LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT KARMAVEER PURASKAAR

Dr. Kalyan Banerjee (2011-12)

Dr. Kalyan Banerjee, the Honorary Homeopathic Physician to the President of India and recipient of Padma Shree (2009) for his distinguished service in the field of medicine, has spent his lifetime serving people from economically backward classes. A kind hearted humanitarian, Dr. Kalyan Banerjee established his Clinic in 1977, where he offered free consultation, irrespective of cast, creed, religion or financial standing. This charitable work over three decades has resulted in millions of the underprivileged getting access to health care and being cured of serious illnesses. Approximately, 30 million charitable prescriptions have been served by Dr. Banerjee without any consultation charges and without any grants, endowments or donations from any individual or organisation. He has won numerous awards for his work, notably the Dr. K. R. Narayanan Memorial Award in 2010 for Lifetime Achievement in Homeopathy. He has granted several papers at International and National Conference on Leukaemia, Renal Faliure, complicated Fever and Hemorrhagic diseases. He continues to serve lakhs of families from all over the country and from around the world on a regular basis.

Anina Joseph Mathew (2010-11)

A PG in social work and sociology, Ms. Anina Joseph Mathew has surely opened new roads ahead in the tinted lives of many. She devoted her entire life to improve the lives of prisoners and their children. She started many organizations during the course of her life. Correction India, an NGO is an endeavor to help improve the conditions of prisoners and their families alike, especially the females. This organization helps in conducting entertainment and de-addiction programs for prisoners. The HIV and cancer infected patients in Jails have been released under her amiable guidance. Under the garb of ‘Aswasa Bhavan’, she helped give life back to the children of prisoners, making education available to them. She also started a secular organization that is a home to many abandoned children under the name of ARUTHAL ILLAM. We can say that she is the reincarnation of the ‘Mother Mary’.

Rajinder Johar (2010-11)

Rajinder Johar, an occupational therapist by profession, is the founder and Chief- Coordinator of Family of Disabled (FOD), a charitable trust. The extremely depressing and discouraging condition of the disabled in society, particularly those illiterate and economically weak, was the trigger for him to launch FOD in March 1992 to serve the disabled fraternity. Being a person with 25-year-old paralyzed body below neck, even with all the challenges, he has been able to implement numerous initiatives and provided assistive aids and schemes for the differently-abled; like launching the first magazine on disability, The Voice of FOD, Apna Rozgaar Scheme (ARS) that provides ways & means for economic independence of the disabled, Gyan path- to sponsor the education and strengthen educational roots, Beyond Limits- to Promote talent in art. FOD was awarded the Helen Keller Award in 2003 by National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People and Shell India. Mr Johar strongly believes that life is governed by the law of uncertainty. Therefore, each and every citizen should be aware and sensitive to the special needs and management of PWDs.

Smt. Nirmala Narula (2009-10)

Smt.Nirmala Narula is currently the President of Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India. She has been a socially responsible person, symbolizing her actions as a citizen with Social Justice now for over four and a half decades. In her lifetime she has pioneered various causes touching all spheres of the social fabrics viz., the children, women, youth and now working concertedly focused on Alzheimer’s and other form of dementia falling into the ambit of Elderly care. She gave a whole new meaning to the old adage ‘Charity begins at home’ when she opened a ‘neighborhood school’ for the underprivileged children in her own house. In spite of the many roadblocks in her path, she managed to bring state of the art hospital facilities not only to India but Bangladesh and Nepal as well. Smt.Narula is at present deeply involved with opening the Center in Delhi for people with early Alzheimer’s, to bring respite/relief to family members for a few hours in a day. Smt.Narula has received well deserved achievement and awards over the years and she continues to serve society through ARDSI.

Major General R.S. Pannu (2008-09)

After spending 36 long years in Indian Army, Major General Raghubir Singh Pannu devoted his life in the service of the people through voluntary sector. A man of great courage, having been a front line soldier, he became the think tank of Help Age India in 1984. Help Age, then a six year old organisation, was put on the map as India’s leading charity during his 12 year tenure. He conceived and executed a 10 year plan that brought more than 430 NGOs under Help Age India’s umbrella. Major General R.S. Pannu became the first President and Managing Trustee at the Global Cancer Concern India during 2000. He became a sought after crusader for many international bodies for tackling global issues. Major General R.S. Pannu will be remembered for his unique contribution to the development of the voluntary sector in India. His experience, knowledge, achievements and total dedication to the service of humanity will remain a role model.

Professor M.S.Swaminathan (2007-08)

Professor Swaminathan has been described by the United Nations Environment Programme as ‘the Father of Economic Ecology’. A plant geneticist by training, Professor Swaminathan's contributions to the agricultural renaissance of India have led to his being widely referred to as the scientific leader of the green revolution movement. His advocacy of sustainable agriculture leading to an ever-green revolution makes him an acknowledged world leader in the field of sustainable food security. He has had a pioneering role in mainstreaming gender considerations in agriculture and rural development, and has been nationally and internationally recognized and awarded for his his outstanding scientific contribution in the field of agriculture

Dr. Verghese Kurien (2006-07)

Dr. Verghese Kurien is the father of the White Revolution in India, the architect behind ‘Operation Flood’ the world’s largest dairy development programme. He was the chairman of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF) and his name synonymous with ‘Amul’ right from Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited (KDCMPUL), to his stint with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the National Tree Growers Federation (NTGF). Dr Kurien has been steadfast in his mission that the standard to measure success would be the benefit that actually reached the village women.

GLOBAL CITIZEN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT KARMAVEER PURASKAAR, 2010

Dr. David M. Dror (2011-12)

Dr. Dror is a Swiss national residing in India. He has dedicated himself to developing and implementing a micro insurance model that could deliver financial safety directly to grassroots communit