July 22nd which is celebrated as World Family Day is a unique festival of togetherness and service started by SEVAK. Every year it is celebrated on a theme related to creating a better world. Previous few themes have been “Confluence of Music and Drama”, “Kindness and Care”, “Trupti Bharath”, “Global India” etc. This festival of brotherhood is being celebrated all over the globe since year 1996. Various NGOs, social reformers, children, artists, craftsmen, engineers, doctors, makers of home and various other dignitaries gather in this day long celebration and share their ideas with each other.
Building up to this day, schools and colleges are enrolled into many competitions – placard making, drama, music, hand-made items for raising funds, story writing, essay writing, model building etc – on the subject of togetherness and service. Usually school terms begin with the excitement of this festival.
SEVAK of the Year is the most awaited award conferred on anyone doing an yeomen service. Irrespective of their caste, creed or any other background, based on the impact of their work, such luminaries are recognized and honored. Some of these SEVAK of the Year honararies are:
Dr. Devi Shetty
Narayana Hrudayala, Bangalore, India, well known for his cost effective heart suregery and other treatments
Swati Bondia
Om Shanti Traders, Bangalore, India, who has setup a co-operative business that helps beggers and such to live a dignified life based on their skill
Niranajan Mukund
A champion paralympic swimmer
Salumarada Thimmakka
An environmentalist, who single handedly planted and nurtured millions of trees along side of highways in Karnataka, India
Prashanth Nair
IAS, for his Compassionate Kozhikode project in the State of Kerala, India
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