Serving change on a national platter as Forbes India backs grassroots power

MUMBAI: Call it service with a side of scale. Forbes India turned the spotlight on grassroots grit at the national finale of We Serve India – Season 2, where community-led ideas proved that impact travels fastest when it starts at the ground level.

Hosted at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, the finale brought together an unusually diverse mix of changemakers, policy voices, CSR leaders and UN representatives. This year’s edition widened its frame, aligning the initiative with the United Nations’ global themes for 2025 and giving the programme a sharper national and international edge.

The campaign recognised individuals and organisations delivering measurable outcomes across five focus areas, Innovation in Education and Skill Development, Environmental Sustainability, Inclusive Healthcare and Accessibility, Tech-led Social Innovation, and Women-led Social Innovation. The emphasis was not on intent alone, but on work that has shown the ability to scale while staying rooted in local realities.

Season 2 built on the momentum of the inaugural edition, which surfaced more than 150 changemakers and carried their stories across digital and broadcast platforms. This time, the search culminated in the selection of five National Winners and five Runners-up, chosen after months of nationwide nominations, regional showcases across North, East, South and West India, and a detailed evaluation process conducted by EY.

The finale doubled as a serious ideas exchange. A panel on “Scaling Grassroots Innovation Across the Global South” examined how community-first solutions can be replicated sustainably, without losing context or credibility. The discussion reflected a growing shift from isolated success stories to systems that can travel across borders.

With senior government dignitaries, development sector leaders, CSR and ESG heads, philanthropists, academicians and Lions Clubs International members in attendance, the gathering stood out as one of the country’s largest convenings centred on social innovation.

More than an awards night, Forbes India We Serve India, presented by Lions Clubs International, is positioning itself as a platform for collaboration and policy-aligned action. By spotlighting grassroots innovation and encouraging ecosystem partnerships, the initiative is steadily shaping a broader blueprint for inclusive, scalable development, one community at a time.