The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honors of India. The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved. 

The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). 

The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The nomination process is open to the public. In recent years, the awards have gained more prominence thanks to the concept of ‘People’s Padma’ wherein the government calls for the deserving citizens to be nominated by the ordinary people. 

Recently, a ceremony was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan where President Ram Nath Kovind gave away the Padma Awards to the winners at an impressive ceremony attended by dignitaries, including Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many others. 

This year’s winners include folk artists, social workers, musicians, sportspersons, people in social service and others.

However, we have curated a few stories of this year’s Padma Awards who are working for poverty alleviation, upliftment of women and care for the needy through their expertise in various fields.

KV Rabiya 

K.V. Rabiya, a village woman from Vellilakkadu near Tirurangadi, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Shree award for spreading the wisdom of education to hundreds of illiterate individuals despite being confined to a wheelchair for life.

Diagnosed with polio at an early age meant that Rabiya had to be confined to a wheelchair from the age of 14. However, she was determined to succeed in life and also work for the welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. She became the face of Kerala’s literacy campaign in the 1990s and there has been no looking back. 

Rabiya is credited with encouraging the elderly and the disabled to become literate. When Kerala became fully literate in the 90s, the state chose Malappuram, Rabiya’s home district, as the place for the grand declaration.

Swami Sivananda 

Born on August 8, 1896, Sivananda’s life has spanned over three centuries. Despite his apparent age he remains strong enough to perform yoga for hours at a time. Born and raised in the holy city of Varanasi, Sivananda grew up in extreme poverty. Further, he chose to become a monk and lived a very simple life. 

Today, he says that his long lifespan is owed to yoga, discipline, and celibacy. 

Sivananda played an important role in propagating the importance of COVID-19 vaccination among his countless followers. According to the government release, he arranges items like food, fruits, clothes, blankets, cooking utensils for those affected by leprosy. He also organizes medical treatment and rehabilitation for leprosy survivors. He teaches yoga in various parts of the country to this day. 

Prem Singh 

Prem Singh, a resident of Ropar district is a retired audit officer from the Indian Accounts and Audit Department.  He was awarded in the individual category by the Union Government for his work in the field of leprosy.

Prem has been fighting for the cause of the lepers for almost three decades now. He is the founder of Leprosy Welfare Mission, Chandigarh, and Leprosy Elimination Society, Mohali. A selfless man, Singh funded the NGOs mostly from his pocket and even sold his house to build a shelter for leprosy patients.

Through his social service, he has rehabilitated over 1,000 patients and cured many more.