped segment of the population continued to suffer indignities, wallow in poverty and kept cursing their maker for their handicaps. The tragedy was greater in cases, when the concerned persons were born with all their limbs in tact but had lost their limbs either in an accident or on account of some illness, such as polio. Having experienced complete freedom of action they felt terribly upset after the loss of these faculties and spent rest of their lives depressed, dejected, and in some cases even resorted to suicide.

Even after the development of medical science, access to artificial limbs was costly, taking a lot of time and the limbs were too complicated to use and therefore physically enervating. It is in this background the services provided by Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti assumes considerable significance in the lives of handicapped persons in the country who had lost the use of their legs. The Jaipur Foot designed by the Samiti and produced on a large scale could virtually be deemed to be a miracle for those who had lost their legs either above or below the knees. One of the Foundation's representatives watched with pleasant surprise when a man who has lost his knee walked in to be measured for an artificial limb, watched the limb being made and fitted to the individual and the individual walked away in visible happiness and satisfaction all within a period of about 90 to 100 minutes. People who have been fitted with this device can walk, run, climb a tree or even ride a cycle, let alone a car. All of us are also aware of the famous dancer who has been fitted with this device and has been dancing her way into the hearts of millions of admirers.

The patients and their attendants who visit the institution are treated as honourable guests and not as supplicants and what is more, everything is done with great concern to the sensitivity of the disabled and entirely free of cost. The Samiti has helped over four lakhs of people so far with artificial limbs and has also assisted a number of them in getting rehabilitated in life. It is indeed no coincidence or even accident that the reputation of the Jaipur Foot and the Viklang Samiti is spread not only all over India but has also crossed the oceans of the world and thousands of people have been benefited by Jaipur Foot in a number of countries of the world.

Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation warmly congratulates the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, its founders and its management for their humane dynamic and innovative role in providing relief to millions of handicapped people. They have erased the stigma of disability from the hearts and minds of the handicapped and have made them realise that they too can play a useful role in society and in the nation.

Fourth Mahaveer Awards – 1998

Fourth Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Sadhu Vaswani Mission,Pune, for Excellence in the field of Education Shri Avinashilingam Education Trust Institutions Coimbatore, & for Excellence in the field of Community & Social Service to Dr. Prakash Murlidar Amte &Dr.Mandakini Prakash Amte Lok Biradari Prakalp of Maharogi Sewa Samiti, Warora from Shri Krishan Kant ( Vice-President of India ) at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 9th April 1998 at Delhi.

Sadhu Vaswani Mission, Pune

If there is something worse than man's cruelty to man, it is man's cruelty to animals, because animals have rarely the ability to fight back on an equal footing and what is more heinous is that such cruelty is perpetrated on a number of occasions in the name of some form of divinity or other, even though generally the crime is motivated by the desire to satisfy man's appetite for meat eating. It is this senseless cruelty which Sadhu Vaswani's Mission has been fighting from the 30's of this century. The mission was originally founded by late Sadhu Vaswani in 1930 as "Sakhi Satsang", later on became the brotherhood association, subsequently renamed as Sadhu Vaswani Mission in the year 1966. Since then its activities are guided by Dada J P Vaswani and the Mission's activities cover a wide number of fields such as education, medical relief, village upliftment, housing and propagation of Vegetarianism. However, it is basically identified with vegetarianism and has set up a large number of branches all over the world.Believing in the dictum "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", the Mission has been campaigning vigorously for vegetarianism and universal brotherhood which knows no barriers and embraces man, birds and beasts alike. At their instance, the "Animals Welfare Day" is being observed annually by all educational institutions and other associations engaged in community service.

The Mission has been campaigning for setting up more veterinary hospitals and is also engaged in research to find out suitable vegetarian substitutes for non-vegetarian food items. Sadhu Vaswani's Birthday on the 25th of November each year is being observed as "International Meatless Day" and certain State Governments have also issued instructions for the closure of slaughter houses on that day. As we all know, vegetarianism is no longer a fad, associated with religious fanaticism, but has been accepted as a vital necessity for a healthy tension free life, particularly for those who have crossed the middle age. Infact, vegetarianism has even become a fashion of sorts with the western youth, keen on maintaining their physical and mental health. All this development the world owes to the vision of the late Sadhu T L Vaswani and his successors and disciples in the Mission carrying on his torch through the years and hopefully through the succeeding ages.

