Dr. Chandrakant Puri (2010-11)
Dr. Chandrakant Puri is a professor cum director of the Centre for study of social exclusion & inclusive policy. He completed his MSW and Ph. D. in Rural Development (in the areas of tribal development) and started working with primitive tribal people in Maharashtra in the year 1992. He has implemented various developmental projects including the Self-Help Housing project which was nominated for the World Habitat Award in 1995. The entire project completely transformed 2 tribal hamlets, forming 36 youth and mahila mandals and developing leadership through training programs. Dr. Puri coordinated a Baseline Socio-Economic Survey & Plain Table survey of 8000 families under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project –II to be affected by the transport project, which became basis for the Resettlement & Rehabilitation Policy for Urban Poor that was sponsored by the World Bank. He has developed the curriculum for MA in Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policy and NGO Management focusing on the field work intervention and continues his field intervention and research with tribal. He has been awarded prestigious Asiatic Post Doctoral Fellowship for the research “National Draft Policy of Tribals”. His work with prisoners of Ratnagiri Special Prison resulted in Mumbai University awarding him the Gold Medal in the year 1989-90. He has travelled worldwide to present his research and work with tribal communities. His dream is to see that all tribal’s in the state of Maharashtra live with dignity.
Sumithra Prasad (2010-11)
Sumithra Prasad has dedicated her life to selfless social service despite facing seemingly insurmountable personal challenges. The General Secretary of Dorai Foundation, an NGO, she has extensively worked on several issue based projects ranging from Advocacy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Child Labor, Individuals with HIV, People with Development disabilities, Leprosy, Domestic Violence, Female infanticide, Inclusion, Mental Health, Multiple Intelligences, Rehabilitation of commercial sex workers, Rural empowerment, Self Advocacy and Transgender assimilation. She conducts capacity building programs, leadership initiatives, motivational workshops, de-addiction camps and community based rehabilitation projects. She has positively influenced parents of children with special needs through counseling, mentors youth in the areas of personality development and social sensitization. A profound Media Activist, she has written and directed over 50 documentary films on various social issues to create awareness, disseminate information and propagate change. Her work has been recognized by the Government of Uttar Pradesh - Lakshman Mela, Sun Dance Film Festival, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, National Confederation of Parents Association and the National Trust. She is also the recipient of Sadguru Gnananda Award for promotion of social service consciousness and Sewa Jyothi - Award of Honor for the extensive community work done in Punjab.
Pamela Gale Malhotra(2008-09)
Virendar Mohan Trehan(2009-10)
A multifaceted personality, Mr. Virendar Mohan Trehan has devoted much of his time to propagate the cause of science and technology, telecommunications and social harmony in the country. Being a social scientist, the welfare of society has always been his utmost priority. To promote the spirit of fraternity, amity, peace and harmony throughout the world, Mr. Trehan founded Foundation for Amity & National Solidarity (FANS). The objective of his organization has been to promote friendship and harmony amongst all Indians and with his diverse endeavors, he has been successful in achieving the same. Through FANS, he has been able to raise scholarships in kind, for the underprivileged children to help them with their studies. He has also been associated with several NGOs like Hindustani Panchayat Sangathan (HPS), All India Satsang Mandal, Archana Punarvas Kendra (established by FANS); be it as a member or founder. In recognition of his spirit of entrepreneurship and contribution in the field of telecom technology, popularizing science and propagating national integration and social harmony, several awards and honours have been conferred upon Mr. Trehan, latest being the prestigious Award of Presidential Gold Medal presented to him by the Indian Science Congress Association on January 3, 2008 at Visakhapatnam by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh for propagating the message of Amity, Peace and Harmony for the entire fraternity and for being a Social Scientist par excellence LIFELONG
Mrs. Pamela Malhotra is the Co-chairperson and Secretary of the Sai Sanctuary Trust. She has years of experience behind her as the primary caretaker of animals at Sanctuary. She has been both the author and subject of several articles/interviews/film documentaries on the environment, philosophy, politics and education. Graduated Summa cum Laude (Valedictorian) at the Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA with a double major in Political Science and History, she is also trained in Chemistry, Pharmacology, Abnormal Psychology; Reiki Master healer, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Vibrionics therapy. She also continues charity work, as the only health professional in remote villages in the Himalayas and in Kodagu District.Mr. Alyque Padamsee (2007-08)
Mr. Padamsee is the CEO of AP Advertising Pvt. Ltd. For 14 years, Mr. Padamsee was the Chief Executive who built Lintas India to be one of the top agencies in the country. Known as the Brand Father of Indian Advertising, Mr. Padamsee has built brands like Liril, Park Avenue, Jet Airways, and the sensational Kamasutra. Mr. Padamsee is also the guru of the English Theatre in India, and is famous for his Theatre productions. The Advertising Club of Bombay named him “Advertising Man of the Century”. He is also the only Indian to be voted into the International Clio Hall of Fame, the Oscars of World Advertising.
He works as a Social Activist for the Citizens for Justice & Peace Committee, which works on communal harmony, the Citizens Action Group, Citizen’s Council for a Better Tomorrow, the BBC Trust on an Eradication of Leprosy program among others. The President of India has conferred on him the Padmashree Award.