Tamil Nadu

Sheik Meeran founded the iconic 'Famous Jigarthanda' in Madurai. His sons provide a sneak peek into the preparation process, and reveal why their drink remains a favourite despite stiff competition.

P Muthuswamy of Dindigul-based SEEDS Trust worked with the village community in Ayyalur forests in Eastern Ghats to revive the population of the Grey Slender Loris, an endangered species

Shakhti Vel, a fisherman from Tamil Nadu, runs a YouTube channel called Thoothukudi Meenavan to vlog about the lives and struggles of his community.

Coimbatore-based Prabhu and Brindha started TABP Snacks and Beverages that sells sodas and snacks to marginalised communities in a variety of flavours across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Telangana.

Dr M Aishwarya is part of the Coimbatore Parenting Network, which aims to spreads awareness on correct breastfeed techniques, postpartum depression, and presence of breast milk banks. She runs a campaign to encourage mothers to forego myths and taboos around breastfeeding to donate excess milk to infants in need.

Durai Prithviraj from Tamil Nadu founded Rajesh Udhavum Karangal, an NGO to offer free ambulance rides, shelter and meals for those below the poverty line or living in inaccessible and remote areas.

IIT-Madras incubated startup Samudhyoga Waste Chakra has developed the EcoFert, a technology to convert 1,000 litres of urine into 850 litres of water to repurpose for use in toilets and while gardening

Ramanathapuram forest range officer S Sathish has worked for over five years to mitigate poaching, saving the Olive Ridley Turtle, carrying out underwater plastic waste clean ups, and more to protect the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park in Tamil Nadu.

Aruna Visesvar and her husband Visesh Aiyer have painted 55 kolams and rangolis on their compound wall in Madurai to provide a livelihood to a struggling artist.

Dr Dhamodharan is the son of agricultural labourers, who had to work in a brick kiln as a child to support his family. Today, he is helping children from the much-deprived Irular tribe to improve their learning outcomes.