Krystelle Dsouza

Amidst Rajasthan’s water scarcity and harsh terrain, Sundaram Verma discovered a technique to grow trees with just a litre of water each. Today, more than 60,000 trees stand as proof — showing farmers nationwide that transformation begins at the roots.

In parts of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, women are still confined to ‘kurma ghars’ during menstruation — a practice rooted in deep-seated stigma and unsafe traditions. NGOs like Making The Difference and SPARSH are revamping these huts.

In Himachal’s Keylong, Tanzin Bodh (32) restored an 80-year-old mud home into ‘Zomsa’, a sustainable homestay managed by locals. Along with reviving mud architecture, he is empowering women artisans through handlooms and preserving Himachal’s cultural heritage.

Over 30,000 successful cardiac surgeries colour Dr Ramakanta Panda’s professional archives. He shares more about silent heart attacks, staying calm in hustle culture and his personal fitness regime.

Yunikee is an attempt to reach out to persons with hearing disabilities and help them with jobs, skillset training and more.

Advocate Varsha Deshpande has spent three decades fearlessly fighting female foeticide and gender violence, leading sting operations that brought notorious doctors to justice.

Through The Mumbai Plastic Recyclothon by L&T and Project Mumbai, over 500 tonnes of plastic waste have been recycled into benches, tiles, school desks, bins, and pathways across the city.

Through traditional water harvesting and the construction of check dams, Amla Ruia has revitalised more than 100 villages across Rajasthan. By uniting local communities in the effort, she has restored water security and unlocked livelihoods.

The Swadhin Bharat Hindu Hotel in Kolkata, started by Mangobindo Panda, is a century-old pice hotel where Subhas Chandra Bose enjoyed Bengali delicacies.

Mahi Chandra Miri’s forgotten fight in the 1900s laid the foundation for Kaziranga National Park and its success story in conservation.