Karmaveer Noble Laureates 2009-10
CIVIL SOCIETY KARMAVEER PURASKAAR, 2009
Wildlife Conservation
Geeta Seshamani
Co – Founder of Wildlife SOS, an NGO and Vice-President of Friendicoes SECA (Society for Eradication of Cruelty to Animals), Geeta Seshamani believes that we must do all we can to protect and conserve the rich array of wildlife, which calls the habitats of India its home. She has been deeply involved with animal welfare and wildlife conservation for over thirty years. Her efforts towards her cause have been well appreciated and successful over the length and breadth of the country. Through her organizations, she has established the first Stray Animal Birth control centre, organized several animal welfare-training programs across India and established various sanctuaries, facilities and centres in collaboration with the state governments and forest departments. Her work also serves to uplift people, giving them opportunities they may never otherwise have known. Be it the tongawallas, or the Kalandars and saperas, Mrs. Geeta Seshamani has constantly tried to generate income for them by the intervention of free education, free veterinary services and opportunities to earn better. It is her passion for her cause that has successfully been able to convert men from hardcore poachers to extremely caring people, when it comes to Wildlife, by teaching them how to handle animals delicately and carefully. With over thirty years of her involvement for her cause, it is safe to say that her work has inspired others to follow the path of peaceful co-existence.CIVIL SOCIETY KARMAVEER PURASKAAR, 2009
Wildlife Conservation
Kartick Satyanarayan
Mr.Kartick Satyanarayan is the co-founder of Wildlife SOS and a partner at Friendicoes SECA (Society for Eradication of Cruelty to Animals). According to him, protecting, helping and conserving wildlife in India must be prioritized as humans and animals must co-exist. It is because of this that his work symbolizes “social justice and citizen action”. An interesting work to his credit is that of convincing the Kalandars (a tribe) to give up poaching of bear cubs from the wild in exchange of providing their children with free education and providing them with an alternative livelihood. His organization constantly fights poaching through a network of informers across the country. While Mr.Kartick’s and his organization’s primary focus is animals and wildlife, they also work to serve and uplift people, giving then opportunities they may never have known otherwise. Despite the major skepticism that he faces at every step, he leaves no stone unturned to make his efforts worthwhile.CIVIL SOCIETY KARMAVEER PURASKAAR, 2009
Peace And Harmony
Armando Gonsalves
Mr.Armando Gonsalves is presently the owner of Heritage Jazz, Trancemedia, Armando Gonsalves & Associates and the Chairman of Spirit of Goa Charitable Trust. Through Heritage Jazz shows he has conducted several fundraising programs for Tsunami victims, National Association for the Blind, orphanages and various NGO’s in Goa. He is closely involved with the Heritage field especially towards bringing more attention to the heritage homes in Goa, many of which are in a state of ruin. For this, he has personally forfeited business profits to ensure that this heritage continues. Environment protection and fund raising for musicians and sportsmen are the other areas that he has been deeply involved with. He has been continuously involved with taking music and quality education to schools via various workshops. Through his Spirit of Goa organization, he organized a peace concert and several candle light vigils post the 26\11 terror attacks in Mumbai – all of which revolved around the common agenda of Peace.CIVIL SOCIETY KARMAVEER PURASKAAR, 2009
Fund Raising
Noshir Dadrawala
Mr.Noshir is presently the CEO of the Mumbai based Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy and has been involved in this field for nearly a quarter of a century, building capacity for the voluntary sector across the country through training programs, consultancy service (mostly pro bono), writing and publishing useful resource books and enabling the growth of philanthropy by promoting research, networks and healthy partnerships across all sectors. He exploited the hidden potential and good intentions of the voluntary sector and provided it with professionalism and management skills to operate in a manner that could prove accountable, transparent and within the framework of the complex charity laws in this country. Mr.Noshir has also been involved in conducting various capacity building workshops across the country. He is trustee of Charities Aid Foundation (India), Resource Alliance (India), India Sponsorship Committee, Make A Wish Foundation (India), Chronic Care Foundation, Forbes Foundation and the Bombay Parsi Panchayat.