Dehradun: Individuals driving positive change across education, social service, culture, healthcare, entrepreneurship and environmental conservation were honoured at the Uttarakhand Excellence Awards 2026, organised by the Vedic International Promoters Society (VIP Society) at the Town Hall in Dehradun.
The awards celebrated outstanding contributions to public welfare while encouraging a vision of a stronger, greener and culturally vibrant Uttarakhand. The event brought together educationists, artists, entrepreneurs, social reformers and community leaders from across the state.
Among the key awardees was Dr. Anubha Pundir, Associate Professor, Bharatanatyam exponent and environmental activist, popularly known as the “Jhola Queen of India”. She was recognised for promoting environmental conservation, Indian culture, yoga and her anti-single-use plastic Jhola Abhiyan, which has inspired awareness campaigns in several states.
Accepting the honour, Dr. Pundir dedicated the award to individuals working selflessly for society and stressed that simple lifestyle changes, such as adopting reusable cloth bags, can make a significant contribution to environmental protection.
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Subodh Uniyal, Khajandas Ji, Savita Kapoor, Sidharth Aggarwal and Saurabh Thapliyal. Cultural performances showcasing Uttarakhand’s rich heritage added colour to the event, which concluded with a renewed commitment by the organisers to recognise excellence, inspire leadership and promote an environmentally conscious society.
