Seeing a man from US dying of AIDS at a time when nothing much was known of the syndrome, changed Glory Alexander’s outlook. It made the doctor start Asha Foundation many years later to serve HIV positive people, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

Touched by the death of hundreds of snakes in a flood, a school boy started planting trees. Now, 36 years later, we have a forest in that island on the Brahmaputra. Partho Burman tells us Jadav Payeng’s story of determination and dedication

Straddling a job in the skies and a mission on the ground, Captain Indraani Singh demonstrates how one person can be the change through spreading education, empowerment and employment among those who need it the most. Partho Burman reports 

\r\n A group of first generation graduates are mentoring rural school students, who are also first generation learners in Tamil Nadu, by imparting life skills and building their confidence, through an NGO, Vazhai. P C Vinoj Kumar meets the mentors 

\r\n

On a mission to build toilets in the slums and lower income neighbourhoods of Kanpur, Kalavati Devi is working to create a clean environment. She is one of those uncelebrated brand ambassadors of India’s sanitation movement, says Alka Pande

When Rajesh Kumar Sharma went to see how Metro Rail work was progressing near the Yamuna station, he realized that poor children had no school to attend. So he set up ‘Under the Bridge School’. Partho Burman meets the educator extraordinaire

A daily wage labourer in Rajasthan has donated land worth a crore for building a hospital, madarasa and masjid, proving that charity need not be the rich man’s prerogative, says Anil Sharma

During the Uttarakhand flood of 2013, some women of Sumari Bhardhar risked their lives and saved equipment, furniture and documents of a school. But none appreciated them, says Chetna Verma

Her first attempt to save a 12-year-old girl from the clutches of an abusive father failed. But that propelled Renu Singh to turn a crusader for gender justice and rescue about 3,800 girls and women in over three decades, says Partho Burman

Medicare hospital in Pune offers free treatment for women who are targets of dowry torture and acid attacks as the founder-owner was moved by the plight of one such victim, says Quaid Najmi

Winner of many awards for his social work in Mumbai slums, Jockin Arputham missed the Nobel Peace in 2014. But for people whose life he changed through his dedication, he is indeed an ‘arputham’ (miracle, in Tamil), says Kavita Kanan Chandra

For the tribals of Sundergarh in Odisha, Anna Kujur is the beacon of hope. She not just made them aware of their rights but also encouraged them to stand up and fight, says Sarada Lahangir

Whatever job he was in, S M Venkatesh saved abandoned people from the streets. Now, his Agal Foundation works with Helpage India, responding to distress calls, quickly and efficiently, as P C Vinoj Kumar found through a snap sting operation

Starting with a night shelter for children of sex workers, Prerana has come a long way providing support to women stuck in Mumbai’s red light district. Kavita Kanan Chandra retraces Priti Patkar’s 28-year journey that has saved many a child

A cradle has saved at least 110 girls in Rajasthan, a state notorious for female infanticide. Gaurav Sharma finds out how Maa Bhagwati Vikas Sansthan was formed, how it saves unwanted babies