Who understands the power of service better than Lions? We recognize what it takes to make a difference daily—the commitment to causes close to our hearts and the persistent work required to create meaningful change. As Past International Director Sangeeta Jatia noted at the We Serve India Awards ceremony, “For many of us, service is a way of life.” This profound understanding enables Lions to truly appreciate and celebrate others dedicated to the same humanitarian mission.
This is exactly why Lions Clubs International collaborated with Forbes India to shine a spotlight on those making a tangible difference in their communities. The We Serve India initiative celebrates the impactful work being done across vital areas like Women Empowerment, Education, Health, Wildlife Protection, and Environmental Conservation.
As International First Vice President said: “This is an era of collaboration.” And this was evident across the We Serve India campaign, which leveraged Lions Clubs International’s extensive grassroots presence across India with Forbes India’s media reach, to honour the real-life heroes who are driving meaningful change.
The National We Serve India Awards ceremony held in Mumbai on March 27, 2025, was a culmination of months of dedication, where community-changing initiatives were recognized, and ideas for a better India were celebrated. Participating in this event were change-makers, government dignitaries and industry stalwarts. Lions leaders from across the country engaged actively in the awards ceremony. Present on the occasion were International First Vice President A. P. Singh, Past International President Dr. Naresh Aggarwal, Past International Directors, Past District Governors and Lions from across the region.
The event commenced with a powerful visual narrative chronicling the life-changing work by Lions Clubs. Setting the tone for the evening, PID Sangeeta Jatia, in her opening address, reminded the audience that “…here we are celebrating those who are actually doing service at the grassroots level.”
The ceremony brought together ministers and government officials who recognized the alignment between public policy and Lions Clubs International’s service priorities.
Congratulating the winners, Adv. Ashish Shelar, Cabinet Minister of Information Technology & Cultural Affairs, Govt. of Maharashtra, shared that the state government has launched a unique initiative that will bring together innovators, researchers, experts, and individuals who contribute to causes close to their hearts on a common platform. This initiative will feature quarterly roundtable discussions where the Chief Minister and senior government officials will engage directly with community leaders.
Shri Uday Samant, Cabinet Minister for Industries & Marathi Language, presented awards in the Agriculture & Water Conservation and Educational Learning & Skill Development categories, highlighting the government’s support for the kind of grassroots innovation the awards celebrate.
Dr. Bhushan Gagrani, IAS, Commissioner of BMC, stressed that “…one kind deed is more important than a hundred good wishes. Wishful thinking alone doesn’t create change.” He commended the awardees’ selflessness, commitment and efforts in creating meaningful social outcomes, a sentiment that resonated strongly with the Lions members present.
The journey to the national stage began with a rigorous selection process spanning the length and breadth of India. The process, managed with meticulous care by Ernst & Young, started with zonal awards held across East, West, North, and South India.
At the Awards Ceremony, Saakshi Kishnani, Director – Event Risk Management, Ernst & Young, provided an overview of the selection methodology, reinforcing the credibility and transparency of the evaluation process.
“What sets this initiative apart is the depth of our evaluation process,” explains R. Murugan, a jury member representing Lions International. “We looked beyond surface-level achievements to understand the sustainable impact and scalability of each project. Our goal was to identify innovators who not only solve immediate problems but create frameworks for lasting change.”
This thoughtful approach ensured that even initiatives from the most remote corners of India had the opportunity to gain national recognition.
Speaking of the winners, jury member Puneet Bali, Executive Director, Smile Foundation said: “I think what each one of the winners in this year’s awards has done is that they have tried to get to the depth of the issue and find solutions from within their working areas and that stands out as a model of what we at Smile Foundation call the civic-driven change.”
The Jury
Aditya Natraj
CEO, Piramal Foundation
Ashwini Saxena
CEO, GMR Varalakshmi
Rusen Kumar
Founder & CEO, India CSR Network
Gayatri Subramaniam
Director, Indian Centre for Socially Responsible Businesses
Gayatri Nair Lobo
CEO, A.T.E. Chandra Foundation
Nilesh Lele
President, Chamber for Advancement of Small and Medium Businesses
Puneet Bali
Executive Director, Smile Foundation
R. Murugan
Past International Director, Lions Clubs International
Dibirath Sen
Managing Director – Head of Global Banking, North India India Lead for Sustainable Finance, HSBC
The national winners represented the diversity of India’s social change landscape, each bringing unique solutions to pressing challenges.
