Dr Rajnish Gourth is the director of the train-hospital Lifeline Express, created and run by the NGO Impact India Foundation in 1991. This train, equipped with the latest technology, traverses India to cure the most deprived of the country. 40 volunteer doctors and surgeons have treated around 1.2 million patients since 1991. The Lifeline Express was awarded the Prize of Excellence in Public Services by the UN and has been nicknamed “the magical train”.
Country: India
I’m the first man to wear sanitary pads
Muru has dedicated his life to developing the cheapest, most environmentally-friendly and socially-responsible sanitary pads on the market. His story is both unusual and fascinating. He is one of the best advocates for women’s health and wellbeing.
Je dresse des cartes pour protéger les droits des pêcheurs du Tamil Nadu
Saravanan, un pêcheur de l’Etat du Tamil Nadu en Inde, a pris l’initiative de cartographier tous les villages côtiers afin de les protéger des grands projets d’infrastructures et des activités industrielles. Ces cartes participent également à la préservation de l’environnement. A l’aide d’un système d’information géographique, les cartes permettent d’illustrer la façon dont les pêcheurs utilisent les terres. En se basant sur des techniques de cartographie participative, de registres officiels et de données historiques, Saravanan a déjà recensé près de 35 villages et envisage de cartographier ceux situés en bordure de l’océan Indien et du golfe du Bengale.
J’ai créé le gang des saris roses
Pour faire valoir leurs droits dans un pays où l’homme est roi, 3 millions d’indiennes suivent à la lettre les recommandations de cette mère de famille, mariée de force à l’âge de 12 ans. Sampat est devenue une légende dont Bollywood s’est emparée. Quand on dit que la réalité dépasse souvent la fiction…
I breathe new life into ancestral seeds
Vandana Shiva is a world star of the anti-globalization movement in the field of agriculture. As in a David and Goliath struggle, she ruthlessly fights against the agrochemical business giants. But, on top of being a gifted speaker, Vandana has been striving for years to collect Indian seeds in order to store them in a seed bank. A priceless heritage that would have been lost without her.
I created the children’s bank
Because Rita could just no longer bear to be helpless in the face of the suffering of street kids, beaten by older ones to collect some hard-earned coins, this former Indian social worker decided to launch the bank of the children. A unique bank in the world managed by and for children. Instructive.
My couriers are deaf and mute
to offer employment to Indians with disabilities who have been socially ostracised, Dhruv launched a one-of-a-kind courier service. Mirakle Couriers make a million little miracles happen every day.
We save lovers from death
In India, so-called “honour crimes” are rife. Young people who want to marry for love face paying a high price. To prevent the worst acts of violence, Sanjay and Harsh started Love Commandos. It’s an incredible effective support network that gives star-crossed lovers the chance to live happily ever after.
My refrigerator works without electricity
A maker of traditional clay jars, this Indian artisan had the idea to improve his technique by making refrigerators using the same principle. The inner temperature is 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. Refreshing!
Relax on my carpet of nails
This young Swedish yogi developed a modern version of the bed of nails to enable Westerners to relax their muscles as the fakirs have done for ages. An unlikely success story.