Community Strengthening
Alamelu V

Born into the Arunthathiyar community-one of India’s most oppressed groups-Alamelu grew up witnessing extreme exploitation and injustice. Her parents, bonded labourers in Tamil Nadu, toiled endlessly for a meager wage, reinforcing the generational cycle of servitude. At just 10 years old, Alamelu was forced to abandon school and work in the fields after her father fell ill. For over two years, she endured grueling labor, surviving on rice water. Her life changed when a teacher intervened, freeing her and ensuring she completed her education. But the injustice she had lived through left an indelible mark, shaping her resolve to fight for the dignity and rights of her community.

Education
Varsha Patil

Varsha Patil, a 31-year-old visionary educator from Abdullat village is transforming rural education landscape through experiential STEM learning, particularly for children of migrant workers and underserved communities. Growing up in a resource-constrained environment, she personally experienced the limitations of prioritizing theoretical learning over practical and saw how it stifled curiosity and problem-solving skills.

Health
Farheen Hussain

In the quaint town of Nuh about an hour away from the millennium city of Gurgaon, resides the resilient Fareen Hussain. Despite the close proximity to one of the biggest cities in India, life in Nuh stands still. Within its predominantly male-dominated Muslim community, women have long been confined to traditional roles as caretakers and child-bearers. Since 2016, Fareen has been a transformative force, reshaping the lives of women across 60 villages in the Nuh district and inspiring them toward a brighter future.

Micro Enterprise
Narmada Jha

At 68, Narmada Jha is a force of resilience and transformation. Born into poverty and battling financial struggles even after marriage, she refused to let hardship define her. With no formal education in business or design, she learned on the job, turning adversity into opportunity. From selling her first painting to make ends meet to leading Shilp Gram, a thriving non-farm producer company, she has built a powerful movement that has empowered over 600? women through the traditional art of Madhubani painting.

Anisfatima Jafar Shaikh

Anisfatima Jafar Shaikh, known as Salma, is a 39-year-old transformational leader redefining resilience and empowerment for Mumbai’s street vendors and hawkers. As the strategic force behind the Azad Hawker’s Union, she has mobilized, protected, and uplifted over 17,000 street vendors, turning a historically vulnerable community into a recognized and financially secure workforce.

Anita soni

Anita Soni’s journey is one of resilience and transformation. Born in a small village near Barmer, she faced challenges including early marriage, domestic violence, and limited educational opportunities. She faced unprecedented trauma in her marriage that drove her to attempt suicide. Yet she was able to overcome these challenges and emerge strong not only for herself but society. After working for many years in women’s rights advocacy, Anita founded “Mahila Sangathan” in 2014 to address key issues like domestic violence, child marriage, and education for girls.

Khushi Rajput

Khushi’s journey is one of resilience, determination, and transformation. Orphaned at a young age and subjected to domestic abuse and systemic challenges, she faced barriers to Nominee’s Personal Story At just 24, Khushi Rajput has endured more education, financial security, and personal safety. Despite these hardships, she found strength in sports, which became her refuge and ultimately her path to empowerment. Determined to prevent other young girls from enduring similar struggles, she turned her personal battles into a mission for change.

Monica Pekra

Monika Paikra is a powerful force for change in Chhattisgarh, redefining power for tribal communities and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) through economic independence, governance, and collective action. With over 35 years of grassroots advocacy and leadership, she has mobilized thousands, dismantled exploitative structures, and championed tribal rights, financial inclusion, and access to essential health services.

Parveennisa Shaikh

Born on the footpaths of Mumbai, Parveennisa (Parveen) Shaikh’s journey is one of unyielding resilience and transformative leadership. Raised in extreme poverty, facing discrimination and the constant threat of displacement, Her story is not just one of survival, but of breaking cycles, proving that determination and vision can reshape destinies and communities alike. Over the past two decades, her work across multiple organizations has impacted the lives of thousands of women, children, and youth in her community through education, financial empowerment, youth leadership, and social change.

