Padma Shri Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, popularly known as Kaithapram, is a Malayalam lyricist, poet, music director, actor, singer, screenwriter, music therapist and performer of Carnatic music. He debuted with the movie Ennennum Kannettante in 1986. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyricist two times. He was awarded India's fourth-highest civilian honour Padma Shri in 2021 by the Government of India for his contribution to the field of art.
Dr. Narayan Singh Manaklao is a noted social worker of India and was member of the Rajya Sabha, by nomination during August 2003 to August 2009. He is also a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award. He was born in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan in 1942.
Malathi Krishnamurthy Holla is an international para athlete from India. She was awarded Arjuna award and Padma Shri for her achievements.
Kariveppil Rabiya is a physically disabled social worker from Vellilakkadu, Malappuram, Kerala in India who rose to prominence through her role in the Kerala State Literacy Campaign in Malappuram district in 1990. Her efforts were recognized at a national level by the Government of India on multiple occasions. In 1994, the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of India awarded her the National Youth Award for her contributions to society. In January 2001, she was awarded the first Kannagi Sthree Sakthi Puraskar award for the year 1999 for her contribution to upliftment and empowerment of women. She was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri in January 2022.
Sudha Kaul is an Indian social worker and educationist, known for her services for the rehabilitation of physically disabled people. Dr. Kaul is the vice chairperson of the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP) and the founder Principal of the Centre for Special Education. Holder of a doctoral degree in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) from Manchester Metropolitan University, Kaul is credited with many books on the subject. She has served in many Government committees and held the chair of a government committee formulated to draft new laws for the disabled citizens of India. The Government of India honored her in 2010, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri.
Kanubhai Hasmukhbhai Tailor is an Indian social worker who is physically disabled. He is from Gujarat and the founder of the non governmental organization, Disable Welfare Trust of India, working towards the upliftment of physically disabled people. The Government of India honored Tailor in 2011, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri.
Phoolbasan Bai Yadav is an Indian social worker and the founder of the non governmental organization, Maa Bamleshwari Janhit Kare Samiti, known for her efforts towards the development of economically and socially backward women of Chhattisgarh, India. She was honored by the Government of India, in 2012, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri. She also acts as a mentor to Vision India Foundation. She appeared in the Karmveer special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati along with Renuka Shahane.
Gutta Muniratnam was an Indian social worker, a member of the National Planning Commission of India and the founder of Rashtriya Seva Samithi (RASS), a non governmental organization engaged in the social welfare activities in over 2500 socio-economically backward villages in the Rayalaseema region, spread across the present day states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He was honored by the Government of India, in 2012, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.
Sângthankima is a humanitarian and social worker in Mizoram, India. He is the founder of Thutak Nunpuitu Team (TNT), a voluntary organisation, which runs the largest charitable institution in Mizoram. His institution, a registered society since 1991 under the Firms and Societies in India, started as a rehabilitation society for alcoholics in Champhai town. With donation of a plot of land in Aizawl city, it expanded into an orphanage with formal school, health centre, and sanatorium. He received the Padma Shri Award in 2024.
Jyoti Bhushan Banerji was an Indian physician, social worker and the founder of Jyoti Institute of Medical and Rehabilitation Sciences (JIMARS) from the Indian state of Allahabad. He founded the organization in 1971, and later registered it under the name, Viklang Kendra, in 1976, for the rehabilitation of physically disabled people. The organization was renamed again as JIMARS, in 2010, upon the death of Banerji. He was honored by the Government of India, in 2001, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.
Vikram Marwah (1925–2013) was an Indian orthopedic surgeon, social worker and the founder of Handicapped Children's Rehabilitation Centre and Children's Orthopedic Hospital of the Matru Sewa Sangh, Sitabuldi and Matrubhu Antargat Sanskar, a children's magazine. A winner of Dr. B. C. Roy Award, he was honored by the Government of India, in 2002, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri
Naresh Chander Lal is an Indian film director and producer. He was awarded Padma Shri for his contribution in films and theater in 2016. He is the second person to receive the Padma Shri award from Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Friederike Irina Bruning, now called Sudevi Mataji, is a German animal rights activist. She was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, She was the founder of Radha Surabhi Goshala in 1996. A German citizen, Sudevi Mataji has resided in Radha Kund (Vrindavan) for over 35 years, taking care of cows in need.
Pramod Bhagat is an Indian professional Para-badminton player from Vaishali district, Bihar. He is currently ranked world number 2 in para-badminton men's singles SL3, and won a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Men's singles SL3.
Gaurav Khanna is the Indian para-badminton team's head coach. Shri Gaurav Khanna has been widely recognized as the Man behind the rise of Para Badminton in the country. Born on December 11, 1975, Shri Khanna encountered several trials and tribulations during his youth and early life, but his desire propelled him onward, and despite all obstacles, he emerged as a selfless individual driven to make a positive difference in the lives of others. His chronicle of battles that led to him becoming a role model for society is also included in the National Geographic documentary series #One For Change.
S Damodaran is the founder of the NGO Gramalaya, based in Tiruchirappalli. Gramalaya, established in 1987, was initially focused on the economic improvement of rural people. Later, realizing that the more urgent and immediate concern is the unavailability of clean drinking water and toilet facilities, the NGO shifted their focus to water and sanitation. Gramalaya aims to eradicate open defecation by providing eco-friendly toilets. Gramalaya is now an important resource center of the Ministry of Jalshakti, Govt. of India. The NGO has been functioning with the support of Government, donors and corporate groups under CSR initiatives. It was Gramalaya's efforts that helped transform the Thandavampatti village in Tiruchy into the first open-defecation free village in India in 2003.
Om Prakash Gandhi is a social worker from the Indian State of Haryana dedicated to the cause of girl child education.
V L Nghaka is an academician from the Indian State of Mizoram known for his efforts for the propagation and development of the Hindi language in Mizoram. He authored the first Hind-Mizo dictionary and got it published in the year 1965. In the year 2022, Govt of India honoured V L Nghaka by conferring the Padma Shri award for his contributions to literature and education. As per his citation for Padma Shri award, "He built a cultural bridge between Hindi and Mizo language by drafting a Hindi-Mizo dictionary. As an interpreter, he was instrumental in bringing the government and Mizo people closer.”
Prabhaben Shah was an Indian social worker. In 2022, she was awarded Padma Shri by the Indian Government for her contribution in social work.
Gamit Ramilaben Raysingbhai is a tribal social worker from Taparwada Village, Tapi district, Gujarat, India, known for her work in transforming several villages in Gujarat to open-defecation free villages. She is also known for her work for the empowerment of rural women by setting up a large number of self help groups of women. In the year 2022, the government of India honoured Gamit Ramilaben Raysingbhai by conferring the Padma Shri Award for her contribution to social work.
