Indian Society for Rural Development (ISRD) Wins Global Sustainability Award 2026 in the . Honoured for “Peace and Justice”
Desk,Odishabarta
Odisha-based grassroots civil society organisation ISRD receives the award for its contribution to women’s empowerment, child protection and access to justice
New Delhi, 10 October 2026: Odisha-based Indian Society for Rural Development (ISRD) has been honoured in the NGO category of the Global Sustainability Award 32026for outstanding contribution to the Sustainable Development Goal “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”. The award was presented by the Global Sustainability Awards India Chapter at a ceremony held at Miranda House, University of Delhi, New Delhi.
ISRD is a women-led grassroots civil society organisation headquartered in Ganjam district, Odisha. Since1988, the organisation has been working to strengthen child protection, promote women’s empowerment, prevent violence and exploitation, and connect marginalised communities to essential services and justice. Its goal is to build a just, inclusive and sustainable society where women and children can live with dignity, safety and equal opportunities.
For women affected by violence and crisis, ISRD provides psychological counselling, medical support, police coordination, legal aid, and short-term and long-term shelter services. Through One Stop Centres, Shakti Sadan and other shelter services, the organisation helps women access safety, rehabilitation and essential support. In addition, various community development initiatives also focus on improving women’s livelihoods.
In nearly four decades of grassroots work, ISRD estimates that its efforts have improved the lives of more than 5 lakh women and children.
These efforts include awareness campaigns, Back to School programmes, empowering economically weaker families, mainstreaming children from child labour, supporting child marriage survivors and street children, and reducing child labour, child marriage and child trafficking.
The organisation works across six key thematic areas: health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, livelihood promotion, climate action and environmental protection, and peace and justice. Equity, participation, inclusion, dignity, accountability and sustainability are its guiding principles. Vice President Smt. Srilakshmi Panigrahi and Director Shri Sudhir Sabat accepted the award on behalf of ISRD.
They said that the honour is the result of the dedication of the entire ISRD family, including its staff, field teams and community workers. The organisation also expressed gratitude to community members, institutional partners, supporters and well-wishers for their continued trust.
ARC is an educational social impact enterprise building a global movement of changemakers through education, sustainability and youth social entrepreneurship. The Global Sustainability Awards is its flagship initiative, with the goal of creating 100 million changemakers worldwide.
