GARSHOM HUMANITARIAN AWARD 2024

Mr. Raveendra Nath's journey is one of remarkable compassion and purpose. Hailing from a humble village in Kerala, he moved to North India with aspirations of a better life. In 1997, he found himself in a stable role as a Mess Manager at a prominent residential school in Karnal, Haryana. Yet, despite financial security, he felt an inner emptiness—a profound call for deeper meaning. Through prayer and reflection, he experienced a transformative moment in 1998, receiving a divine calling to serve the vulnerable and destitute. Guided by faith, he left his job and, alongside his supportive wife Sushma, devoted himself to a life of humanitarian service.

Together, they founded the Mission to the Desperate and Destitute of India (MDD) in 1998. Beginning with just two children, their efforts blossomed into MDD Bal Bhawan Orphanage, established on July 6, 1999, to provide love, care, and opportunity to orphaned and disadvantaged children. Today, this “home away from home” shelters around 60 girls, offering them education, life skills, and a nurturing environment. The mission expanded to support differently-abled children with a second unit in 2013, ensuring they too have a place of belonging and care.

With a focus on holistic development, MDD also created a vocational training center, equipping youth with skills in computers, tailoring, and beauty services to prepare them for self-reliant futures. The establishment of a cradle center in 2014 offers safe refuge for abandoned infants, while a charitable dispensary founded in 2002 provides essential medical care to both MDD children and surrounding communities. The addition of a 24/7 ambulance service furthers this commitment to health and well-being.

Recently, MDD has become a force against child exploitation and abuse. In partnership with the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, MDD launched initiatives in 2023 across 15 districts in Haryana to tackle child marriage, trafficking, and labor. Hundreds of children have been rescued, rehabilitated, and provided support for their well-being, education, and mental health.

Under this humanitarian’s guidance, MDD has transformed countless lives. Former MDD children now excel in government and private sectors in India and abroad. With boundless empathy, resilience, and dedication, he has become a beacon of hope for vulnerable children, embodying the highest ideals of humanitarian service. We are proud to present him with the 'Garshom Humanitarian Award' in recognition of his lifelong commitment to transforming lives and uplifting humanity.