Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao, Founder of the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), has been conferred the SantokBaa Humanitarian Award 2026 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to healthcare and his lifelong commitment to making quality eye care accessible to millions.

The award acknowledges the transformative impact of LV Prasad Eye Institute, which under Dr. Rao's leadership has emerged as one of the world's leading eye care institutions, delivering equitable, high-quality ophthalmic services through a model rooted in compassion, service, innovation, and excellence.

Established in 2006 by Govind Dholakia, Founder Chair Emeritus of the Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation (SRKKF)—the philanthropic arm of Shree Ramkrishna Exports (SRK)—the SantokBaa Humanitarian Awards recognize individuals whose work has created meaningful social impact. The awards commemorate the values of compassion, humility, and selfless service embodied by Dholakia's mother, SantokBaa.

The award ceremony was attended by several distinguished dignitaries, including Harivansh Narayan Singh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; Harsh Sanghavi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat; C.R. Patil, Union Minister of Jal Shakti; and other prominent leaders from public life.

Recipients are selected by an independent jury comprising eminent personalities from diverse sectors. The 2026 jury included Govindan Rangarajan, Director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru; A.S. Kiran Kumar, former Chairman of ISRO; Admiral R. Hari Kumar (Retd.), former Chief of the Indian Navy; Rishabh Shroff, Partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas; and Shreyans Dholakia, Entrepreneur and Brand Custodian of SRK.

Expressing his gratitude on receiving the honor, Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao said: "I am honored to receive this award that represents the values that I have lived my life by - empathy, service, and a commitment to improving lives. I accept it on behalf of the many individuals and institutions who have dedicated themselves to the cause of expanding access to quality eye care. I look forward to my team at LVPEI learning a great deal from Govindkaka and the world-class operational systems of SRK."

Speaking about this year's awardees, Govind Dholakia said: "The recipients of this year's award have demonstrated how purpose-driven action can touch millions of lives. Their vision, dedication and service have created lasting impact, and it reminds us that true success is not in personal achievements but in how we uplift those around us."

Over the past two decades, the SantokBaa Humanitarian Award has honored some of India's most respected changemakers and social leaders. Previous recipients include Ratan Tata, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Dr. Sudha Murty, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, Shiv Nadar, Dr. Abhay Bang and Dr. Rani Bang, Dr. Verghese Kurien, Kailash Satyarthi, and A.S. Kiran Kumar, among many other distinguished personalities.