Champions of Change
Champions of Change is an Indian award for promoting Indian values like community service, social development, healthcare, education and national unity, selected by constitutional jury members headed by K. G. Balakrishnan, the Former Chief Justice of India and Former Chairman NHRC and Justice Gyan Sudha Misra, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India. The awards are organised annually and usually presented by the President of India, Vice President of India, former President of India, former Vice president of India or any leading political figure of India.
Champions of Change Awards are organized by Interactive Forum on Indian Economy, which is a Government of India recognized, not-for-profit company dedicated for the development and welfare of women and children of rural India. IFIE annually organizes Champions of Change Award at International, National and state-Level in India. Nandan Jha is the founder and organizer of champions of change awards and chairman of the 'Interactive Forum on Indian Economy'.
The award comprises a certificate and a gold medal. It is given in four categories, namely:
- Application of Education, Healthcare, Science and Technology for Rural development.
- Outstanding contribution for the Development and Welfare of Women and Children
- Outstanding contribution in Swatch Bharat Abhiyan
Jury
The Jury for Champions of Change Award is headed by Justice K. G. Balakrishnan & Justice Gyan Sudha Misra. Jury members include Former Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service & Indian Revenue Service Officers along with veteran journalists and academics.History
2018 Awardees
The first edition ceremony took place on 26 December’ 2018 at Vigyan Bhavan New Delhi with Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu as the Chief Guest and notable awardees included:- N. Biren Singh
- Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti
- Jaswant SinghSumanbhai Bhabhor
- Bidyut Baran Mahato
- Nishikant Dubey
- Ritu Jaiswal
- Gedela Srinubabu
- Natasha Aranha
2019 Awardees
The second edition of COC happened at 10, Rajaji Marg & Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 20 January’2020 with Former President of India Late Pranab Mukherjee as Chief Guest and notable awardees included:- Hemant Soren , Social Welfare
- Manish Sisodia ,
- Anurag Thakur , Social Welfare
- Acharya Balkrishna , Social Welfare
- Suresh Oberoi &,
- Geeta Koda , Social Welfare
- Abhinav Singh - Uttar Pradesh
2020 Awardees
The third edition took place at Taj Resort & Convention Centre, Goa on 16 April’2021 with Governor of Maharashtra & Goa Bhagat Singh Koshyari as chief guest and list of awardees included:- Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa
- Shripad Naik, Union Minister for Ayush Ministry & MoS Defense
- M. K. Stalin, President of DMK
- Hema Malini, MP & Veteran Indian Film Actress
- Pahlaj Nihalani, Former Chairman Censor Board & Veteran Film Producer
- Sonu Nigam
- Hema Sardesai
- Sushmita Sen
- Suresh Jain
- Swami Chidanand Saraswati
- Raj K. Purohit
- Vipul Goel
- Sabarna Roy Indian Author, Culture, West Bengal
2021 Awardees
The fourth edition of COC happened at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 26 February 2023 with Former President of India Ramnath Kovind as Chief Guest and notable awardees included:- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister for Jal Shakti, Govt. of India
- Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal, Padma Vibhushan & Revolutionary of India Independence Movement
- Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Padma Bhushan, Indian National Poet
- Pt. Chhannulal Mishra, Padma Vibhushan & Indian Classical Singer
- Sub Maj Sanjay Kumar, Winner of Param Vir Chakra
- Nripendra Misra, Padma Bhushan & Former Principal Secretary to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
- Abhinav Bindra, Olympic Gold Medalist & Indian Sports Shooter
- Juhi Chawla, Indian Film Actress
- R. Madhavan, Indian Film Actor
- Anuj Wahi, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director at KHC Healthcare India Private Limited