Placeholder canvas
 
Close
Igniting Ideas For impact

Embarking on a transformative journey through six chapters, we traverse India's landscape, exploring pioneering startups and their revolutionary...

8 months

India’s COVID soldiers

header banner
  • 12

    WINNERS

  • ₹ 6

    LAKHS

India’s Biggest Rewards and Recognition Programme for Those Helping in the Fight Against COVID-19

The ongoing pandemic has brought forward the bravest and the kindest amongst us. While the world battles an invisible and deadly enemy, these soldiers of humanity are at the forefront, leading the good fight, putting others before themselves.

To honour these unsung heroes and support them in their valiant efforts, The Better India has joined hands with the A.T. E Chandra Foundation to identify and award 12 of India’s COVID Soldiers across the country with Rs. 50,000* each.

India’s COVID Soldiers, 2021 is a continuation of India’s largest rewards and recognition programme organised by us in 2020.

Nominations Closed

Who are we looking for?

Any other outstanding Indians doing their own unique bit, putting others before themselves, in our battle against COVID-19.

How to Nominate:

Just fill in this simple form below to nominate yourself, individuals you know, organisation leaders, startup founders, or anyone you think worthy of recognition for their acts of kindness and bravery during this crisis. Nominees can be of any age but have to be Indian citizens. Multiple nominations are allowed.

Nominations Closed

Vote for India’s COVID Soldiers

voting background
profile pic

Preeti Shah

Provided dry ration (soaps and cotton masks) sufficient for 10 days for a family of four to 2,760 families during the first wave | Provided dry ration to 1,260 families during the second wave | During the migrant crisis, distributed dry snacks and slippers on the National Highways and provided ointment with cotton to the migrants walking barefoot | Helped COVID-19 patients with access to hospital beds, oxygen availability and fact checking of fake leads | Conducting vaccination awareness among the communities |

voting background
profile pic

Parth Joshi

Distributed medicine kits to over 200 villages and 5,000 people | Delivered oxygen cylinders to critically ill patients for 20 days | Travelled to more than six remote and hilly districts of Uttarakhand (Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Almora, Pauri Garhwal and Tehri Garhwal) and covered over 100 villages in two months | Adopted a Public Health Centre in a village in Almora | Created the network of volunteers called ‘Doon Volunteers’ |

voting background
profile pic

Paritosh Pant

Started the Feeding From Far initiative in Govandi, Mumbai | Formed a team of 250 local volunteers | Set up a community kitchen to cook, pack and distribute nutritious food packets to the the neediest people of the area | Raised Rs 4.6 crore from across 500 cities globally | Fed more than 30 lakh meals in the first and second wave of the pandemic | Provided ration kits to more than 2,600 people every week |

voting background
profile pic

Naveen Kumar

Reached out to over 1,500 families of migrant workers and daily wage workers from underserved and marginalised communities of Potka and Karandih blocks in East Singhbhum with over 4,500 ration kits, medicine expenses and COVID sustainable requirements | Provided oxygen cylinders to 500 people and food packets, medicines, and COVID care kits to over 1,000 people | Help the community of 500 transgenders and sex workers with over 3,500 ration kits and COVID sustainable requirements | Conducting vaccination awareness among the underserved communities

voting background
profile pic

Mahesh Jadhav

Arranged oxygen cylinders for over 600 critically ill patients | Distributed food to over 44,000 people | Distributed masks to 6,60,000 people | Provided over 3,000 ration kits | Helped distribute ART medicines to people living with HIV | Set up a COVID-19 isolation facility for children belonging to underserved communities

voting background
profile pic

Latha Botla

Distributed food and sanitary materials to 36,000 migrant workers | Provided groceries to 98,931 people | Distributed sanitary napkins to 10,000 women | Cooked food for COVID-19 positive patients in home isolation non-stop for 90 days | Provided counselling to people recovering from COVID-19 | Distributed 1,000 blankets in tribal villages | Reached out to auto drivers, daily wagers, transgender community and everyone affected due to the lockdown

Meet The Jury

jury image

Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan

Executive Chairperson, LabourNet

jury image

Devika Mahadevan

Head of Strategy and Communication at Mann Deshi

jury image

Madhavan Narayanan

Editor, Journalist, Writer and Columnist

jury image

Pervin Varma

CRY Trustee

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

How Are The Winners Selected?

Our judges are working with a meticulously designed scoring process through which they will look at a wide range of attributes. These include details on:

  • Level of difficulty to operate in the impacted geography
  • Requirements of the beneficiary group
  • Sustainability and longevity of the efforts
  • Frequency of the efforts/impact
  • Selflessness shown by the nominee
  • Innovation in the nominee’s intervention
  • Ability to scale the efforts
  • Ability to mobilise and inspire others

Each week, The Better India will collate the scores of the judges on shortlisted entries with the votes that we receive from our audience members. The winner will be announced based on specific weightage given to the scores and votes.

How Will The Winner Receive The Prize Money?

The money will be transferred to the winner’s bank account through net banking. Once shortlisted, our team will get in touch with the nominees to confirm their details.

What Percentage Of Tax Will Be Deducted From The Prize Money?

The prize money will be transferred to the winner’s account post a 31.02% TDS deduction

Can I Nominate Someone Living Outside India?

The award is open only for those who are currently residing in India.

Can I Nominate An Organisation Or NGO?

We understand that efforts can be collaborative. However, India’s COVID Soldier Awards will be awarded to individuals only. These individuals may be a part of an organisation, either as a founder/driver of the initiative, or even implementing work on the ground.

Can I Nominate More Than One COVID Soldier?

Yes. However, please send in only one nomination per person.

Meet Our Winners 2020

Meet The Jury 2020

jury image

Ramakrishna NK

Rang De
Co-Founder and Director,

jury image

Neel Ghose

Robin Hood Army
Founder,

jury image

Dr. Megha Bhargava (IRS)

Deputy Commissioner Income Tax - Mumbai

jury image

Paul Basil

Menterra Ventures
Co-Founder & Partner

jury image

Chetna Sinha

Mann Deshi Bank & Mann Deshi Foundation
Founder-Chairperson

jury image

Ashok Pamidi

NASSCOM Foundation
CEO

jury image

Pervin Varma

CRY Trustee

X
 
Sign in to get free benefits
  • Get positive stories daily on email
  • Join our community of positive ambassadors
  • Become a part of the positive movement