The Mahaveer Award was therefore given up to the Mission for its selfless service on behalf of the voiceless millions in the world.

Sri Avinashilingam education Trust Institutions, Coimbatore

The maxim, "each one teach one," is no longer valid for the simple reason that there has been an explosion in the number of people required to be taught; and what is more, there has been a quantum leap in the areas of knowledge which is required to be taught and assimilated. Filling this kind of knowledge gap requires a deeper, extensive and comprehensive instituionalised arrangement. This requirement has been largely met by Shri Avinashilingam Education Trust Institutions, Coimbatore, the recipients of the Foundation's Mahaveer Award for the year 1998.

As all of us know, late Shri T S Avinashilingam, fondly known as "Ayya" to his admirers and disciples, set up this Trust to provide education to the large number of student thirsting for knowledge in Coimbatore district in particular and Tamilnadu in general. Shri Avinashilingam believed that one should not be satisfied with attaining freedom from foreign rule, as India did in 1947, but what will really add intrinsic worth to its citizens is a comprehensive system of education to make them well-rounded and disciplined. With this end in view, Shri Avinashilingam set up the Trust whose main objective was to promote liberal education and to integrate into a system of education, the concepts of science and social service, to impart spiritual, ethical, cultural and human values to the students coming under the influence of the educational institutions under the Trust and to refine and streamline curricula and teaching methods based on the best wherever these could be found in the world. In practice this has meant that the schools set up under the Trust provide a comprehensive system of education commencing from pre-primary and carrying on to the level of Doctorate and even beyond. Provision is also made for practical participation in rural development in the form of service through the National Service Scheme and a training centre for rural development. Over 3000 students actively participate in services connected with rural development and extension services. Functional education is also provided to illiterate women to help them stand on their own feet. The other activities of the Trust include provision of primary health care, nutrition, research, agricultural farming, vocational skill development, etc., Under the able leadership provided by Dr Rajammal P Devadas, Managing Trustee and Chancellor of the Deemed University, the Trust has largely succeeded in making the vision of Dr Avinashilingam come true in a relatively short time.

Dr. Prakash murlidhar Amte and Dr. Mandakini Prakash Amte of Maharogi Sewa Samiti, Warora, Maharashtra

Dr. Prakash Murlidar Amte & Dr.Mandakini Prakash Amte known as the "Schweitzer Couple of India", Dr Prakash Murlidhar Amte and Dr Mandakini Prakash Amte, have settled down in Hemalkasa, a remote village in the dense forest in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, inhabited by one of the most primitive tribal communities.

The service provided by the Amte couple include education to the tribals, medical assistance, treatment and eradication of leprosy, community development, rehabilitation of tribals highly endemic to Malaria. The area is also inhabited by wild animals, poisonous vipers and the like and the doctors continue to receive, for treatment, unusual cases such as injuries caused by an enraged bear. They have also established an orphanage to take care of destitute children and have succeeded in training a good number of tribals for being employed as teachers, forest guards, police man etc., Dr Prakash Murlidhar Amte is ably assisted by his wife, who is also a doctor and is particularly helpful in getting over the inhibitions and the superstitions in the tribal women. In these days of self seeking mercenaries, pretending to be engaged in serving their fellowmen, rare indeed are cases such as those of the Amte couple.

Third Mahaveer Awards– 1997

Third Award for Excellence in the field of Non-violence & Vegetarianism to Shri Ratanlal C Bafna "Nayantara" Subhash Chowk Jalgaon Maharashtras, & for Excellence in the field of Community & Social Service to Shri Anna Hazare Ralegaon, Siddhi Ahmed Nagar Maharashtra from Shri Karan Singh (Member of Parliament) at the Annual Mahaveer Awards Day on 20th April 1997 at chennai.

Shri Ratanlal C Bafna, Nayantara, Jalgaon, Maharashtra

Shri Ratanlal C Bafna, hailing from Jalgaon, Maharashtra State, was born in 1935. Throughout his life he has been a staunch advocate of Vegetarianism and Non-violence and has been in the vanguard of a movement for propagating vegetarianism all over the country. He has travelled over two lakh kilometers during the last 5 years on this mission.

