‘Stork Sister’ Purnima Devi wins businessline Changemaker of the Year award; Border Roads Organisation and M.R. Rajagopal crowned Iconic Changemakers

In an inspiring ceremony charged with emotion, gripping stories of human achievement and a mellifluous classical fusion performance, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented businessline ’s Changemaker of the Year award to grassroots conservationist Purnima Devi Barman for saving the endangered greater adjutant stork and empowering village women to become feisty protectors of the bird as well as self-reliant entrepreneurs.

Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which builds and maintains critical infrastructure in India’s remote border areas, was crowned Iconic Changemaker as was ‘pain doctor’ M.R. Rajagopal, founder and chairman emeritus of Pallium India, who integrated palliative care in mainstream healthcare services.

Receiving the award, Purnima Devi said, “When women rise, magic happens and the hargila (stork) takes flight.”