In an inspiring ceremony charged with emotion, gripping stories of human achievement and a mellifluous classical fusion performance, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented businessline ’s Changemaker of the Year award to grassroots conservationist Purnima Devi Barman for saving the endangered greater adjutant stork and empowering village women to become feisty protectors of the bird as well as self-reliant entrepreneurs.
Despite the States and Centre doing so much, it is the changemakers who are putting their heart and soul in their endeavours who are making a difference on the ground. Raghuvir Srinivasan, Editor, businessline , described how 1,600 nominations were received, from which the winners were chosen — a really tough job for the jury.
Receiving the award, Purnima Devi said, “When women rise, magic happens and the hargila (stork) takes flight. Acknowledging businessline ’s role in bringing to the fore the work of changemakers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: “India is a vast country. Earlier, inaugurating the event, Nirmala Lakshman, Director, THG Publishing, said, “Every year, this evening gives us a chance to recognise the power of an idea to create change…and the persistence to see this through. “It was like a samudra manthan (churning of the ocean),” he said.
Associate partners were State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, Citizen Watches, Government of Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, NABARD, NTPC, Indian Bank, SAIL, GAIL (India) Limited, Essar Group, ICFAI Group, NMDC, and UCO Bank. The mobility partner was Kia Sorento. The 2026 awards function was presented by Sastra Deemed University and powered by City Union Bank.