Puja Dixit

Puja Dixit, a 24-year-old changemaker from a remote village in Gopalganj, Bihar, is transforming education and skill development in her community. Overcoming poverty, hardship, and societal barriers, she has become a source of inspiration, particularly for young girls.

Priyanka

Priyanka, a 31-year-old educator and community leader from Palra, Haryana, has defied societal norms and family expectations to champion education in underserved communities. Growing up in a conservative environment where gender roles often dictated early marriage, she chose a different path—one of resilience and purpose. Determined to break the cycle, Priyanka pursued her education against the odds, transforming her own journey into a beacon of hope for others.

Reena Shakya

Reena Shakya is a prominent advocate for oppressed communities in Gwalior, overcoming significant personal and societal challenges to drive meaningful change. Belonging to the SC Kori tribe, Reena is inspired by the teachings of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Savitribai Phule, which fuel her vision for a more just and equitable society.

Annapurna Dhore

Hailing from Aurangabad, Annapurna has turned personal adversity into strength, overcoming inter-caste marriage challenges and domestic hardships to forge a path of independence and leadership. Her approach is quiet yet firm, diplomatic yet relentless.

Bulti Dey

Bulti Dey from Cooch Behar embodies the spirit of a small-town girl with a strong vision. Bridled by her own personal challenges, Bulti is an epitome of strength when it comes to fighting her own demons and rising to not only save herself but many others in the process.

Lalki Meena

Lalki Meena began her healthcare journey as a clinic attendant in 2015. Today, she is a Senior Health Worker, she has launched a healthcare movement in rural Rajasthan, transforming the lives of tens of thousands of marginalized women and children. Overcoming personal struggles of poverty in her early years, domestic violence in her marriage, and a near-critical HIV diagnosis without access to proper medical care pushed Lalki to help others in similar situations.

Payal Kakate

Payal Kakate has been a driving force in improving community health in Bamni, Nanded. She is on a mission to combat anemia and malnutrition, ensuring women and children receive the care they need. But her impact goes beyond nutrition-she empowers newly married couples, young mothers, and adolescents with knowledge on family planning, menstrual health, and hygiene. Through her relentless efforts, she is not just addressing health issues but transforming mindsets and shaping a healthier future for the next generation.

Goutami Arika

Goutami Arika is a grassroots leader dedicated to transforming the lives of tribal farmers and women in Seethampetha, Andhra Pradesh. Born into poverty, she witnessed firsthand the impact of inadequate healthcare, malnutrition, and economic struggles. Tragedy shaped her resolve-she lost five of her siblings because they couldn’t be taken to the hospital in time due to the lack of resources. This profound loss planted the seed for her lifelong commitment to improving the lives of her community.

Kashavva Dasharath Kurne

Kashavva Kurni is a survivor of one of India’s most oppressive traditions-a system that stripped generations of women of their dignity under the guise of devotion. Forced into the Devadasi system as a child, she defied systemic oppression to become a fearless leader and changemaker for Devadasi and Dalit women in Karnataka.

Revati Shivaji Kangule

Revati Kangule’s financial distress led to her child’s illness, including the loss of her first child and a hearing impairment in her second child. This turning point made her realise the urgent need for financial independence. Despite enduring significant hardships Revati has emerged with newfound strength and self-assurance. Today, as a successful woman entrepreneur from Nanded district, Maharashtra, she empowers thousands of women to achieve self-sufficiency and start their own businesses.

Vimla Kharakwal

Vimla Kharkwal is a grassroots leader committed to empowering rural women in Champawat, Uttarakhand. Overcoming personal hardships-including societal pressure, domestic violence, and financial struggles-she has turned adversity into a force for change. Through her work with various NGOs, she has formed Self-Help Groups (SHGs), connected over 800 families to financial resources, and introduced sustainable agricultural and climate-resilient practices.