Ms. Sonia Mackwani young award-winning Social Entrepreneur

Sonia Mackwani  is a young award-winning Social Entrepreneur, an Author, a Psychic Healer, a Therapist, Trainer/ Mentor, Script-writer and an upcoming film-maker.

She is the Founder- Director of Touching Lives, a Mumbai based NGO working for the education, empowerment and enlightenment of children – with the vision to have every child become an ‘Independent Learner’.

A TEDx Speaker, her books, meditation CDs, free online programs and trainings help to raise funds for supporting education and mental health of children at Touching Lives and also building capacity in every mentor to become a conscious leader.

Accolades and Recognition

·        WON #100 Women Achievers of India by Ministry of Women & Child Development 2015 in category of ‘Education’ and will be felicitated at a lunch gathering with President of India.

·        Awarded the World Women Leadership Award at the World Women Leadership Congress 2015

·        Emerged among the TOP 5 Mercedes Benz A Class Achievers 2014

·        National Level Screenwriter Award by MAAC & Shamiana Short-Film Club for her socially inclined script – ‘The Play’ 2015

·        Noble Laureate Award – Karmaveer Puraskaar by iCongo - CNBC Young Turk Transformer - Social Entrepreneur Category 2011

·        Gaurav Puraskaar 2011

·        Aga Khan Youth Award for Excellence in Leadership 2007

·        Aga Khan Social Role Model Award 2009

About Touching Lives

Sonia was only 21 when she started ‘Touching Lives’ in 2003. She was then, simultaneously pursuing her education in Psychology from Mithibai College and then further her Masters in Clinical Psychology from University of Mumbai. Sonia also did her Masters in Clinical Hypnotherapy. 

She started Touching Lives with the foundational value in her heart that – ‘It is completely our need to serve than saying, we serve the needy.’ And this value stays strong in the ethics of the organization even today.  

Sonia wrote two books then, to support Touching Lives financially and to register it under The Bombay Public Trust Act in 2006. She conducted tuitions & workshops on Psychology, Meditation & other spiritual concepts to raise funds and at the same time continue her inner journey of evolution. She was also a Trustee of Atmaviswas Vidyalaya – a residential mental rehabilitation centre in Valsad, Gujarat training the care-takers and supporting the inmates.

Nature & Work of Touching Lives

With her ideology of seeing every human as a supreme potential to contribute in this universe, she developed Meta-Quantum Learning Model that focuses on supporting every child to become a ‘whole’ human – that is, providing them and their families with therapeutic interventions towards learning and education and become a successful individual socially, economically, mentally, physically, spiritually & aesthetically. 

VISION is to have every child become an ‘INDEPENDENT L(E)ARNER”

MISSION is to set up quality resource centres (generally termed as Learning Centre & Community Centre) that allow children to recover, discover and do what they realize for themselves and for the world.

EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT & ENLIGHTENMENT, is our GOAL.

BRIEF BACKGROUND

Touching Lives is a non-profit organization dedicated to Education, Empowerment and Enlightenment of children living in the slums of Mumbai. The organization runs independent learning centres. The committed children, aged 5 - 21, gain supplementary education through several learning programs. There is a cycle of 7 learning programs; starting from Community Beginners to Beginners Program, Preschool, Afterschool, Transit, Dream Project, Pay-It-forward Program. This allows the children to become independent and successful professionals in their chosen area. They could even be the future generation of leaders at your organization.

Touching Lives also supports other NGOs and schools both in rural and urban areas through teacher training and mentoring programs.

In 2015, we supported 250 children and over a period of next 5 years, we intend to support number of communities, children & their parents.

Her Books and Publications

·        Sonia has written two children’s books -Tales from Indian Mythology - Mahabharata (4 Volumes) and Tales from Indian Mythology - Ramayana (2 Volumes). They were published in 2006 by Magna Publications and were selected for the Frankfurt Book Fair during that year.

·        Everyone Can Heal, her debut non-fiction book of guided healing processes, released world-wide in 2014 digitally and paperback in 2005 by Leadstart Publishing. The book was graciously launched and unveiled in the presence of renowned Indian Playback Singer – Rekha Bhardwaj ji.

