On April 22, 2024, the Hon’ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Vibhushan in the field of Social Work upon Dr Bindeshwar Pathak posthumously. In her message on Twitter, the honorable President wrote, “Dr Pathak advocated for behavior change by encouraging millions to adopt hygienic and safe sanitation practices.”
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, led the nationwide social sanitation and reform movement. He used his toilet model to advocate behavior change and introduced the concept of pay and use public toilets. He promoted the vision of making India open defecation free and raised awareness about swachtta and related programs.
He also uplifted manual scavengers and promoted the rights of widows, championing human rights and dignity.
Received by Mrs Amola Pathak, the wife of late Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, this award is a tribute to his legacy. Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his newspaper column after the demise of Bindeshwar Pathak praised his singular dedication to humanitarian causes.
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak’s son, Shri Kumar Dilip and grandson, Aryaman Pathak, were also in attendance at the award ceremony held at the Rashrapati Bhavan.
Padma Vibhushan Award for Dr Pathak is not only a decoration of honor but a beacon of hope and a call to action for every citizen to embody the ethos of selfless service and to contribute to the nation’s progress as Dr Pathak did so selflessly.
Today we at Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, not only just celebrate an award; we also commit to the continuation of Dr Pathak’s journey that transformed lives.
