New Delhi [India], October 5 (ANI): The Sant Eshwer Foundation hosted the 10th edition of the prestigious Sant Eshwer Samman at the Bharat Ratna C Subramaniam Auditorium here on Sunday, marking the completion of a decade of 'sewa', said a release.

The annual award ceremony, dedicated to recognising selfless grassroots changemakers, honoured 18 exceptional individuals and organisations, disbursing 32 lakhs in grants across three award categories.

Since its inception, the Sant Eshwer Samman has awarded over 3 crores to 153 social reformers, celebrating tireless efforts in tribal development, rural upliftment, women and child welfare, and contributions rooted in Indian values.

The grand evening was attended by eminent dignitaries including Dattatreya Hosabale, General Secretary, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS); Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The event was attended by civil society leaders, academics, ministry officials, and social workers from across India.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said, 'The real meaning of life lies in being of help to others. This is not something we are saying today, thousands of years ago, this very land gave a message to the world. It was here that the sages said, 'Atmavat Sarvabhuteshu', meaning all beings are like one's own soul. Today, we honored those great souls who truly dedicated their lives in service to humanity. With folded hands and deepest respect, I bow down to them.'

In his keynote address, Dattatreya Hosabale, General Secretary, RSS, remarked, 'Today, with heartfelt respect, I extend my greetings to the great personalities of society who were honored. Those who have embraced the belief of 'Nar Seva Narayan Seva' and have set an example through their selfless service and contributions in different fields, are being honored by the Sant Eshwer Foundation for the past ten years. I sincerely appreciate their efforts as well.'

Speaking at the event, Kapil Khanna, Founder and Chairman of the Sant Eshwer Foundation, reflected on the journey, 'Ten years ago, we began with a small vision, to honour the silent warriors of society. Today, while honouring these great individuals, we ourselves feel honoured, and so far in this journey, a well-extended family has been formed.'

As per the release, he further added, 'This year, all of us in the Sant Eshwar family decided to send out a stronger message to society. That is why we have reduced the size of our invitation card to pocket size, because we want to save the environment and avoid unnecessary paper wastage.'

The ceremony began with a vibrant cultural performance, setting an emotional and patriotic tone. The audience was moved by powerful artistic acts, including Mallakhamb, dance dedicated to Ganapati Bappa and Mahadev, women empowerment showcased through Classical form Kathak, Rashtrabhakti performances and the impactful 'Operation Sindoor' dance act. A coffee-table book launch was also held, encapsulating a decade of inspiring journeys.

Bhupender Yadav, Minister for Environment, shared, 'In our country, the initiative of Swadeshi Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat means that every individual in society becomes self-reliant and progresses together in unity. That is why, in the coffee table book launched today, the subtitle 'Building the Better Bharat' holds true only when we identify and honour those who work selflessly for the welfare of society. And this is exactly what the Sant Ishwar Foundation has been doing, a truly commendable effort.'

This year's awards were structured across three categories, including Vishisht Sewa Samman, Sewa Samman, and Vishesh Sewa Samman, spanning four areas of service - tribal development, rural development, women and child development, and a special contribution category based on Indian thoughts encompassing art, literature, environment, self-reliance, and so on.

A total of four exemplary individuals and organisations received the Vishisht Sewa Samman, each accompanied by a grant of 5 lakh in recognition of their transformative contributions. Govardhan Panda from Koraput, Odisha, was honoured for his relentless initiatives for the development of indigenous communities, while Devendrappa from Yadgir, Karnataka, received recognition for his groundbreaking programmes in rural development. The Jeevan Anand Sansthan, established by Kisanrao Anjana Babbanrao Chaure in Maharashtra and The Samarpan Foundation, founded by Shri Ravi Prakash in Uttar Pradesh, were acknowledged for their distinguished work in the categories of women and child development and special contributions, respectively.

Further embodying the spirit of selfless social service, 12 more humanitarians and NGOs were conferred the Sewa Samman with grants of 1 lakh each, spanning the same four service domains. For tribal development, Mahamandaleshwar Raghunath Das ji Farsiwale Baba, Maharashtra; Dr Ambedkar Vanvasi Kalyan Trust, Gujarat; and Shri Katung Vaghe, Arunachal Pradesh, were awarded. Gramin Vikas Sangham, Andhra Pradesh; Rekha Prabhakar Chauhan, Maharashtra; and Nidhi Tripathi, Uttar Pradesh, were recognised for their lasting impact on rural development.

Additionally, under the Special Contribution Area Awards category, Maringmei Gaingamlung, Manipur; Matru Chhaya Trust, Ponda; Keshav Sewa Dham Divyang Ashram, Madhya Pradesh, received the awards. Whereas, Kisanrao Anjana Babbanrao Chaure, Maharashtra; Chitra Shah, Puducherry; Manav Sewa Sansthan Educational & Social Welfare Trust, Bihar; and Potukuchi Srinivas, Telangana, were honoured for their incredible contribution to women and child development.

Besides, this year, two remarkable organisations, AWWA (Army Wives Welfare Association) and Netra Khumbh 2025, were recognised in the Vishesh Sewa Samman category, a distinguished recognition that honours organisations whose large-scale work has created a national impact. AWWA established in 1966, continues to empower Army families with skill development, education, and respectful care for war widows and Veer Naris. Netra Khumbh 2025, a monumental social movement at Mahakhumbh in Prayagraj, rendered free eye examination, medicines, glasses, and treatment to lakhs of devotees, preventing blindness and infusing hope. These organisations exemplify collective service that empowers communities at scale.

The prestigious Sant Eshwer Samman is an effort to bring light to stories of exceptional courage, compassion, and humanity, experiences that have the power to inspire millions and encourage them to adopt the same values in their lives. (ANI)