Affectionately known as the “Water Mother,” Smt. Amla Ashok Ruia is a transformative force in India’s rural development landscape. Through her Aakar Charitable Trust, she has empowered countless villages by reviving traditional water-harvesting methods and constructing check dams that have turned barren lands into fertile fields. Her work has restored livelihoods, ensured water security, and revived hope across drought-prone regions of Rajasthan and beyond. Guided by simplicity, compassion, and community participation, she demonstrates how sustainable solutions rooted in local wisdom can bring lasting change.

Prof. Madhavi Latha Gali, a leading geotechnical engineer at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, has advanced India’s infrastructure through her pioneering work in soil and rock mechanics, contributing to major national projects including the geotechnical design of the iconic Chenab Railway Bridge in the Himalayas. As Chair of the Centre for Sustainable Technologies at IISc, she drives innovation in sustainable engineering while mentoring young STEM talent, reflecting her strong commitment to applying science for national development.

A visionary scholar and cultural leader, Prof. Sathupati Prasanna Sree has dedicated her life to preserving India’s tribal languages, literature, and heritage. As Vice-Chancellor of Adikavi Nannayya University, she has created scripts for 19 tribal languages, an achievement that has given identity, voice, and dignity to communities without written traditions. Her scholarly work bridges academia and activism, ensuring that cultural diversity becomes a source of strength and unity. A recipient of the Nari Shakti Puraskar, Prof. Sree stands as a beacon of intellectual excellence and social inclusion, exemplifying how knowledge can empower generations.

A fearless humanitarian and tireless advocate for women’s rights, Smt. Pallabi Ghosh has dedicated her life to combating human trafficking and restoring dignity to survivors. Beginning her journey as a young teenager, she went on to establish the Impact and Dialogue Foundation, an organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and reintegrates victims through education, counseling, and livelihood opportunities. Her mission has touched over 75,000 lives and rescued more than 10,000 women and children from exploitation. With courage, empathy, and relentless determination, she embodies the transformative power of compassion and leadership.