Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organisation, spanning more than 200 countries and geographical areas, with a membership base of 1.4 million.
In India alone, there are around 8,500 clubs across all states and union territories with 290,000 members. Lions are individuals who have achieved success in their personal lives and chose to contribute to society through programmes focused on community development and nation-building.
The association’s motto is: We Serve. Lions are engaged in programs focused on vision, diabetes, humanitarian welfare through healthcare and wellness initiatives, disaster relief and rehabilitation, environmental protection, women and youth empowerment, education, and any other need-based activities required by the communities. In India, Lions Clubs ran 175 eye hospitals, 50 blood banks, 55 dialysis centres, more than 200 schools and children’s parks, provided meals daily to individuals at the bottom of the pyramid, and supported education through scholarships, vaccination centres, and more. In monetary terms, the service projects undertaken by Lions Clubs in India exceeded INR 400 crores each year.
The Lions believed that community development and welfare required the support of corporates, other non-government organisations, and most importantly, the government sector. They emphasized the importance of working in a cooperative and collaborative environment to continue inspiring those involved in this noble mission and to foster mutual learning.
At the national level, the Lions Council of India presented awards to individuals who were not Lions but had made a significant impact and served as role models for community service through their lifelong contributions. The 2025 edition marked the third year of the LCOI Awards.
The LCOI Awards presentation ceremony was held on 1st June 2025 at ITC Royal Bengal, Kolkata, from 6 PM onwards.
“Lions provide need-based service to the communities. We also feel it is our responsibility to express our gratitude to other individuals and organisations that continue to support public welfare and development by presenting these awards,” said International 1st Vice President Arvinder Pal Singh.
A dance drama choreographed by Alokananda Roy, the renowned Indian dancer and social activist, titled Harmony through Diversity, was presented during the event. Alokananda Roy, who pioneered “love therapy” and dance therapy to support the rehabilitation of marginalised groups—including prison inmates—used the performance to promote empathy, self-worth, and social reintegration. The powerful performance was presented by inmates themselves.
The LCOI Awardees for 2025 included a distinguished list of individuals and organizations who made exceptional contributions in their respective fields. The awardees were Mr. Prahlad Rai Agarwal, Chairman of Rupa; Mr. Sajjan Bansal, Chairman of Skipper Limited; Mr. Brijmohan Beriwal, Chairman of SRMB Group; and Padma Shri Mr. Sajjan Bhajanka, Chairman of Century Plyboard. Also honoured were Mr. Vishesh Chandiok, Chairman of Grant Thornton; Dr. P. Chandrasekhar, Vice Chancellor of NTR University of Health Sciences; and Mr. Deepak Goel of Lumino Industries. The list further included Mr. Kiran Karnik, Director of RBI, Former Director of ISRO, and Past President of NASSCOM; Mr. D. R. Mehta, Former Chairman of SEBI; and Mr. Ajay Patel, Chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society, Gujarat. Notable social contributors included Ms. Alakananda Roy, Founder of Touch World Love Therapy; Ms. Manisha Saboo, Vice President of Infosys Foundation; and Mr. M. M. Singhi, Founder of Singhi & Co. The Seva Foundation, represented by Mr. Kuldeep Singh, and Mr. Rampal Soni, Chairman of Sangam Group, Bhilwara, were also among the recipients recognised for their impactful work.