Cultivating Change: Agriculture & Water Conservation
Known as the ‘Queen of Millets,’ Raimati Ghiuria, a Bhumia tribal woman from Nuaguda village in Koraput, Odisha, doesn’t just farm—she conserves her agricultural heritage. Cultivating 30 millet landraces and 80 paddy landraces, she has combined indigenous knowledge with contemporary techniques to improve yields and benefit tribal communities throughout the region.
Runner-up: Nimal Raghavan
Empowering Through Education
Aditya Jitendra Kumar Mehta’s foundation stands as Asia’s first charitable trust for para-sports rehabilitation and training. Since its establishment in 2013, the foundation has helped over 8,000 individuals with special needs, preparing them for success in para-sports. The Foundation has also supported the training of more than 1,000 injured officers from India’s Central Armed Police Forces.
Runner-up:
Mamoon Akhtar
Guardians of Wildlife
When Bollywood composer and playback singer Abhishek Ray invested his life savings to transform a barren hill into a dense forest and grassland, he wasn’t just creating a sanctuary—he was restoring a fragile ecosystem. Today, the Sitabani Wildlife Reserve – India’s first rewilded, self-funded, private wildlife reserve – is home to tigers, leopards, and 350 species of rare birds.
Runner-up:
Colonel (Dr.) Navaz Shariff
Healing Communities: Healthcare & Sanitation
Sometimes the most powerful service emerges from personal tragedy transformed into purpose. After a swimming accident left her quadriplegic, Preethi Srinivasan founded Soulfree, which now supports nearly 3,000 families affected by spinal cord injuries. Through INSPIRE—India’s first Integrated Spinal Rehabilitation and Research Centre—Preethi offers international standards of care free of cost, having rehabilitated over 220 persons with spinal cord injuries in just three years.
Runner-up: Lata Mane
Environmental Stewards: Waste Reduction & Recycling
Janani Venkatesh embodies the Lions’ commitment to environmental sustainability. By creating awareness about waste segregation across 2,000 households and setting up a kitchen garden, composting, and a biogas plant in the neighbourhood school, she is transforming waste management practices while inspiring environmental stewardship in students.
Runner-up:
Dr. Ruby Makhija
Empowering Women, Transforming Lives
Among the winners, Seema Sayyed stands out for her measurable success mentoring eight Community Based Organizations that support sex workers in Mumbai. Their targeted outreach and education programs significantly reduced HIV prevalence among sex workers. The digital financial literacy programs equipped participants with essential digital skills, expanding their access to financial services and fostering long-term economic stability. 1,325 children of sex workers participated in life skills education sessions, receiving comprehensive support for education, health, and nutrition.
Runner-up: Kavitha Mishra
While the felicitation of the awardees was the raison d’etre of the event, it also created space for meaningful dialogue and sharing of valuable insights.
The panel discussion, “We Serve India: The Art, Science & Math of Empowering India,” brought together thought leaders Sherin Ali, from WNS Global Services; Sathya Natarajan from APCCI; K. Randhir Singh from Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories; and Pankaj Mehta from Lions Clubs International.
Trust is the currency that drives CSR Initiatives
~ K. Randhir Singh CS, Compliance Officer & Head – CSR Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
What made this conversation particularly valuable was the cross-sector perspective. When corporate leaders, NGOs, and service organizations like the Lions Clubs International come together, they create a more comprehensive approach to social challenges.
The fireside chat with International First Vice President A.P. Singh, moderated by Mugdha Kalra, delved into how service-driven initiatives shape communities and foster inclusive growth. Stressing the importance of collaboration, Vice President A. P. Singh shared: “When the work has expanded, the canvas for Lions Clubs in this country has really expanded. So it is but natural that we have to work with the local organizations.”
The We Serve India Awards create a ripple effect. It is a well-known fact that when we recognize one person making a difference, we inspire hundreds more to take action in their own communities.
A sentiment that was reiterated by CA Leader – LCIF PID V. Vijay Kumar Raju in his closing remarks: “Tonight has been a celebration of service, impact and dedication. Our awardees are beacons of hope proving that commitment and compassion can transform lives and uplift communities. From education and healthcare, to environment and sustainability and women’s empowerment, we have seen how service shapes a better, a more inclusive world.”
Watch Now: The footage of the We Serve India Awards ceremony including winner interviews and conversations with Lions leadership can be viewed at: youtube.com/WeServeIndiaAwards2025