Sathee Parivar

Recipient, Shambhavi Puraskar 2026

Angul, Odisha

Established in 2016, your vision is both noble and profound, to eradicate snakebite fatalities and transform the landscape of public health and community safety. In the heart of Angul district, where nature and humanity intertwine, your robust Snakebite Mitigation programme not only educates residents in snake-prone areas but also empowers them to take proactive measures against snakebite incidents.

Through strategic collaborations with key government bodies, including the Forest Department, Disaster Management Cell, Department of Health and Welfare, and School and Mass Education Department, you have created a comprehensive framework to address the challenges of snakebite incidents. You have proactively strengthened rural public health preparedness with establishment of village-level Snakebite Awareness and Response Teams. Your operations cover six blocks, Angul, Banarapal, Chhendipada, Athamallik, Talcher, and Kishorenagar, encompassing 98 gram panchayats and 426 villages.

This extensive outreach has enabled you to identify and train more than 9800 youth volunteers, self-help groups, Asha workers, health workers as community ambassadors for snakebite awareness, who actively participate in education programmes that focus on prevention, first aid, and response systems.

In the last three years, your impact has been extraordinary. Your trained volunteers have successfully saved 490 lives, blending awareness with timely intervention. This accomplishment underscores the importance of community engagement and the efficacy of appropriate first aid, the so called “Golden Hour” in significantly reducing mortality and long term disabilities from snakebites. The rescue of 1,835 snakes signifies a great respect for ecological balance and reinforces the message that coexistence with nature is essential.

In recognition of your invaluable contributions, embodying the spirit of determination, grit, and selfless service, as a champion of life-saving initiatives in Angul district and beyond within Odisha; the Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF) proudly confers upon SATHEE Parivar, the Shambhavi Puraskar 2026, comprising of a crest, citation, and cash prize of Rs.5,00,000/-.

We wish Sathee Parivar all the best in their future endeavours.

Balangir Gramodyog Samiti

Recipient, Shambhavi Puraskar 2026

Balangir, Odisha

In the vibrant landscape of Balangir district, Odisha, Balangir Gramodyog Samiti (BGS) stands as a powerful example of community-driven development. Established in 1987 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, the organisation has been dedicated to improving the livelihoods and well being of rural communities through the promotion of diversified agriculture, modern horticulture practices, strengthened livestock management, and improved irrigation support.

With a strong focus on empowering disadvantaged communities—particularly Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, marginal farmers, landless families, and other vulnerable groups—BGS has worked consistently to build local capacities, promote people’s institutions, and strengthen self governance.

By integrating traditional knowledge with sustainable resource management, the organisation has enabled equitable access to natural resources and fostered resilient livelihood systems. Since 2020, BGS has emerged as a significant catalyst for change by leading initiatives in agriculture and horticulture, under the Agricultural Produce Cluster (APC) in partnership with the Departments of Agriculture and Horticulture, Government of Odisha.

Through these efforts, the organisation has supported 3,612 farmers across 29 villages in Tureikela Block, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and market linkages necessary to thrive in an evolving agricultural landscape. By promoting farm-gate marketing through Nariswabhiman Farmer Producer Company Ltd., BGS has strengthened 39 Farmer Producer Groups comprising 2,812 women farmers, enhancing their access to intra-state markets and ensuring fair returns for their produce. Its initiatives such as the Crop Diversification Project (CDP) and the promotion of organic farming have benefited 2,533 farmers, strengthening climate resilience, improving soil health, and enhancing food security in tribal regions. BGS’s efforts have also encouraged farmers to transition from traditional paddy cultivation to more remunerative crops such as vegetables and moringa, thereby improving household incomes and economic stability. Complementing these initiatives, the organisation has strengthened supplementary livelihoods for 2,682 households through livestock development activities, including scientifically designed goat shelters, poultry night shelters, and indigenous chick production units.

In recognition of its inspiring work, driven by empathy, commitment, and visionary innovation that empowers rural communities in Bolangir district, the Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF) proudly confers upon Balangir Gramodyog Samiti (BGS) the Shambhavi Puraskar 2026, comprising a crest, citation, and a cash prize of Rs 5,00,000/-.

We wish BGS all the best in their future endeavours.