Changemakers

From degraded farmland to Rs 1.61 crore worth of national and state honours, Yogeshwari Chatrugan Chaudhary led Dawwa’s transformation through solar power, sustainable farming, and people-led governance.

PotHoleRaja uses recycled plastic to repair potholes and build safer roads in India, reducing accidents while creating durable, eco-friendly infrastructure.

This Makar Sankranti, Surat streets buzz with colour and excitement, but a simple act of care by the police is turning heads. Here’s how a unique safety initiative is making the festival safer for bikers while spreading warmth across the city.

Hailing from Prayagraj, Abhinav Sinha started Chance2Sports in Pune with one belief: talent should never depend on money or postcode. The system he built from there now supports young squash players across India.

Once torn between expectations and ambition, Surbhi Gandhi chose to build a life on her own terms. Today, the chartered accountant is also a yoga trainer, content creator, and founder of the wellness brand Pro-Firo, inspiring thousands to chase their dreams.

From wooden spoons in a school canteen to sold-out eco-friendly tote bags, ‘Pahal’ is a reminder that meaningful change can begin early. Led by four teenage girls in Ghaziabad, this startup is turning small, everyday choices into a movement against plastic waste.

When Yuvan Aggarwal noticed a familiar potter looking worried near his home, he paused. That moment stayed with him and grew into something that would change how artisans earn, feel valued, and stay hopeful beyond festive seasons.

A startup that turns waste into fuel. Another that designs cells to detect pollution. All led by students and young founders. The force behind them? Sustainability Mafia—a climate community that’s helping solve real-world environmental problems by showing youth how to build for the planet, from the ground up.

Growing up in classrooms not built for Deaf learners, Shraddha Agarwal knows the cost of language deprivation. With SignSetu, she’s reimagining literacy through Indian Sign Language — making learning intuitive, visual, and genuinely inclusive.

After years of documenting farmers’ struggles, M J Prabu made a decision that changed his life. He left the newsroom, returned to his village, and began rebuilding what farming had slowly lost: native seeds, shared knowledge, and farmer trust.