Awards and Recognitions

Awards and Distinctions

A Moment of Pride for Environmental Leadership and Moral Action

It is with immense pride and reverence that we share that Professor Ashok Kumar, Chairman of the Global Foundation for Advancement of Environment and Human Wellness, has been honoured with the prestigious Eco-Guardian Award for his outstanding and lifelong contributions to environmental protection, sustainability, and holistic well-being.
A visionary environmentalist, sustainability thinker, and well-being expert, Professor Ashok Kumar has consistently demonstrated that true environmental leadership is rooted not only in policy and technology, but in values, ethics, and human responsibility. His work continues to inspire individuals, institutions, and nations to adopt more conscious, compassionate, and sustainable ways of living.
The award ceremony was held at the Indian International Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, in the august presence of eminent dignitaries, on the eve of India’s Republic Day—a day that symbolises duty, responsibility, and national commitment. The timing could not have been more meaningful, as Professor Kumar’s work embodies the very spirit of service to society and the planet.

SABERA Award

Dr. Pranab J Patar, the CEO of the Foundation was conferred upon the prestigious SABERA Award. In its expanded form, the award stands for the Social and Business Enterprise Responsible Award for the year 2021. This Award is known to highlight Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) best practices & sustainable development initiatives, took note of Dr Patar’s exceptional work in extending Covid relief and humanitarian aid during floods.

This honour recognized Dr Pranab as the Social Leader of the Year. A highly distinguished jury for this award, well known in the social and environmental sector was headed by Hon’ble Renu Sud Karnad, Managing Director HDFC Bank Ltd.

Green Future Leadership Award and Water Leadership Award

In the 7th edition of National CSR Leadership Congress organised by World CSR Day & World Sustainability in Bengaluru on Oct 27th, 2021 well-known environmentalist and Global Foundation CEO Dr. Pranab J Patar has been bestowed with Green Future Leadership Award and Water Leadership Award for providing outstanding leadership towards major environmental initiatives.

The event was graced by Mr Nicolas Bockhoff, Chief Operating Officer – SUEZ India, Dr. R. L. Bhatia, Founder – World CSR Day & World Sustainability, Jason Fernandes, Founder – TokenJay TV, Manoj Balachandran, Head CSR – IBM India & South Asia, Dr Anupama Shetty, Mission Director – Biocon India Foundation, Anupama Nidhi, Head – CSR Hindustan Zinc Ltd.

Changemaker of assam award

SEWA – leading socio-environment and development organization based in Assam, during its annual award function – “ANTARPERANA -Celebrating Change makers” for the year 2020, honoured Dr Pranab J Patar as a Change Maker in the environment and climate change category, in recognition of his astounding contribution towards biodiversity conservation, climate action, safeguarding freshwater bodies, promotion of sustainable green sector livelihood and sustainable tourism over the years.

Water Digest Water Award

Global Foundation has received Asia’s one of the most prestigious Water Awards – Water Digest Water Award for the year 2019-20 under Best Water NGO – Rain Water Harvesting Category. In recognition of its towards promoting and propagating rain water harvesting (RWH) for ground water aquifer recharge & removal of ground water contaminants in collaboration with JNTU Hyderabad.

The Award was given away in presence of Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Jal Shakti among other dignitaries.

Scroll of Honour

The Noida Authority (Govt. of Uttar Pradesh), in recognition of Global Foundation’s contribution towards Swachhta Sarvekshan and promoting cleanliness, awarded the ‘Scroll of Honour’ in the year 2021. The session was presided over by the CEO of Noida Authority Smti Ritu Maheshwari, IAS

Sustainability Innovation Award 1.0

The Green Society of India, conferred Green NGO Award upon Global Foundation at the Sustainability Innovation Award 1.0 in the year 2021 for its work in environment sector and pushing sustainability agenda forward.

Professor Kumar, Founder and Chairman of the Global Foundation discussed his concerns and some pragmaic, enduring solutions with Hon’ble Vivek Shejualkar, MP from Madhya Pradesh

World Environment Summit is the flagship environmental event organized annually by the Environment & Social Development Association (ESDA), New Delhi, India in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India. The conference is dedicated to promoting and charting a pragmatic course for fostering the United Nations’ social development goals. The conference has significant international participation from over 30 countries and was populated with over 700 delegates who put together their ideas and proposals in various forms of outlets, such as session and keynote presentations, poster presentations, exhibits, etc. showcasing their expertise in matters related to SDGs, Water Conservation and Rejuvenation, Pollutions, Health Diseases, etc.

The organization of the conference was steered with remarkable effectiveness and alacrity by ESDA secretary Jitendra Nagar under the able guidance of ESDA President R K Rana and others.

Professor Kumar was invited to the conference as an eminent dignitary and served in several capacities in the conference:

First, as International Co-Chair and Member of the International Advisory Committee, he engaged in collaborative work in the USA with environmental and social entities and individual luminaries to invite them to participate in this conference and also identify individuals with extraordinary credentials to be considered for appropriate awards that the conference bestows upon highly qualified deserving candidates.

Second, he delivered his keynote address emphasizing the fierce urgency of arresting the e-waste menace that is growing at an alarming rate in India and worldwide. E-Waste is in its most simplistic form is defined as products that use electricity or electronics and have fallen out of usage. The title of his talk, The Tsunami of E-Waste Debacle Waiting to Unleash appropriately captured the seriousness with which this problem must be addressed immediately. He stated that India is the third-largest producer of e-waste behind the US and China and had collected only 10% of e-waste in 2019 (17.4% worldwide, which is also dismal). Notably, only a fraction of this was properly processed. India has worked hard at the Government level to create rules and laws in 2011 and 2016 for controlling wastage of EEE (Electrical and Electronic Equipment) products and has also correctly laid down responsibility on producers called the Extended Producers Responsibility. However, the creation of infrastructure for the collection and processing of e-waste lags woefully behind what is needed. It would need a herculean effort to tame this beast and needs both Government as well as industry participation.

He served as the head of the concluding plenary session where he and other experts fielded questions from audience and put forward pragmatic solutions to perennial environmental problems including the climate resiliency and educational reforms needed for planet sustainability.

In yet another presentation, Professor Kumar spoke about the need for Reshaping the Business Curriculum for Maximizing Global Sustainability. His lecture emphasized the need for out-of-box thinking and creating a business mindset that debunks the popular notion that environmental improvements in products and services can only materialize at the expense of profits. He indicated that thoughtful reformulation of the latest models of operations and marketing strategies can actually deliver a synergy between profits and environmental- and social-sustainability at higher levels. The brilliance is needed to generate enough reputational dividends by going green and satisfying a growing segment of customers who want a better environmental and more socially responsible product even at higher prices.

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Fourth, Professor Kumar was the proud recipient of the Global Green Award bestowed upon him in recognition of his expertise in enhancing corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability of the planet. This award is the highest award given to two individuals every year. He also gave other awards to many deserving candidates.

Finally, Professor Kumar engaged in significant social interactions with numerous delegates to strengthen and enlarge his network of environmental/wellness/social-responsibility experts. This would help further the goals of the Global Foundation for Advancement of Environment and Human Wellness that he serves in the capacity of the Founder and Chairman.