Fourth Annual Awards Honor Rajasthan's Forest Guardians

Jaipur: The fourth edition of the Machhli and Vanya Prani Mitra Awards was held today at Hotel Clarks Amer Jaipur. The annual awards, presented by the Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF) and WWF-India, recognise individuals whose extraordinary efforts contribute significantly to wildlife protection and conflict management.

The Machhli Award was awarded to Mr. Dharmendra Singh Rajpoot, a forest guard from Karauli, Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve—the domain of the legendary tigress after whom the award is named. Mr. Rajpoot was honoured for his exemplary work in wildlife crime control and emergency response, which led to the rescue and rehabilitation of numerous injured or stranded animals. His innovative approach made substantial improvements in wildlife protection, community awareness, and conflict management. Mr. Rajpoot received a cash award of Rs. 2 lakh and a certificate of appreciation for his outstanding contribution.

The Vanya Prani Mitra Award, which recognises exceptional management of human-wildlife conflict, was shared by Mr. Dharmendra Panigar and Mr. Youdhister Meena. Mr. Dharmendra Panigar is a dedicated volunteer from Udaipur who has rescued over 3,000 snakes and various other wild animals. His work in minimising human-wildlife conflict and rescuing wildlife has been commendable. Mr. Youdhister Meena is a civil defence volunteer from Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve who has rescued more than 100 animals in the past four years, including pythons, vipers and nilgai. His efforts have been instrumental in reducing human-wildlife conflict in the region.

The Vanya Prani Mitra Award carries a total prize of Rs. 4 lakh, which was split evenly between the two winners. Each winner also received a certificate of appreciation.

All the awardees were selected by a distinguished jury, comprising Mr. Rahul Bhatnagar, IFS (Retd.); Mr. Rajpal Singh, IFS (Retd.); and Mr. Yash Shethia, Director of Wildlife & Habitat Programme, WWF-India.

On the occasion, Mr. Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO of WWF-India, said: “These awards honour the champions who are vital in ensuring the preservation and flourishing of our wildlife. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Prabha Khaitan Foundation for their partnership in these awards. This recognition will inspire the field staff of the Rajasthan Forest Department to continue their crucial work in protecting and conserving the state’s wildlife and habitats.”

“At Prabha Khaitan Foundation, we believe in the power of dedication and passion in protecting our natural heritage. These awards are a testament to the tireless efforts of individuals who go above and beyond to safeguard our wildlife and mitigate conflicts. We are proud to honour these heroes and remain committed to supporting initiatives that foster a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.” – Cathy Tongper from Prabha Khaitan Foundation.

The award ceremony also featured the screening of a special poetic composition titled “एक ख़त जज़्बात का” (A Letter to the Tiger from WWF-India). This evocative tribute to India’s national animal was composed by Shantanu Moitra and penned by Tanveer Ghazi. The video of the composition featured performances by Dia Mirza, Sania Mirza, Ranveer Brar, Viswanathan Anand and Shantanu Moitra, and the lyrics celebrated the spirit of harmonious coexistence between tigers and humans.

The PKF anthem—a musical marvel uniting India’s most melodious voices—beautifully celebrates the country’s diversity through a harmonious blend of musical solidarity was also played at the event, followed by an introduction from Aakriti Periwal, Ehsaas Woman of Jaipur, who provided insights into the Foundation and a brief overview of the two awards.