She currently has couple of fiction books on her desk.

·        Links   http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Heal-Guided-Healing-Processes/dp/938111563X/ref=sr_1_2_twi_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421918416&sr=8-2&keywords=Everyone+Can+Heal

·        Link,  http://www.amazon.in/Mahabharata-1-Sonia-Mackwani/dp/8178093367/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1446739506&sr=1-3

Her Edu-Media Initiatives

Power Minutes (Five Minutes’ Guided Meditation) with Times Music

An audio-visual album for effective meditation – conceptualised by Sonia and recorded in her voice, released March’2015.

·        Link, http://www.amazon.in/Power-Minutes-5-Minute-Meditations/dp/B00UXEV7JQ/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1446739577&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=power+minutes+sonia+mackwani

Social Awareness Films

Sonia’s script was selected and adapted into a short-film amongst 450 scripts from all over India in a National Scriptwriting Competition by MAAC & Shamiana Short-films for its socially inclined concept. The film was termed as one of the most expensive short-films in Indian Cinema. The short -film ABC, wins the Special Jury Award @ the 4th Delhi Shorts International Film festival '15.

·        Trailer Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci7-Diz0Jrw&feature=youtu.be

*more links attached in another word file – Media Links_Sonia Mackwani

Her Therapeutic World (as a Psychic Healer & Trainer/Mentor)

Her practice involves training people and facilitating their journey towards highest consciousness through Counselling, Reiki, Master-Reconnection which is a healing process founded by her, Family Constellation and other intuitive ancient healing and wisdom modalities including ‘Birthing Into Being’ which is about conscious birthing, healing birth traumas and helping an adult too, to break-free from old limiting patterns. This helps to develop a strong relationship and foundation for a whole, successful and conscious human being.

Press and Media

Stories of her inspiring journey have been featured in various print and electronic media including Times of India, Dainik Bhaskar, Afternoon Dispatch, Savvy Magazine, Seventeen Magazine, Meri Saheli, CNBC News Channel, Etv, Chitralekha and many more.

   *attached Media Links_Sonia Mackwani

Other Project and Collaborations

Sonia is currently working as a screenplay, story assistant & producer in an international film with an acclaimed Brazilian film-maker Marcos Negrao for his global film project called Child of Nature. The film also captures stories of children of Touching Lives representing India as a space of wisdom in the field.

Her director’s assistantship with a Sundance Award winning Bollywood film director Sarthak Dasgupta is in the pipeline.

She is on the move of making her own debut short-film on social awareness, inspiration and contribution and which will go under production in 2016.

Her Studies Now:

Besides her writing, she is intending to pursue learning film-making, singing for more creative expressions for contributing towards humanity and raising funds through that.

Her Vision & Plans

To build schools & therapeutic- learning centres where children, parents and communities come together to develop a child who is mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, aesthetically, economically, socially successful and who becomes a conscious contribution on this planet.

Please connect Sonia Mackwani at sonia.touchinglives@gmail.com and +91 9167032331

www.touchonelife.org

www.soniamackwani.com

Dr. Radhike Khanna : A philanthropist, an educationist, a social worker

About Dr. Radhike Khanna

A philanthropist, an educationist, a social worker, but most importantly a warm and kind-hearted person with the will and ability to ‘make things happen’, that’s Dr. Radhike Khanna.

Having devoted 29 years of her life striving for the development of people with special needs, Dr. Khanna broke away from the traditional mould to spark revolutionary strategies for their instruction and empowerment. She has worked tirelessly for the education, training and rehabilitation of the developmentally disabled, as well as for autistic children and young adults. Today, Dr. Radhike Khanna serves as the Vice Principal of SPJ Sadhana School, Mumbai and is the founder of Om Creations Trust and Shraddha Charitable Trust.

Notable Contributions

Ø  Dr. Radhike Khanna created the first and only five-year polytechnic course in the world that guarantees employment for disabled and developmentally disabled individuals. Through her diligent efforts, 1,100 individuals have been placed in productive roles in the society.

Ø  She founded the Om Creations Trust and the Shraddha Charitable Trust, both pioneering projects in the rehabilitation of developmentally challenged women and autistic men. This visionary planned and executed workshops that aimed at integrating the developmentally disabled into the national mainstream, thus enabling them to earn a livelihood and lead independent lives.

