Pune: Anjani Mashelkar Inspiration Award 2024 conferred on Sister Lucy Kurien
Pune, 6th December 2024: Sister Lucy Kurien, the founder of Maher, a safe haven for homeless women, children, and men, was awarded the prestigious Anjani Mashelkar Inspiration Award 2024 under the auspices of International Longevety Center-India (ILC-I).
Instituted by Dr. Mashelkar in memory of his late mother, this is an annual award to honour the life and work of an inspiring woman above the age of 60 years, who has created a great societal impact fighting against all adversities. The award includes a cash prize of INR 1 lakh – which will be donated to Sister Lucy’s Maher organisation.
Sister Lucy 1997 founded Maher (meaning “Mother’s Home”) to offer shelter, support, and rehabilitation to those abandoned and marginalized by society. From just two women and two children on its first day, Maher has grown to encompass 65+ shelter homes across seven Indian states, serving over 4,600 women, 4,200 children, and 1,000 men, including those who are mentally ill or destitute.
Sister Lucy’s efforts have extended beyond shelter homes to include mobilizing marginalized women into 700+ self-help groups across 80+ villages. Sister Lucy has been honoured previously by the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2015 by the President of India.
The award ceremony was held by ILC-I at Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune, in the presence of Chief Guest, Chancellor Dr. Shivajirao Kadam. The Guest of Honour, Vice Chancellor Dr. Vivek Saoji and Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, President, ILC-I and Jayant Umranikar, Chairman, ILC-I.
