Suman Minda, Chairperson, Suman Nirmal Minda Foundation (SNMF), the CSR wing of Uno Minda has been conferred the PhD Honoris Causa by Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies.
Minda has been awarded the honorary degree for her contribution in the field of social work and entrepreneurship. She has been working on social causes for over three decades and is the driving force behind the Uno Minda group’s CSR initiatives.
Uno Minda, through its CSR initiatives, has been running 17 Samarth Jyoti centers across the country under the leadership of Suman. The centers manage multiple community-centric programs that help improve education, and offer vocational training, preventive and curative healthcare, and foster community wellbeing and development.
A self-help group supported under the aegis of Samarth Jyoti has played a part in making many women into entrepreneurs, thereby helping them attain financial independence. The group also runs a multi-speciality hospital and two schools for communities in the country and runs community-centric programs at international locations too.
In the past, her service towards society has been recognised with many awards, including the Mahatma Award for Lifetime Achievement for Leadership in CSR, Sustainability, and Philanthropic Work, India. Other awards bestowed on her include the CSR Leadership: Long Service Award, Mahatma Award for leadership in corporate social responsibility, and Social Women Leader of the Year Award in the 3rd edition of the Women Empowerment and GIWL Awards, 2022, to name just a few.
Speaking on the achievement, Minda stated “I am grateful for being conferred this honor and express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has played a part in my efforts to contribute to society. I request everyone to give back to communities in their best personal capacity to put the nation on a higher growth trajectory.”
Minda was conferred with “Honoris Causa” in the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), along with other dignitaries including Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom (an Indian Olympic-style boxer) and Justice UU Lalit (the former Chief Justice of India).