Ø  Dr. Khanna has also been instrumental in bringing about an attitudinal shift whereby parents have learnt to acknowledge and value their special child. The corporate world has welcomed them as prolific employees and the society too has begun to accept them in an inclusive manner.

Ø  Dr. Khanna also conducts capacity-building workshops for special educators. She has provided them with an invaluable tool to merge the child into the learning environment through the four-phased FACE Programme.

Ø  Dr. Khanna has conducted various ‘Training the Trainers’ programmes both nationally and internationally. The special programme is geared at training teachers in indigenous areas of special education, the objective being to expose educational professionals from marginal communities to the newest learning trends and methodology.

Ø  She has also participated and conducted lectures on subjects such as Women Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship in Management Institutes like SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai and Xavier School of Management Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur.

Ø  She has attended and participated in numerous conferences abroad which includes the ‘Global Initiatives for Change’ conference in Switzerland and the 16^th Annual Learning Disorders Conference at Harvard, USA.

Ø  She has conceptualised seven documentary films on training the developmentally disabled, out of which “A New Paradigm” (2000) was awarded the Silver Peacock for the best documentary with a social theme; 'Behind the Glass Wall’ (2015) won a national-level award for the best educational film.

Ø  Dr. Khanna ’s sustained efforts have brought about a change in the mindset of people, making them understand that even the developmentally disabled have inborn strengths which if tapped and nurtured, can be leveraged to bring forth unimaginable creative talent. She has sacrificed personal goals to enhance the growth and well being of those in need. Dr. Radhike Khanna is a beacon of light for these special people who look up to her and continues to inspire a generation that is willing to make a change.

Awards & Felicitations

Ø  The President, the Executive Committee & the CSR Committee of the Cricket Club of India felicitated  for being awarded as one of the 100 most empowered women in India.

Ø  Felicitated by the staff of Om Creations for the #100Women Achievers Award.

Ø  Khatri Gaurav Award – 2016 presented by Khatri Samaj Amritsar.

Ø  Award presented byAmrit parivar parents association .

Ø  Nimpaa award 2016 presented by National Integration Multi Purpose Artists Association.

Ø  DAV public school, Lawrence road, Amritsar presented Guest of Honour.

Ø  Received award from Golden Temple Trust, Amritsar.

Ø  #100 Women Achievers Award in the category of “Disability and Disadvantage” by the Ministry of Women & Child Development, 22^nd January 2016, New Delhi

Ø  Gaint Group of Byculla Present Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Education. (Educationist for the Year) on 30^th August 2015, Mumbai

Ø  FACE – Foundation for Accelerated Community Empowerment – Certificate of Excellence, Rashtra Vibhushan Award for outstanding individual achievement & Distinguished Services to the Nation 19^th April 2015, New Delhi

Ø  Rotary Club of Bombay Seaface – Vocation Excellence Award 2014-15.  For Contribution to Development & Education of Mentally challenged & Rendering Valuable Service to the Community

Ø  Award of Honour Presented For Services Rendered to the cause of Childhood Disability – Presented by Global Institute for Childhood Disability Amritsar, 27^th September 2014

Ø  SPJ Sadhana School has been awarded the International School Award 2013-16 by the British Council.  This award has been recognised for “Outstanding Development of International Learning in the Curriculum”.

Ø  Certificate of Merit – CFBP Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Fair Business Practices as founder Trustee of OM Creations under the category of “Charitable Association”– 15^th March 2013.

Ø  Pearson Teaching Award for Excellence in School Teaching February 2013

Ø  Indian Achiever Award from All India Business Development Association, New Delhi, for Best Social Worker – August 2011

Ø  Rotary Club of Bombay North- Certificate of Appreciation as Guest Speaker 2010

Ø  Sophia Achiever’s Award – for outstanding contribution & commitment in the field of Art & Design – December 2009

Ø  IMC Ladies Wing - Woman of the Year Award – 2008 for Outstanding Woman Citizen of Mumbai.

