In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, the applause inside the halls was steady and sincere—but the stories being recognised did not begin there. They began far from stages and spotlights, in clinics that operate with limited resources, classrooms improvised in borrowed spaces, self-help groups that meet after long workdays, and environmental initiatives driven more by persistence than publicity.
The Forbes India We Serve India Awards 2025, presented by Lions Clubs International, returned for Season Two with a clear intent: to place the focus firmly on grassroots changemakers whose work is quietly shaping lives. Conceived under the leadership of International President A.P. Singh and Board Appointee PID Sangeeta Jatia, the initiative reflects a larger commitment to recognising service that is rooted in community and driven by purpose.
Following a debut season that brought over 150 changemakers into the national conversation, Season Two sharpens its lens in line with the United Nations’ global priorities for 2025—highlighting work that is community-led, scalable, and capable of being replicated across regions. Yet the ambition remains grounded: to identify individuals and initiatives that respond to real needs, with solutions rooted in local contexts. What follows are the stories behind that impact, drawn from the ground up.
This year, the We Serve India initiative expands its vision in alignment with the United Nations’ global themes for 2025. The awards recognise work across five categories: Innovation in Education, Learning and Skill Development; Innovation in Environmental Sustainability; Inclusive Healthcare and Accessibility; Tech-led Social Innovation; and Women-led Social Innovation.
Season Two unfolded through zonal events, beginning in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, with changemakers from Northern and Eastern India, and continuing in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with recognitions from the Southern and Western regions.
The Lucknow event, held on September 29, 2025, marked the first zonal gathering of the season—and, in many ways, set the tone for what this platform seeks to achieve.
Welcoming the gathering, Constitutional Area Leader (GAT & LCIF) PID Jitendra Singh Chauhan spoke about the importance of recognising service that often remains unseen—work carried out without expectation of acknowledgment, yet critical to social progress. The collaboration between Forbes India, News18, and Lions Clubs International, he noted, was built precisely to create this bridge between impact and visibility.
Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, brought a wider civic perspective to the evening. Drawing from his own journey in public life and volunteer service, he reflected on the complementary roles of government and civil society. Some work, he observed, is best carried out beyond policy frameworks—by committed groups within society who choose service without seeking attention.
In this context, he acknowledged the role of organisations such as Lions Clubs in enabling people from diverse fields to channel their skills toward public good.
Across the evening, ten organisations—five each from Eastern and Northern India—were honoured, alongside individuals extending the boundaries of social service in their respective fields. The awards were presented by several dignitaries, including Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; Dr. Babita Singh Chauhan, Chairperson, Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Women; and LCIF Area Leader PMCC Vinay Mittal. Senior Lions leaders from MD 321, along with representatives from Lucknow, Kanpur, and Prayagraj, were also present.
In Inclusive Healthcare and Accessibility, the awards recognised efforts bringing medical care closer to communities often left out of formal systems and addressing gaps where access, affordability, and awareness intersect.
Inclusive
Healthcare &
Accessibility
Winners:
North Zone
Ashwajit Singh
East Zone
Mohammed Abdul Wohab
Runners-up:
North Zone
OmkarNath
East Zone
Mritunjay Kumar Tiwary
Innovation in Education Learning & Skill Development
Winners:
North Zone
Uma Tuli
East Zone
Pauzagin
Tonsing
Runners-up:
North Zone
Rouble Nagi
East Zone
Prasenjit Mandal
Innovation in Environmental Sustainability
Winners:
North Zone
Madhukar Swayambhu
East Zone
Rathin Bhadhra
Runners-up:
North Zone
Padam Kumar Jain
East Zone
Pradeep Mahapatra
Tech-led
Social
Innovation
Winners:
North Zone
Gopal Jee
East Zone
Rakesh Kumar
Singh
Runners-up:
North Zone
V R Rajesh
East Zone
Arindam Ghosh
Women-led
Social
Innovation
Winners:
North Zone
Madhuri
Varshney
East Zone
Jahnavi
Runners-up:
North Zone
Reena Banerjee
East Zone
Vanlalruati
Inclusive Healthcare & Accessibility
Winners:
North Zone
Ashwajit Singh
East Zone
Mohammed Abdul Wohab
Runners-up:
North Zone
OmkarNath
East Zone
Mritunjay Kumar Tiwary
Innovation in Education Learning & Skill Development
Winners:
North Zone
Uma Tuli
East Zone
Pauzagin Tonsing
Runners-up:
North Zone
Rouble Nagi
East Zone
Prasenjit Mandal
Innovation in Environmental Sustainability
Winners:
North Zone
Madhukar Swayambhu
East Zone
Rathin Bhadhra
Runners-up:
North Zone
Padam Kumar Jain
East Zone
Pradeep Mahapatra
Tech-led Social Innovation
Winners:
North Zone
Gopal Jee
East Zone
Rakesh Kumar Singh
Runners-up:
North Zone
V R Rajesh
East Zone
Arindam Ghosh
Women-led Social Innovation
Winners:
North Zone
Madhuri Varshney
East Zone
Jahnavi
Runners-up:
North Zone
Reena Banerjee
East Zone
Vanlalruati
The Innovation in Education, Learning and Skill Development category reflected the changing nature of education in India, celebrating initiatives that blend learning with relevance and employability.
