India’s spirit of grassroots activism shines bright as five remarkable social impact changemakers have been announced as nominees for the prestigious Social Impact Changemaker category in the upcoming Optum Presents The Better India Showcase 2025, supported by the M3M Foundation. These insp...
India’s spirit of grassroots activism shines bright as five remarkable social impact changemakers have been announced as nominees for the prestigious Social Impact Changemaker category in the upcoming Optum Presents The Better India Showcase 2025, supported by the M3M Foundation. These inspiring individuals have been tirelessly working across the country to challenge injustice, uplift marginalized communities, and restore dignity to the overlooked and oppressed. Their extraordinary efforts demonstrate that meaningful progress begins with ordinary people taking bold steps to create inclusive, equitable futures.
Key Highlights of the Announcement
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The Better India Showcase 2025, scheduled for September 18, 2025, will honor changemakers across nine critical domains, with a spotlight on those making impactful social change on the ground.
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The Social Impact Changemaker nominees embody a range of causes—from aiding abandoned elderly and persons with disabilities to dismantling caste-based exploitation and advocating for marginalized tribal communities.
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These five nominees have collectively touched tens of thousands of lives, influenced policy reforms, and built enduring systemic solutions that extend beyond temporary relief.
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The event includes extensive multimedia storytelling to amplify their journeys, with video documentaries, detailed articles, and social media features planned throughout the year.
Profiles of India’s Top 5 Social Impact Changemakers
Jas Kalra
Jas Kalra, aged 25, leads the Earth Saviours Foundation, focusing on giving refuge and care to society’s forgotten—the abandoned elderly, disabled persons, and unclaimed bodies. Since stepping into a leadership role in 2022-23, Jas has sheltered over 1,200 individuals, arranged respectful cremations for over 3,000 unclaimed deceased, and directly touched the lives of more than 15,000 people. His personal commitment is evident in the reunification of some 500 families and provision of food and medical aid to countless others, positioning his work as a life-affirming mission rooted in compassion.
Mittal Patel
Mittal Patel, a former IAS aspirant, founded Vikas Samvad Samiti (VSSM) in 2006. This organization champions the rights of India’s nomadic and de-notified tribes—communities historically stigmatized as “criminal tribes.” Over nearly two decades, Mittal’s efforts have secured legal identity documents for over 60,000 tribal members, facilitated education and employment for 5,000 individuals, and established more than 1,000 sustainable settlements. VSSM’s integrated model encompassing schools and microfinance is a catalyst for social inclusion, spreading across Gujarat and beyond. Her leadership has garnered recognition including the Nari Shakti Puraskar.
Pramod Zinjade
Starting in 2020 in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district, Pramod Zinjade initiated a historic movement to abolish regressive widowhood rituals. Leading the first successful Gram Sabha resolution banning these oppressive practices, his efforts expanded across more than 10,000 gram panchayats by 2025 and influenced formal reforms in over 7,600 villages. This grassroots campaign restored dignity and social participation rights for widows, often marginalized due to caste and patriarchal traditions. Zinjade’s strategy of alliance building through village assemblies and recognition programs showcases grassroots democracy in action.
Ashif Shaikh
Ashif Shaikh founded Jan Sahas at 18 years old in 2000, committing to eradicate manual scavenging and bonded labor’s inhuman practices. His movement, Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan, has rehabilitated more than 41,000 manual scavengers and rescued bonded laborers across 18 Indian states. Beyond legal milestones like influencing the 2013 Scavenging Prohibition Act, Ashif’s work empowers freed communities with dignity and justice. Despite facing caste discrimination personally, his persistent trust-building continues to produce systemic change against entrenched caste exploitation.
Vineet Saraiwala
When the pandemic lockdown revealed the stark exclusion of persons with disabilities in the workforce, Vineet Saraiwala transitioned from a secure corporate career to found Atypical Advantage in 2020, India’s pioneering inclusive job platform for people with disabilities. From this bold inception, Atypical Advantage has become a nationwide movement with over 40,000 candidate profiles and partnerships with over 450 companies. The platform also promotes artistic talents with disabilities through creative showcases, sensitizing over 300,000 employees to inclusion principles. Vineet’s innovative work has been recognized by the National Startup Awards and Shark Tank India.
Event and Recognition Details
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The Better India Showcase 2025 aims to celebrate service, resilience, and visionary changemaking across India.
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Winners and several nominees will be featured continuously through immersive storytelling formats on The Better India platforms, ensuring their journeys and impact resonate beyond the awards night.
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This year’s showcase is presented by Optum and supported by the M3M Foundation, highlighting changemakers who use empathy, courage, and persistent action to rewrite narratives of exclusion and inequality.
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This announcement shines a spotlight on the power of everyday individuals who refuse to accept the status quo. These changemakers prove that true social progress is built from the ground up—through dedication, collaboration, and relentless hope.
Source: The Better India
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