Mohd Iqbal (North)
42-year old and physically challenged, Iqbal started the People's Action Group for Inclusion and Rights in Leh. He trains the disabled to make products from recycled paper and cloth and through that earn their livelihood. In the last eight years he has helped more than 30 physically challenged people live a better life.

Dr Joyce Siromoni (East Zone)
A gynecologist by profession, this 80 year old saw and felt the real plight of mentally challenged women. Joyce set up a home for women confined in jails and mental asylums. Here they are rehabilitated and given vocational training so they can be financially independent. Joyce's eventual aim is to reintegrate them with their families and with society.

Uma Preman (South Zone)
Uma Preman lost her husband to tuberculosis, due to lack of diagnosis and treatment. In her loss she found the mission of her life. She set up free medical information cum care centre in the memory of her husband. The centre provides information to patients and helps them raise money for treatment. It has already facilitated 500 kidney transplants and 2,000 heart surgeries and mobilized more than 8 crores in aid for poor patients. Uma Preman even donated her own kidney to save a patient’s life.

Sruti Mohapatra (East Zone)
Bhubaneshwar based Shruti Mohapatra is a tireless crusader for the disabled, always at the forefront to secure a rightful place for the physically challenged in society. All this and more - from a wheelchair. Advocacy, networking, inclusive education and information dissemination are her tools.

Ramesh Babu Kushwah (North)
R B Singh Kushwah lost his wife in a road accident. Hit by a lumbering truck, she died as she could not be taken to the hospital in time. Kushwah decided to convert the personal tragedy into positive action. And in 1999 he started “On Line Services” to help road accident victims. Two phones were installed and their numbers widely publicised through the local media. Kushwah also bought a Maruti van and converted it into an ambulance. His personal jeep was also donated to the service. A lawyer by profession, Khushwah took care of all the expenses along with his associates. The services also inform the families of the patients and get first aid started at the hospitals. He also found a way to deal with the hospital staff that refuses to take in patients without long formalities. They now carry a video camera and shoot the shifting of the patient to the hospital. One Line Services also holds camps to educate the people on how to provide first aid to accident victims and their legal rights.