Ø  The Shell Helen Keller Award, December 2008, from The National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Persons with Disability (NCPEPD) for being a “Role Model for increased employment opportunities for the Disabled.”

Ø  National Award 2005, Government of India, presented by President Dr. A.P.J. Kalam, New Delhi, for Individual Working with the Mentally Disabled

Ø  Mikanos -Woman of Substance Award 2002,. She was among five Women Achievers of the city of Mumbai.

Ø  The Sadguru Gnanananda Award 2002 from Dr. A.P.J Kalam as Scientific Advisor,  in deep appreciation for the outstanding and pioneering efforts as a Special Educator.

Ø  The National Society for Equal Opportunities for the Handicapped, India (NASEOH), awarded Shri N.D. Diwan Memorial Award 1999, in appreciation for the outstanding achievement and deep involvement in promoting the rehabilitation of the mentally retarded and in the field of Autism and in recognition of meritorious contribution as a professional worker.

Ø  Tata Memorial Centre, Act Clinic & Social Department  express their gratitude and appreciation towards her valuable contribution at the 2^nd Pediatric Brain Tumour Survivors Workshop held in November 1998                                                      

Ø  Lions International, Teacher’s Day Award, 1998.

Ø  Rotary Club of Bombay Peninsula, Mumbai, 1998 (For meritorious services towards the Community).

Ø  Certificate of Appreciation from S.P.J. Sadhana School, Silver Jubilee Celebration, 1997 (Commitment for training the Differently Abled)

Ø  Honoured by Sophia B. K. Somani Polytechnic, Silver Jubilee Celebration, 1994  (Outstanding ex-student with commitment and social conscience)

Ø  Lions International Award, 1994  (Best teacher of the Differently Abled)

Ø  Bronze Medalist, 1987 & 1990 (In teacher’s category for the most innovative article created for the Centre for Care Treatment and training of children in need of special care)      

Dr Saundarya Rajesh : A woman entrepreneur with a vision

India is ranked 123rd in the female-male ratio with one of the lowest female labour force participation in the world (World Economic Forum – Gender Gap Report). India has also one of the highest rates of women quitting the workplace because of work-life related issues. World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index (2011) reports that 48% of Indian women abort their careers mid-way which is almost 20% more than the global average. Many of these women (almost 18 lakh in number) desire to make career comebacks once their responsibilities of child/elder or household care have been well attended to. Besides, the 2.8 crores Indian women who are currently working, also face multiple challenges while trying to remain employed, productive and contribute economically to our country.

Every single one of these18 lakh women on a break and the 2.8crores of working women has a reason to thank Dr. Saundarya Rajesh. But for her unstinting efforts, women’s careers and workforce participation would still be languishing as a nice-to-have, but not a critically important imperative in the priorities of talent managers of India.

In 2005, when Saundarya first embarked upon the idea of creating a community of women who had taken breaks in career, little did she know that it would be a game-changer for women’s careers in India. Her first brush with corporates who summarily rejected the CV’s of women on career breaks, taught her that the problem had to be approached differently. Saundarya did exactly that – she turned the challenge on its head and convinced corporates that women who had taken breaks were more likely to stay on the career track longer and were also a source of highly skilled personnel.

The idea worked. Corporates that were hungry for good talent, decided to try out Saundarya’s suggestion – engaging “Returning” women professionals. The very first recorded instance of a ‘second career’ program in Indian industry, took place in July 2006, under the stewardship of Saundarya. Over 400 women re-entered the workplace for the first time.

Realising that corporates needed a sustainable strategy to engage not just returning women professionals but all women in their workplace, Saundarya began coaching and counselling organizations to develop a Gender Inclusion plan. Using research and analytics, she proved the rupee-value that organizations would accrue if they invested in women’s careers.

Not stopping with merely pitching this talent pool to companies, Saundarya went one step further and ensured that the women who got in touch with her also benefited out of the interaction. Creating an online platform called www.avtariwin.com in 2005, Saundarya developed a simple profiling method which helped the women assess their own employability and also their readiness to re-enter the workplace. She devised a Career-Enabler system that women could easily implement in their own homes and work-places that would prevent them from aborting their careers.

