Colonel Vembu Shankar of Project Sambandh with the Changemaker award-Social Transformation.|Picture Credit: BIJOY GHOSH
Task Sambandh, which assists bereaved households of militaries workers gain access to well-being advantages and monetary help, has actually won the Social Transformation award at the businessline Changemaker Awards 2026.
Led by Colonel Vembu Shankar, the effort concentrates on households of workers who pass away while in service due to non-combat causes. His interventions have actually assisted 27,000 individuals, consisting of widows looking for incomes and kids pursuing education.
Accepting the award, Shankar stated almost 1,500 militaries workers pass away every year in non-operational scenarios, leaving their households dealing with obstacles that extend beyond the instant loss.
While the militaries and society step forward to help at the time of death, spaces in assistance emerge for many years, he stated. Job Sambandh looks for to deal with these spaces by keeping contact with households and assisting them gain access to support.
Shankar stated he takes a trip for about 15– 20 days a month to reach households in remote parts of the nation. He acknowledged the assistance of his household and the militaries in performing the work.
Thanking businessline and the jury for the acknowledgment, he appealed for higher awareness of the problems dealt with by these households and assistance for the effort.
Appropriately, Project Sambandh recognizes households through militaries databases, recommendations and Shankar’s network. Each case is confirmed to develop whether the death took place throughout service and whether the household requires support.
Consequently, the household’s requirements are matched with offered plans. Assistance consists of completing types, gathering files, determining the proper authorities and acting on applications.
The recipients consist of Nandabala, whose dad, Havildar Ponmudi, passed away of heart attack while serving. Shankar assisted the household gain access to Army financial backing. Nandabala consequently cleared NEET and is training to end up being a medical professional.
Shyamala, the widow of Lance Havildar Anantharaman, got aid in accessing Army help and a chance to discover expert makeup. She now runs an appeal and styling company.
Significantly, Shankar performs the work without an official NGO, investing around 30 percent of his pension on the effort. Travel represent the biggest expenditure.
Having actually taken early retirement in 2017, he now desires such assistance to be institutionalised so that bereaved households do not need to depend upon private interventions.
Released on September 22, 2026