Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection 2026:
Two Women changemakers—P. Pechiyammal and Govindhammal were honored with the Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection 2026 at an event in Chennai.
Pechiyammal (Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu)
- Field: Marine Conservation & Ocean Plastic Management
- Led community efforts to remove abandoned fishing nets from coastal waters and shorelines.
- Helped protect coral reefs, turtles, and fish by reducing ghost-net entanglement.
Govindhammal (Villupuram, Tamil Nadu)
- Field: Sustainable & Climate-Resilient Agriculture
- Promoted organic farming, soil health, and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
- Strengthened Farmer Producer Companies to improve farmers’ bargaining power.
Award:
- The Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection is a national recognition awarded to grassroots individuals, community champions, or organizations for outstanding contributions to environmental preservation, coastal plastic cleanup, biodiversity protection, and sustainable agriculture.
- Instituted / Supported By: M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in partnership with CavinKare Pvt. Ltd. and the Rotary Club of Madras East (RI District 3234).
- Aim: To recognize, honor, and encourage grassroots leaders working tirelessly to preserve natural ecosystems, clean up marine pollution, promote climate-resilient farming, and strike a balance between developmental growth and ecological conservation.
- Eligibility:
- Open to individuals, local community workers, smallholder farmers, fisherfolk, and non-governmental entities operating across India.
- Candidates must demonstrate tangible, measurable improvements in areas such as marine waste management, sustainable farming, seed preservation, or biodiversity restoration.