Saundarya travels extensively speaking in various conferences and forums on the benefits and importance of engaging with women on career breaks. She has conceptualized and designed several programs and training interventions to bring women back into the workplace. One such program is SEGUE Sessions, India’s largest networking and career creation program for women returnees in India. More than 11 SEGUE Sessions events have so far been conducted in cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Pune and Jaipur, benefiting over 10,000 women. Turning the attention of every corporate recruiter to this pool of immense talent was achieved by Saundarya through the medium of SEGUE Sessions. 

Today, thousands of women have benefited out of the free counselling, career strategy creation and mentoring that Saundarya and her team give women everyday. The AVTAR I-WIN network has grown to about 40,000 women professionals and is today a destination not only for women professionals who take breaks and then decide to re-create their careers, but also for organizations that want to leverage this gender inclusive talent strategy.

The benefit accrued for India, as a country, via this effort, is significant. More than 8000 women have re-entered the workforce thanks to the untiring efforts of Saundarya and her team. These ‘second career women’ have contributed an estimated Rs. 250 crores by way of economic participation. Several hundred organizations have filled critical roles with women – second career women. Many organizations such as Hindustan Unilever, Axis Bank, Godrej, Goldman Sachs, Axis Bank, Fidelity, HCL, Godrej, Philips and Microsoft have started their exclusive second career programs to welcome back women into the workplace.

The Indian Woman’s contribution to the national GDP is at 17 per cent, much lower than the global average of 37 per cent, and the lowest among all 10 regions in the world. If India's women’s workforce participation rate can be increased to 41 per cent by 2025, add an estimated Rs 46 lakh crore ($700 billion) to India's GDP. One of the key requisites for this is to create an environment that respects and understands women and actively engages and encourages them to pursue their careers.  This is the focus that Saundarya aims to create.

A woman entrepreneur with a vision, Saundarya believes that women’s careers will be one of the foremost success factors contributing towards India’s development in the coming years. Her work has ensured that corporates, educational institutions, families and the women themselves are educated about the unique nature of women’s careers and the steps to be taken to engage women professionals, in order to deliver all-round benefit.

For relentlessly championing the cause of career re-entry opportunities for women who have taken breaks after marriage, childbirth or relocation, and for her indefatigable focus on women’s workforce participation, Dr. Saundarya Rajesh was selected for the #100 Women Achiever’s initiative by Government of India (Ministry of Women and Child Development) and met the Hon. President of India and the Minister for W&CD at Delhi in January 2016.

सुश्री प्रतिभा शर्मा : दूसरों की सहायता करने का जज्‍बा बचपन से ही रहा

Dr. Hetal Acharya : International Expert of Ayurveda

In present era high intellectual development arose a problem of excessive thoughts and its 

waves affecting human AURA and hence health. Thoughts are root cause of illness. Many 

diseases are considered psychosomatic nowadays. Its a big issue in current scenario of human 

health that how to eradicate effect of thoughts and its waves from Human AURA, mind and 

body. Ayurveda can give answer for it. Ayurveda connects one with nature and physical and 

mental health can be obtained easily by balance of inner natural forces. Which helps to get rid 

of psychosomatic conditions affecting human health in current scenario of illness. This concept 

of Ayurveda revealed effectivity for complete wellness while addressing at UNITED NATIONS, 

USA 

Ayurveda is such a Science based on balance of five basic natural elements for human health. 

Sages and seers found its roots in deep higher meditative status and with extreme purity of 

chitta after enlightenment. Its not only deals with human body and its diseases but wellbeing of 

atma (soul), indriyas (sensory organs) and mana (mind). Which reflects in definition of health 

given by WHO, where physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being is included. 

It was a great moment for me to represent Ayurveda, Panchakarma, Nadi-Nidana (diagnosis by 

pulse) along with Meditation for Complete wellness with above context of elimination of effect of 

thoughts and a way to complete wellness at UNITED NATIONS HEAD QUARTER, NEW YORK, 

USA. 

There was an Interactive and Question-Answer session on Ayurveda – the Science of Life 

arranged at head quarter of United Nations,New York, USA. 

Staff members of the United Nations (including UN specialized agencies, programs and funds), missions 

to the United Nations, members of the press accredited to the United Nations, and NGOs, and their 

families participated enthusiastically attended this program and obtained tips . 