In pursuance of his mission he has written and published a large number of articles on vegetarianism in various magazines and dailies. His writings also include several books on vegetarianism which were widely distributed, most of them free of cost. He has succeeded in carrying the message to the youth as well through lectures delivered at colleges and other institutions. He had succeeded in converting a large number of people to Vegetarianism. His other activities include provision of equipment such as tricycles to the physically handicapped.

In recognition of his comprehensive services in the cause of vegetarianism and non-violence, the Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation awarded him the Mahaveer award 1997 for excellence in the sphere of Vegetarianism.

Shri Anna Hazare, Relegaon siddhi, Ahmednagar

Shri Anna Hazare was born at Bingar near Pune in the year 1940 and hails from a poor family. On account of his straightened circumstances of his family, Shri Hazare could not complete his education beyond seventh standard and had to seek his livelihood by joining the army. However, he could not long ignore his desire to serve the poor which has been one of his most cherished ambitions.

Taking early retirement from his job in the army, he started serving the people of Ralegaon Siddhi and was of immense assistance to the people of that area in designing and implementing projects of water management for providing irrigation to the parched lands of that village. Later he extended the scope of his social service to transforming and improving the life content of the villagers, first by weaning them away from liquor and later by becoming the driving force in achieving the veritable transformation of the village by assisting the improvement of the educational facilities in the village as also in assisting the Harijans to lift themselves up socially and economically.

A life long bachelor Shri Anna Hazare has adopted the entire village as his family and has recently started tackling problems on a wider horizon. These include his intense fight against corruption in public life which has had considerable impact on the society at large in the state of Maharasthra. He continues to live a simple life confining his needs to the barest minimum.

Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation, has therefore conferred the Mahaveer Award 1997, for excellence in the sphere of social and community service on him.

Second Mahaveer Award – 1996

Ramakrishna Mission, Narayanpur

The representative of Ramakrishna Ashrama, Narayanpur, Bastar Dist., Madhya Pradesh receiving the Second Mahaveer Award on behalf of the Ashrama for Excellence in the field of Social and Community service from Bharat Ratna Shri C Subramaniam at the Mahaveer Annual Awards Day 1996.

Ramakrishna Mission, Narayanpur, Bastar District, Madhya Pradesh was given the award in 1996 for their service in the field of Education, Medicine and Community Services in the Narayanpur area of Bastar District deep in the forests of Madhya Pradesh.

By their services to the tribal community in the fields of education and medical help, the mission had brought about a social transformation in what is otherwise a most inhospitable terrain. It has undertaken an ambitious programme of integrated rural development in the area, runs a number of schools, hostels, hospitals and has contributed to the improvement of every facet of tribal life from agricultural extension services, animal husbandry, Pirmary health, environment and above all education.

Shri Jagannathan and Smt. krishnammal Jagannathan

Shri S. Jagannathan & Smt. Krishnammal Jagannathan, the Gandhian couple had undergone imprisonment during the freedom movement and after independence they had setup a Trust in Gandhi Gram for assisting the poor and the needy.

Apart from participating in Vinobaji's Bhoodan Padyatra these couple were responsible for distribution of over 1Lac acres of land for 32,000 landless labourers and had also worked for peace in a non-violent manner in the village of Kilvenmani during the period of communal riots. They are helping the poor fisherman by their non-violent agitation against prawn fishing on commercial scale which leads to the salinity of large areas of agricultural land and helping in their rehabilitation. They are also assisting the poor by providing them with education.

First Mahaveer Award – 1995

Veerayatan

1995 First Mahaveer Award for Excellence in the field of Social and Community service

The "Veerayatan" was given the Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation Award in the year 1995 for helping thousands of tribal families in the remote tribal areas of Bihar mainly in the fields of medicine and education. The institution has assisted in the rehabilitation of a large number of tribal families in these remote areas by helping in removing alcoholism and other addictions and by, providing medical treatment and eye treatment to a large number of these people. The institution has also provided vocational training in fields such as Carpentry, Pottery etc which has resulted in the rehabilitation of lakhs of tribals. It has also assisted a large number of tribals in securing employment.

The institution has held a large number of eye camps, built an eye hospital and arranged for eye surgeries for over 56000 patients. Other activities of the institute include running of dispensaries, and provision of health care in distant areas through a mobile van, running of primary schools, libraries and propagation of Ahimsa, and brotherhood etc. By its efforts the institute has brought about a total transformation in certain segments of the tribal areas of Bihar.

Acharya Shri Chandanaji is the spirit behind the institution.