Dr. Manoj Sharma (2010-11)
Dr. Manoj Sharma is currently a Professor of Radiotherapy in Maulana Azad Medical College. He has worked arduously to help reduce the misery and suffering of the late stage cancer patients in hospitals and has contributed greatly to clinical cancer research. He has moved people and organizations, institutions and individuals to spread cancer awareness messages throughout the country on a regular basis through media. He aims to create awareness in large section of people especially from the illiterate class, to get the affected people to the cancer treatment in early stages so that cancer can be cured and to get more cancer treatment centres. He has been writing in news papers, lecturing in the social clubs of schools and colleges, has written several books and done their distribution, along with pamphlets, with the help of various NGOs, friends, Rotary and LION for bringing out cancer awareness. Through this, he has been able to include cancer in National Rural Health Mission. He is an advisor to the Govenment of NCT of Delhi for its Cancer Control Programme.
Abha Singh (2010-11)
Abha Singh is presently working as the Director Postal Services, Maharashtra and Goa, overlooking administration of more than thousands of Post Offices, departmental employees and GDS employees. She runs an NGO called "Rannsamar" through which she provides legal assistance to the slum dwellers and other needy people who are fighting against injustice in the society. She has also been making efforts to provide alternate sources of energy by putting solar panels in Post Offices to run computers in rural areas. She has taken special initiatives to appoint women for delivering post in Uttar Pradesh. She has been trying to bring attitudinal and behavioral change and has helped in improving the perception of the government in the eyes of the public. She believes that if the mechanism of governance becomes free from corruption and attitudinal elements; it can promote the cause of social justice in the most optimum manner, which shall be comprehensive in its coverage and scope. She was the only women to reach the Lead India Finals and was awarded a leadership course at London School of Economics. She is also assisted her husband Mr. Y.P. Singh in directing a film titled 'Kya Yahi Sach Hai - Is this the Truth' to invoke emotions of the dishonest, once they see the gory effect corruption can have on the system.
ARMED FORCES
Major General Ian Cardozo (Instituted in 2010-11)
Major General Ian Cardozo was born in Mumbai and studied at St. Xavier's School and College. He subsequently joined the National Defence Academy Khadakvasla. He was wounded in the battle of Sylhet due to a mine blast & had to cut off his own leg due to his unit's medical facilities being destroyed by enemy artillery. He was fitted with an artificial leg at the Artificial Limb Centre, Pune and decided to make himself physically as fit as non-disabled officers and was the first war-disabled officer to command an infantry brigade and subsequently an Infantry Division, both in J&K. He is credited as being the officer who opened up promotion for war disabled officers to do courses, to be promoted and to command formations in peace and field. On retirement from the Army, he joined an NGO that worked for disabled children and also the Disabled Rights Group that campaigned for the rights of disabled persons. After seven years of work with the Spastics Society of Northern India he was appointed as the Chairman of the Rehabilitation Council of India where he serves till date. He swims regularly and has won several gold, silver and bronze medals in national swimming competitions for the disabled. He is also on the Council of the United Service Institution of India and the Board of Action for Ability, Development and Inclusion, an NGO that works for the development of the disabled of India.
IPS Officer
D R Kaarthikeyan (Instituted in 2009-2010)
An Agriculturist turned lawyer-turned IPS officer, Dr. Kaarthikeyan served the nation with great distinction in many capacities in India and abroad. He has been Director of CBI, Director General of NHRC and CRPF. Presently he holds important positions in many sectors, be it corporate, social or spiritual organisations. He has been traveling all over India and abroad promoting Peace, Religious Harmony, Spirituality, Human Rights and respect for Environment. His work to society has been widely recognized over time and there is an endless list of honours conferred upon him for the same. A few important awards to his credit are-the ‘Humanitarian Award’ from the Integral Yoga International, USA for outstanding achievement in service to humanity; “For the Sake of Honour” by the Rotary Clubs; Rajiv Gandhi Award for Harmony by the Interfaith Harmony of India, Atma Jyothi by the World Academy of Spiritual Sciences; Jewel of Delhi by the All India Conference of Intellectuals; President’s Medal for Distinguished Service and many more by various civil society organisations. He has a successful track record to date and is widely respected for his commitment and quality of service in various spheres in various fields of activity.
J.M.Lyngdoh (2006-07)
James Michael Lyngdoh will forever be associated with the credible, successful, and free elections held in difficult circumstances in Jammu & Kashmir and Gujarat in the aftermath of the 2002 riots. He has used his authority with calm gentleness and surgical efficiency to protect the rights of the weak from opportunistic politicians. His remarkable rectitude, impeccable integrity and unassuming nature have set standards for probity in public life. He ensured fair and transparent conduct of the electoral process as Election commissioner and set standards for fair electoral polls
Harsh Mander(2006-07)
Harsh Mander had served in the Indian Administrative Service for about 20 years in various capacities including district collector, managing director SC/ST Finance Corporation. He has been described by his peers as ‘frank, fearless and committed with indomitable courage’ when it came to defending the oppressed and weaker sections of the society. He resigned from the IAS in the aftermath of the Gujarat riots as he felt the call of his conscience and duty was greater than the oath of office. He took effective stand during the Gujarat carnage of 2002, and broke the conspiracy of silence around the pogrom.