While speaking on the subject of “Ayurveda – the Science of Life”, tips advised for physical and mental 

Wellness. Present era is era of thought pollution and thoughts affect Human Aura and hence health. 

Ayurveda – Panchakarma can help to purify negative energy from AURA. Meditation is inevitable for 

mental peace. Researches on Water crystals conducted at Japan by renauned Scientist Dr.Emoto shown that 

positive changes in health can happen by regular practice of Samarpan Meditation. 

Harmonized combination of Ayurveda and Meditation is necessary for complete Wellness. 

Effects of Ayurveda-Panchakarma like, Abhyanga (Ayurvedic Massage), Svedana (Fomentation), 

Shirodhara (oil pouring on forehead), Basti (Medicated enema), etc. and Ayurvedic diet, lifestyle 

conveyed to Audience. Different countries’ representatives experienced Ancient Indian System of 

Diagnosis – Nadi Nidana (pulse diagnosis) as well. Meditation after Kundalini Awakening helps to maintain energy centre balance.
Collective Samarpan meditation session was also conducted during program. Many people found deep mental peace and some of them felt cold vibration in hands after 

meditation session. 

Many people of us are known to several basic principles of Ayurveda but its application in daily life can 

lead us to a better status of Health, it was opinion of Mr. Vijay Nambiyar (Secretary General’s special 

advisor on Myanmar) who was distinguished guest of this program. 

Mr. Nambiyar who was chef the cabinet in U.N., shared his views on Panchakarma and benefit from 

regular Panchakarma, he also honored myself with a Certificate of Appreciation and memento. 

It was a great honor given to Ancient Indian legacy of AYURVEDA and MEDITATION at global level. 

This magnificent achievement was also appreciated by Hon. President of India. For extra-ordinary 

contribution in the field of Health care and wellness to promote Ayurveda – Meditation Internationally, I 

was felicitated by Hon. President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee on 22nd Jan., 2016 and invited for lunch 

with Hon. President at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, India. I was selected amongst #100 women 

achievers of India by Ministry of Women and Child Development, India. I was the only Ayurveda Doctor 

selected for this honor from  over India.

Recently received Special Achievement Award amongst Iron ladies of Rajkot for this contribution on Women's day.

My Email : drhetalacharyaus@gmail.com

Dr. Neela Bhattacharya : at least 2 to 3 plastic surgery cases are operated by her every day

Dr. Neela Bhattacharya was born A. Neela Cathrine in Chennai on December 31^st; 1969.She passed out of Fatima Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Kodambakkam, where she topped in tenth and Plus 2 examinations. She achieved her dream of becoming a doctor, when she joined MBBS in Madras Medical College in 1991.As an undergraduate; she was especially proficient in Anatomy and Surgery and received gold medals in those subjects.

 With a passion for surgery, she went to Cuttack, Orissa, through the All India Postgraduate entrance examination and got a MS in General Surgery in 1994.She then worked as Assistant Professor of Surgery in Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai for 7 years, training and teaching innumerable budding doctors and surgeons. She has over 30 research papers published in various Indian and International journals of medicine. Driven by a thirst to super specialize further, she was selected for the MCh program in Plastic Surgery at Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai between 2003 to 2006.At that time she was the mother of two kids aged 3 and 1.

 Based in Chennai, Siliguri on the northernmost tip of Bengal was an unknown territory for Dr Neela. But her husband Dr. Kaushik Bhattacharya working then in North Bengal persuaded   her to come to Siliguri. There was no plastic surgeon in the region then. Being a Tamilian, she found both the language and the culture of North Bengal alien. Adding to that, the people including doctors had no knowledge of what a plastic surgeon does.

Fighting the circumstances, Dr. Neela Bhattacharya joined Anandaloke Hospital and Neurosciences Centre (www.ananadaloke.com ) in 2007 and developed the department of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery with a lot of effort and perseverance. And now, at least 2 to 3 plastic surgery cases are operated by her every day that include management of hand trauma, burns, facial injuries and emergency road traffic accidents .

