NIRMAN receives Mahaveer Award 2026 for Community & Social Service
Announcement posted by Catalyst PR 10 Feb 2026
The 29th edition of the Mahaveer Awards, instituted by the Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation to recognise exemplary humanitarian service, has been conferred on NIRMAN, an Odisha-based voluntary organisation. NIRMAN has been selected for the Mahaveer Award 2026 in recognition of its long-standing work with marginalised tribal and forest-dwelling communities in the state.
The Mahaveer Awards are presented annually in the fields of Non-Violence & Vegetarianism, Education, Medicine, and Community & Social Service. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh, along with a commendatory citation and a memento.
Established in 1997 by Mr. Prasant Mohanty, NIRMAN works in remote and underserved regions of Odisha to strengthen livelihoods, food security, and community institutions. Its interventions focus on women's empowerment, sustainable agriculture, natural farming, forest and land rights, water security, and nutrition, enabling tribal communities to achieve long-term social and economic resilience.
Along with NIRMAN, the other recipients of the 29th Mahaveer Awards include Sarhad, Maharashtra for Non-Violence & Vegetarianism; CORD, Himachal Pradesh for Education; Sri Shankara Cancer Foundation, Karnataka for Medicine; and Smt. Sangkhumi Bualchhuak, Mizoram for Community & Social Service.
Commenting on the occasion, Shri Sugalchand Jain, Founder, Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation, said, "NIRMAN's grassroots work reflects a deep commitment to social justice, sustainability, and community empowerment. By strengthening livelihoods and protecting the rights of vulnerable communities, NIRMAN has created meaningful and lasting impact. We are pleased to honour the organisation for its dedicated service and contribution to inclusive development."
For the 29th Mahaveer Awards, 267 nominations from across the country were carefully evaluated by an eminent Selection Jury chaired by Justice Shri M. N. Venkatachaliah, Former Chief Justice of India. The Jury members included Acharya Shri Chandanaji Maharaj, Eminent Sanyasini; Dr Justice Shri D. Y. Chandrachud, Former Chief Justice of India; Shri S. Gurumurthy, Part-time Director, RBI, and Editor, Thuglak; Prof B. M. Hegde, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mangaluru Kendra; Shri T. S. Krishnamurthy, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India; Shri D. R. Mehta, I.A.S. (Retd.), Former Chairman, SEBI; Shri Prabhat Kumar, I.A.S. (Retd.), Former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India; and Justice Shri G. S. Singhvi, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
The Foundation has also invited nominations for the 30th Mahaveer Awards from individuals and institutions engaged in selfless service across the four award categories. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Foundation's website at www.bmfawards.org
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Media Contact: Ms. Samta, Coordinator, Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation @ 9003910591