Santokbaa Humanitarian Award marks 20 years of honouring India’s changemakers
The Santokbaa Humanitarian Award completed 20 years of recognising transformative leadership and social impact. This year, Dr Gullapalli N. Rao and Reema Nanavaty received the prestigious honour, while Srikanth Bolla was presented the inaugural Social Entrepreneur Award.
Surat: The Santokbaa Humanitarian Award, instituted by Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation (SRKKF), marked its 20th anniversary by honouring three distinguished changemakers whose work has transformed millions of lives across India.
At a ceremony held at the Sanjeev Kumar Auditorium in Surat on Saturday, Padma Shri Dr Gullapalli N. Rao, founder-chair of the LV Prasad Eye Institute, and Padma Shri Reema Nanavaty, director of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), received the Santokbaa Humanitarian Award 2026 for their outstanding contributions to healthcare and social development.
In a significant addition to the awards, SRKKF introduced the Santokbaa Social Entrepreneur Award, with entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla, founder of Bollant Industries, becoming its inaugural recipient. The award recognises leaders who combine business success with measurable social impact.
The event was attended by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil and Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, among other dignitaries.
Established in 2006 by philanthropist Govind Dholakia, the award honours individuals whose work reflects compassion, service and transformative leadership. Organisers said the milestone celebration reaffirmed the importance of purpose-driven leadership and nation-building through social impact, innovation and humanitarian service.