Environmental challenges, addressed through locally grounded innovation, were recognised in the Innovation in Environmental Sustainability category, honouring solutions that focused on long-term stewardship rather than scale alone.
Technology’s role as an enabler—rather than a headline—came through in the Tech-Led Social Innovation category, with initiatives demonstrating how digital tools can strengthen social outcomes when designed with intent.
The Women-Led Social Innovation category acknowledged leadership that emerges from lived experience, where sustained engagement translated vision into measurable impact.
Beyond the awards, the evening also made space for dialogue. A panel discussion on ‘The Collective Power of Cooperatives and SHGs as Engines of Inclusive Growth,’ moderated by veteran journalist Mugdha Kalra, brought together a diverse group of experienced voices, including Anandi Agarwal, Chairperson, Women Entrepreneur Cell – Indian Industries Association; Ganesh Pandey, Convener, Shramik Bharti; Dr. Kshitij Aasthi, Convener – Centre for Public Policy, IIM Lucknow; Jyotsna Kaur Habibullah, CEO, Lucknow Farmers Market; and Punith Asthana, Founder, India Dreams Foundation.
The discussion carried particular relevance in 2025, a year declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Cooperatives, underscoring the role of cooperative models in advancing inclusive growth, social equity, and sustainable development. The panellists examined how self-help groups and cooperatives continue to shape livelihoods—particularly for women in rural and marginalised communities.
They spoke candidly about scale, access, policy gaps, and the need to move towards a “Cooperative 2.0” model that responds to present-day realities, including urban poverty and market linkages.
The evening concluded with acknowledgements—of partnerships, of trust, and of collective effort. In his vote of thanks, PDG Dr. Manoj Ruhela underlined what the event had quietly demonstrated: that when platforms listen carefully, and recognition is given thoughtfully, service finds its rightful place in public view.
If Lucknow set the tone for Season Two, Visakhapatnam expanded the canvas. Held in the city known as the Jewel of the East Coast, the second zonal event of the We Serve India Awards 2025 brought together changemakers from Southern and Western India, reflecting how shared social priorities take distinct forms across regions.
The evening opened with characteristic Andhra warmth and hospitality. Welcoming the large gathering, PID Vijay Kumar Raju shone a light on the deeper purpose of the event. “This evening is not just an awards ceremony,” he said. “It is a celebration of service, compassion and courage. True nation-building happens when we celebrate those who serve selflessly and inspire others to do the same.”
Echoing this sentiment, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivas Varma, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel, Government of India, spoke about nation-building rooted in community-led action and grounded solutions. Reflecting on the importance of grassroots effort, he remarked, “True nation-building blooms from compassion and innovation, right here on the ground.”
From reflections on nation-building, the focus moved to climate action at the community level. A panel discussion titled ‘Roots of Resilience: Community-Driven Climate Action,’ drew on perspectives shaped by decades of on-ground experience, spanning environmental action, policy, finance, academia, and grassroots enterprise. The panel featured Mr. Ganapathy Vadlamani, Co-Founder, GreenVision; Shri G. Bala Subramanyam, Professor, Administrative Staff College of India and former SE, APPCB; Dr. Y. Somu Naidu, District Development Manager, NABARD, Kakinada; Lion Prof. V.S.R.K. Prasad, Emeritus Professor, Andhra University; and Ms. Latha Pudi, Founder, Cocoabuzzz.
