Nita Ambani: Real Heroes have transformed lives by perseverance, passion for a cause!

Online, April 30, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The best news channel in the business and the most powerful Indian corporate came together in 2008 to launch an initiative - Real Heroes. Rajdeep Sardesai from CNN-IBN in partnership with Mukesh and Nita Ambani from Reliance Industries Limited instituted an effort to honor the unsung heroes of our nation. This initiative is all about people like you and me, the common man of India who has done extraordinary things to make our nation proud. 'Real Heroes' started in 2008 is into its third year in 2010. This initiative run by Reliance Industries Limited and CNN-IBN is surely going to bring in change by acknowledging the ordinary Indian who has made difference to people's lives.

This prestigious award salutes the unsung heroes without whom India would not have been a global entity. Every year, the award is given in the categories including education, environment, healthcare, rural development, sports, social welfare, women & child welfare and wildlife conservation. The award panel selects 24 'Real Heroes' across India from four different zones. Talking about the significance of this initiative, Nita Ambani, wife of RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani said, "Each one of these achievers has left a huge impact on thousands of men and women and have transformed lives by perseverance, passion for a cause."

The selection process includes Indian citizens suggesting names for Real Heroes and then the editorial board at IBN18 shortlists and finalises the list of the recipients, the recipient is then felicitated with a trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakhs. The recipient list of 2008 consisted of Sunita Krishnan who bagged the award in women's welfare category for taking on the trafficking mafia. Nishtha Desai received the award for social work along with other exceptional works.

In 2009, the recipient list included Dr. Rouf M. Malik, K.M Chinnappa, Hemant Patel, Deepak Saha and many more courageous Indians. Speaking on the initiative, Nita Ambani said, "We are proud to be associated with Real Heroes, a movement to honour the men and women who have been working with never ending courage and unflagging dedication to make a better society for their countrymen to live in. We are sure that their inspiring stories will serve as a beacon of inspiration for many others."

People across diverse age groups like the octogenarian Ram Snehi to 31 year old Ishita Khanna and from all corners of India from Mohd Iqbal of Ladakh to T. Raja from Chennai have been recipients of the Real Heroes award in 2010. Bollywood legend Aamir Khan during one of the award ceremonies of Real Heroes said, "There are very few of us who put aside our own goals and think about others: and this ability to care for other people, their requirements or their needs is really special."