From 2007, under the sponsorship of a US NGO called The Smile Train, she operates on mostly infants and children with congenital deformities like Cleft lip and Cleft palate totally free of cost. (www.smiletrainindia.org ).For the past 8 years, the program is running very successfully at Anandaloke Hospital restoring smiles to more than 3,500 such children from the Dooars, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Bhutan, Bihar and Nepal besides Siliguri and neighboring districts of North Bengal. These children who belong essentially to the poorest sections of society, could never dream of such treatment before, now can easily avail this quality care and that too completely free, in a modern hospital, only because of the Smile Train project in this part of the country of which Dr. Neela Bhattacharya is the Project Director.

Dr. Neela has conducted various camps in and around Siliguri to raise awareness about this program, participated in health camps and given both paper and television interviews to reach and educate the masses.

In her Smile Train Clinic,Dr.Neela sees children who are brought right from birth with cleft deformities.She reassures the parents who feel inferior and hopeless that they have given birth to children with defects.The parents are taught how to feed these special children  so that they do not aspirate,have chest infections and become malnourished.

Cleft lip repair is done at 6 months of age and palate repair at one year.The hospital stay,operation,medicines and the food are free for the patients and their family.

Speech therapy is taught after palate surgery, so that the child can develop normal speech.At 6 years of age,the cleft upper jaw in these children is united with a bone graft.

Sometimes when the patients are very poor,a transport allowance is also given to them.

Dr.Neela Bhattacharya feels that it has been her greatest priviledge and pride to be able to see these children with crippling deformities,transform into healthy,happy,beautiful children .                                 

                        

Impressed by the safety and results of Smile Train at her hospital, the West Bengal Government under the Sishu Sathi Scheme has issued a directive to all the Primary care centers of North-Bengal -. Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Darjeeling to seek, screen and take all such cleft patients to Anandaloke Hospital for free treatment. This scheme started in 2013 and more than 200 children have been operated thus far. Not only that, the Border Security Force ( BSF ),the Sashastra Seema Bal ( SSB ),the Rotary Club of Sikkim also have a MOU with Anandaloke Hospital + Smile Train and  bring their patients here for operation.

Plastic Surgeons in India celebrate July 15^th every year as Plastic Surgery Day. Dr. Neela marks the day by operating one complicated plastic surgery case free of charge. The first time, in 2011, a poor patient with an electrical burn who had his skull bone exposed was operated with a rotation flap. The tradition continues.

It has been Dr. Neela Bhattacharya’s endeavor to make complex surgeries performed under microscope like hand replants, vessel injuries, and extensive wounds requiring skin grafts or flaps, accessible and affordable to the common man of North Bengal, especially as there are no government hospitals that provide these facilities here.

Dr. Neela Bhattacharya also handles machine crush injury, assault and accidental lacerations of the hand. These need to be managed expertly to ensure that the patient continues to work and earn his living. Burn injuries are her specialty having trained at Kilpauk Medical College, a pioneering burn care center in the country. Many long neglected burns with severe contractures find relief of their deformities with her.

Long bone fractures with soft tissue loss has to be repaired well for the patient to walk, vascular tumours are a challenge to remove, reconstruction of the face and breast after cancer ablation have both functional and aesthetic value. All these procedures are routinely done by her and she is the first person to make these options available to the people of North Bengal.

For her untiring work of over 8 years, for the large number of free cleft surgeries done, for all the hope and smile restored, she was recently awarded the Bharat Jyoti award by the India International Friendship Society in Delhi in 2014.

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) in collaboration with Facebook had launched the ‘#100Women Initiative’ that aims to recognize and celebrate women who are making a difference in their communities, across the country. Public nominations via social media started from July 15, 2015, with people nominating women who have made an impact and made their community better, by visiting the ministry’s Facebook page till September 30th 2015. Voting began on November 7 on the top 200 entries as determined by a jury. And finally 100 winners were announced recently. Dr.Neela Bhattacharya has won this #100 women achiever award. The winners were felicitated by President Pranab  Mukherjee at an event at Rastrapati Bhavan on January 22, 2016.

While being delighted and humbled, the recognition and fame have only increased the resolve of  Dr. Neela to work with renewed vigour to help the unfortunate children in her region.