Antyodaya Puraskar

Sadashiv Chavan, Thane | Year 2023  

On behalf of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini and D. H. Gokhale and Shyamala Gokhale Public Charitable Trust, the Antyodaya Award-2023 was presented to Shri. Sadashiv Chavan, President of Jeevan Sankurshan Foundation and dedicated social activist. Shri. Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi presented the award, and Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Vice-Chairman of RMP, chaired the programme on Tuesday, April 26, 2023.

Amol Sainwar, Thane | Year 2021

On behalf of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini and D. H. Gokhale and Shyamala Gokhale Public Charitable Trust, the Antyodaya Award-2020 was awarded to Shri. Amol Sainwar, Founder of Shivprabha Charitable Trust and social activist on Monday, April 5, 2021.

Varsha Parchure, Palghar | Year 2018

On behalf of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini and D. H. Gokhale and Shyamala Gokhale Public Charitable Trust, the Antyodaya Award-2018 was presented to Smt. Varsha Parchure, Parivartan Mahila Sanstha, who has been living among tribals in the remote area of Mokhada Taluka, Palghar District, Maharashtra, for many years and working towards their upliftment. The award was presented by Dr. Neelam Gorhe, senior social activist, while Dr. Satish Modh, Sanghchalak, Konkan region, RSS, was the chairperson on Monday, March 26, 2018.

Suresh Patil, Latur | Year 2016  

On behalf of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini and D. H. Gokhale and Shyamala Gokhale Public Charitable Trust, the Antyodaya Award-2016 was presented to Shri. Suresh Patil, senior activist from Latur who works for children with cerebral palsy. The award was given by Dr. Sanjay Oak, Vice-Chancellor of D. Y. Patil University, on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.

Pradip Wadnerkar, Yavatmal | Year 2014
Shri. Pradip Wadnerkar from Yavatmal in Maharashtra was awarded the Antyodaya Award for 2014.

Narayan Deshpande, Sangli | Year 2012

Shri. Narayan Deshpande, who hails from a village with drought-like conditions – Atpadi in Sangli District, Maharashtra – formed an organisation, Sheti Pariwar, some 37 years ago. Through this organisation, he spread awareness about agriculture planning and reduction in agriculture expenditure. This helped the farmers to remain in the village instead of migrating to cities for their livelihood, thus making their life economically stable.

Bhiwa (Dada) Gaokar | Year 2010

Shri. Dada Gaokar has been working for the upliftment of poor for 40 years. Through Nagari Vikas Parishad, Vidyarthi Utkarsh Mandal and Samata Parishad, he put all his efforts for social and economic equality. For the development of the Konkan region, he formed Kokan Vikas Parishad. For poor students he assisted them in completing their minimum required education to become self-sufficient.

Dr. Bhimrao Gasti, Belgav | Year 2008

Dr. Bhimrao Gasti hails from the Berad or Ramoshi community, which was branded as criminal in the pre-independence era. He sacrificed his well-paying job as a chemical engineer to devote full time to help Devdasis. Devdasi refers to women offered by their parents to Devi Yallamma and deserted within the compound walls of a temple. Unfortunately, they become orphans exploited in every way possible, some sexually. Subsequently many end up as prostitutes. Though banned by law, this tradition is practiced underground in back allies of several villages and towns. Dr. Gasti formed an NGO named Utthan (which means upliftment of downtrodden) to fight against this tradition and to rehabilitate these women. Dr. Gasti provides them with vocational training allowing them to be self-supporting and lead a meaningful life with dignity.

For the past 30 years, Dr. Gasti has been engaged in the upliftment of the Berad (Ramoshi) community, in southern Maharashtra (Kolhapur) and the Devdasis in northern Karnataka. Under this he organised the community people, educated them and gave them a self-identity. In the work related to Devdasis he appealed to the government to look into their problems, which resulted in a monthly pension allotment of ₹ 500 along with housing facilities for them. To change their social scenario Dr. Gasti has devoted his entire life for the cause and because of this the work bore fruits in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Dr. Girish Kulkarni, Ahilyanagar| Year 2007

This award was presented to Dr. Girish Kulkarni of Ahilyanagar. Dr. Kulkarni, a young and spirited social worker, has been working for the welfare of the children of professional sex workers, physically challenged youth and other weaker sections of the society in Ahilyanagar. His organisation, Snehalaya, runs a care centre for the infants born in red-light areas. This Antyodaya Award was presented to Dr. Kulkarni at a function held in Dombivli, in Thane District, on April 5, 2007 at the hands of noted thinker and journalist, Bhanu Kale, editor of Antarnaad, a Marathi magazine. Dr. Medha Naniwadekar, member of RMP’s managing committee, presided over the function at which Dr. Pravin Patkar of Prerana, Mumbai, was a special guest.

Sunil and Nirupama Deshpande, Amravati| Year 2006

The award for 2006 was presented to Smt. Nirupama and Shri. Sunil Deshpande, both engaged in upliftment of forest dwellers in Amaravati District, Maharashtra. Shri. Deshpande is the founder of Sampurna Bamboo Kendra. He is also the convener of the Rashtriya Karigar Panchayat. They network for various NGOs through the initiatives, Koshish and Chalana. The couple received the award from Prof. Bal Apte, Vice President of RMP. The function was held on March 3, 2006 in Pune.

Sunandatai Patwardhan, Thane| Year 2005

The award for 2005 was presented to Smt. Sunandatai Patwardhan, who has been striving for the past 20 years in the tribal areas of Jawhar Taluka in Palghar District, for the overall development of the tribals under the auspices of Pragati Pratishthan. She was presented the award in her area of operation in Jawhar in the presence of hundreds of tribal people. Shri. Nitin Gadkari conferred the award to her.

Dr. Baba Nandan Pawar, Nagpur | Year 2004

This year, the award was presented to Dr. Baba Nandan Pawar, a social worker from Nagpur. He has significantly contributed for education of tribals and other weaker sections. Dr. Pawar is the fifth recipient of this award. The award presentation ceremony was held on May 22, 2004, in Dadar, Mumbai. Dr. Nandan Pawar was felicitated with the award by Andaman-Nicobar Lt. Governor, Prof. Ram Kapse.

Dr. Avinash Acharya, Jalgaon | Year 2003

The award was presented to Dr. Avinash Acharya, well-known social activist from Jalgaon, on April 5, 2003, in Dadar, Mumbai, in a specially organised function of the well-wishers of RMP. Shri. Moropant Pingale, a senior Pracharak of RSS, conferred the award. Dr. Ashok Kukade, zonal Sanghachalak of RSS, graced the function as the chief guest.

Dr. Sharad S. Kulkarni, Kankavli | Year 2002

The award was presented to Dr. Sharad Kulkarni, veteran social worker, on 3rd March 2002. The then Goa Chief Minister, Shri. Manohar Parrikar was the chief guest of the function, which was presided over by social analyst, Dr. S. H. Deshpande.

Dr. Satish Kulkarni, Sambhajinagar | Year 2001

This function was held on April 5, 2001, wherein Dr. Abhay Bang, noted social worker, presented the award to Dr. Satish Kulkarni from Dr. Hedgewar Hospital, Sambhajinagar.

Girish Prabhune, Pune | Year 2000

Bhatke Vimukt Vikas Parishad in Maharashtra is working for the upliftment of downtrodden classes, particularly the Pardhee community. Shri. Girish Prabhune, renowned Karmayogi, has put two decades in this mission. Antyodaya Puraskar for 2000 was awarded to him for his dedication and hard work for the upliftment of Pardhees. The function was held on January 14, 2000, in Dadar, Mumbai.