Two women -- P. Pechiyammal, who has pioneered in ghost gear collection from Ramanathapuram, and Govindhammal who has championed sustainable agriculture from Villupuram -- who brought about changes in their communities, were on Wednesday honoured with the Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection 2026.

Virendra Tiwari, Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority, who presented the awards in the presence of, said that it was important to strike a balance between development and biodiversity. Sustainable agricultural practices and keeping the sea-free of plastics were commendable efforts.

The women who received the awards were immensely grateful to the Foundation for assisting their communities contribute towards environmental protection. “They couldn't believe that I will get an award or go to Chennai for just having collected wastes like old nets, nylon ropes and other plastics from the shore,” said Ms. Pechiyammal. From a small farmer, who depended on the skies for water and got a few bags of produce, Ms. Govindammal said she had risen to being a member of a farmers producers company. “We were all like that, dependant on the rains. But now we get good seeds and food rates for produce,” she said.

Soumya Swaminathan, chairperson, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, thanked the Rotary Club of Madras East (RI District 3234), and CavinKare Pvt. Ltd, for taking the effort to present the awards. She said that from last year it was decided to award people from the grassroots. “Both fishing and agriculture are risky businesses which we don't realise because we get our grocery from stores. The women do it because it is the right thing to do,” she added.

D. Suresh Jain, District Governor, RI District 3234, Club president Radhika Sathyanarayana were present.