Speakers drew on field experience to highlight how climate action becomes more effective when communities are active participants rather than passive beneficiaries. Ganapathy Vadlamani emphasised the need for collective ownership in climate action. “Individual efforts are tremendous,” he observed, “but without co-ownership written into the agenda, we remain scattered. Tie the collective—only then will we be tight.”
Latha Pudi shared a quietly powerful account from the cocoa fields, illustrating how sustainability and livelihoods can move together. “Even illiterate women grasped complex value-addition skills in weeks,” she said. “We turned a four-month crop into year-round livelihoods, planted over 27,000 trees and shrubs for carbon capture, and are now five kilometres from a tribal university ready to incubate green jobs for the next generation.”
Looking ahead, Prof. V.S.R.K. Prasad underscored the importance of early intervention. “Take the awareness to schools,” he urged. “If we sensitise the youth early, they can change the system—starting with a simple war cry: ban single-use plastic and make its collection every citizen’s responsibility.”
Awards for the South and West Zones were presented in the presence of distinguished guests, including Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivas Varma, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel; Mr. Palla Srinivas Rao, Andhra Pradesh State President of the Telugu Desam Party; Shri Vishnu Kumar Raju, MLA, Visakhapatnam; and Smt. Gouthu Sireesha, MLA, Palasa, along with senior Lions leaders. Their presence reflected the collaborative spirit that underpins the initiative.
Across the five categories, the South and West Zone honourees reflected the diversity of approaches shaping grassroots change—from expanding access to essential health services and linking learning with opportunity, to locally grounded environmental responses and technology-enabled solutions designed to address social challenges.
Inclusive
Healthcare &
Accessibility
Winners:
West Zone
Dr. Ashish R. Satav
South Zone
Alladi Prabhakar
Runners-up:
West Zone
Sujata Ravindra Sugwekar
South Zone
Leo Akash Raj
Innovation in Education Learning & Skill Development
Winners:
West Zone
Gene Derrick D’Silva
South Zone
M.A. Saleem
Runners-up:
West Zone
Nitesh Bhardwaj
South Zone
Raghu Narasingasa Hubbali
Innovation in Environmental Sustainability
Winners:
West Zone
Sarita Subramaniam
South Zone
Sneha Sahi
Runners-up:
West Zone
Ashish Milind Joshi
South Zone
Mavuram Mallikarjun Reddy
Tech-led
Social
Innovation
Winners:
West Zone
Akshay Ridlan
South Zone
Ashok Gorre
Runners-up:
West Zone
Dr. Rajul Patkar
South Zone
Sarang K Bobade
Women-led
Social
Innovation
Winners:
West Zone
Mangal Arun Shah
South Zone
Dr. Geeta Malhotra
Runners-up:
West Zone
Dr. Ruma Bhargava
South Zone
Lakshmi Ramamurthy
Inclusive Healthcare & Accessibility
Winners:
West Zone
Dr. Ashish R. Satav
South Zone
Alladi Prabhakar
Runners-up:
West Zone
Sujata Ravindra Sugwekar
South Zone
Leo Akash Raj
Innovation in Education Learning & Skill Development
Winners:
West Zone
Gene Derrick D’Silva
South Zone
M.A. Saleem
Runners-up:
West Zone
Nitesh Bhardwaj
South Zone
Raghu Narasingasa Hubbali
Innovation in Environmental Sustainability
Winners:
West Zone
Sarita Subramaniam
South Zone
Sneha Sahi
Runners-up:
West Zone
Ashish Milind Joshi
South Zone
Mavuram Mallikarjun Reddy
Tech-led Social Innovation
Winners:
West Zone
Akshay Ridlan
South Zone
Ashok Gorre
Runners-up:
West Zone
Dr. Rajul Patkar
South Zone
Sarang K Bobade
Women-led Social Innovation
Winners:
West Zone
Mangal Arun Shah
South Zone
Dr. Geeta Malhotra
Runners-up:
West Zone
Dr. Ruma Bhargava
South Zone
Lakshmi Ramamurthy
“What an inspiring evening this has been,” said International Director Suresh Babu, as he brought the event to a close. Reflecting on the changemakers recognised across regions, he noted that their work underscored the importance of service, empathy, and partnership in shaping a more inclusive India. He also acknowledged the collaboration with Forbes India and Network18, and the wider community of partners and supporters who continue to strengthen the Lions’ mission of service. “Together we serve better, we serve wider and we serve India.”
