Murlikant Petkar is India's first Paralympic gold medalist. He won an individual gold medal in the 1972 Summer Paralympics, in Heidelberg, Germany. He set a world record in the 50 m freestyle swimming event, at 37.33 seconds. In the same games he participated in javelin, precision javelin throw and slalom. He was a finalist in all three events. In 2018, he was awarded with the Padma Shri.
Tamana is a non-profit voluntary organization, registered in 1984 in India, consisting of three special education centers, a training cell and a research center to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization's work is recognized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, Government of Delhi, Rehabilitation Council of India and is registered with the National Trust. Tamana also has a Special Consultative Status within the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2005.
Gulabdas Broker was a Gujarati language writer from India. He is primarily known for his short stories and one-act plays in Gujarati literature.
Mathur Madhabhai Savani is a businessman and social worker from Gujarat, India. He established a diamond firm Savani Brothers. He worked in the field of water conservation in Saurashtra region of Gujarat..
Reema Nanavaty is an Indian developmental worker based in Ahmedabad, India. She has been active for three decades in organising women into co-operative organisations, enterprises and trade unions in India. She is the director of SEWA and is credited for building women's livelihoods and enterprises within eighteen states in India as well as in neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.
Kandathil Mammen Cherian was an Indian media person and former chief-editor of Malayala Manorama, the Malayalam daily, ranked the first in Malayalam, the fourth in India. and the eleventh in the World, in terms of circulation. He is a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, the third and fourth-highest Indian civilian awards.
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.
Nomita Chandy was an Indian social worker from Bangalore, known for her services towards the rehabilitation of destitute children.
Ashraya is an Indian non governmental organisation headquartered at Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, working for the welfare of destitute children and empowerment of women.
Disable Welfare Trust of India (DWTI) is an Indian non governmental organisation based in Surat, Gujarat, India, working in the areas of education, environment and the empowerment of women.
Pravin Darji is Gujarati essayist, poet, critic and editor from India. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2011.
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.
Uma Tuli is an Indian social worker, educationist and the founder of Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust, a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation, working for the rehabilitation of physically disabled people. She was honoured by the Government of India, in 2012, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.
Binny Yanga was an Indian social worker, a member of the National Planning Commission of India and the founder of Oju Welfare Association (OWA), a non governmental organization based in Arunachal Pradesh, working for the welfare of the weaker sections of the society and campaigning against social Illnesses such as child marriage, forced marriage and dowry. She was honored by the Government of India, in 2012, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.
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.
Indumati Chimanlal Sheth was an Indian independence activist, politician, social worker and educationist from Gujarat. Born in Ahmedabad and influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, she participated in the independence movement and later served as a deputy education minister of the Bombay State and education minister of Gujarat. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1970 for her social work.
Khda Reh Ke Dalvaunga, popularly known as Jagdishbhai, is an Indian visually impaired social worker and one of the 3 founders of the Blind People's Association of India, along with his wife and Kanubhai Ambalal Thaker an Ahmedabad based non governmental organization promoting the interests of the people with physical disabilities. He is a recipient of the Indian civilian honour of the Padma Shri.
Bhikhudan Govindbhai Gadhvi is an Indian folk singer and songwriter, known as a proponent of Dayro, a narrative singing tradition of Gujarat. He is a recipient of the Gujarat Gaurav Award of the Government of Gujarat and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2016, for his contributions to folk music.
Dahyabhai Shastri is an Indian scholar of Sanskrit and the founder of Brahmarshi Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Nadiad. He is also a former president of the Gujarat state unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Born in Vasai Dabhla, a small village in Mehsana district of Gujarat and did his studies in Sanskrit in Ahmedabad and Varanasi, Shastri chairs the Veda Centre, Pardi. He is known for contributions in interpreting Sanskrit grammar and literature and is a recipient of Gujarat State Award. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2016, for his contributions to Literature and education.
Zaverilal Dalpatram Mehta was an Indian photographer and the recipient of the Padma Sri civilian award in 2018 for his contribution to the fields of literature and educational journalism.
