Prayas’ becomes a national movement for children and marginalized communities : AMODH KANTH.

Prayas marked its Foundation Day with an inspiring and vibrant celebration at the esteemed Stein Auditorium of the India Habitat Centre, bringing together leaders and active participants from government, police, civil society, and the arts to honor the organization’s long – standing commitment to child rights, rehabilitation, skilling – livelihood and social justice.The event was very special through the presence of the celebrated actor Randeep Hooda who took hundreds children and participants by storm, and the former Police Commissioner and First President Raja Vijay Karan being honoured.

In his address, Mr. Amod Kanth, Founder and Mentor of Prayas, spoke about Prayas’ current standing as a national movement for children and marginalized communities.

He acknowledged with gratitude the unwavering support of Raja Vijay Karan, humanist police officer par excellence whose early vision, guidance, and commitment laid the foundation for Prayas’ growth into the impactful organization it is today.

A significant moment of the celebration was the felicitation of Raja Vijay Karan, the first Founder President of Prayas.

He was honored by Mr. Amod Kanth in recognition of his pioneering leadership and deep contribution to Prayas’ formative years.
Celebrated actor and humanitarian Mr. Randeep Hooda, Prayas’ long-time Patron Ambassador, also addressed the gathering.

Apart from being an excellent actor who is known to get into the skin of every character that he plays, he is also very renowned among the children for the love and encouragement that he showers.

He spoke about his meaningful association with the organization and commended Prayas for its unwavering service to children.

Mr. Hooda congratulated the young performers for their spirited cultural presentations and encouraged them to continue pursuing their dreams with confidence and dedication.

The event commenced with a warm Welcome Address by the known medical philanthropist and institution-builder Dr. Kalyan Sachdeva, Vice President of Prayas, who reflected on the organization’s remarkable journey.

He spoke about the inception of Prayas and fondly described it as a “full-grown tree today, nurtured from the seeds sown back in 1988” by visionaries such as Raja Vijay Karan and Mr. Amod K. Kanth.

Also addressing the gathering, Mr. Salman Khurshid, a leading lawyer-former External Affairs Minister, and most importantly a social activist with golden heart,encouraged the children, applauding their performances and motivating them to pursue their aspirations with determination.

He extended his heartfelt congratulations to Prayas for completing 37 years of dedicated service and impactful work across the country.
Founded in 1988, Prayas began as a compassionate response to the needsof vulnerable children, youth, women, and proximate communities.

Over the past 37 years, Prayas JAC, along with the five Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs) and Sanchay Prayas Swablamban Sansthan (SPSS), has grown into a national movement dealing with child protection, child rights, juvenile justice, skilling, education, health, nutrition, holistic development, and multiple forms of crisis–disasters and rehabilitation—touching the lives of millions across India.

With 789 co-workers, Prayas is now directly serving approximately 50,000 extremely needy individuals daily across 12 States/UTs, including NCT Delhi, Bihar, Gujarat, Assam, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu&Kashmir, UttarPradesh, Andaman& Nicobar Islands,and Dadra-Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu.

Over the years, Prayas has worked across numerous thematic areas such as education, providing residential care to children, skill training for youth and women, and standing up in times of disaster.

In many ways, Prayas has been able to do the work that government systems and corporate entities often cannot, reaching the most marginalized with dedication, compassion, and continuity.

The event featured vibrant cultural performances by children associated with Prayas, presented on a range of powerful themes including social justice, women’s empowerment, environmental responsibility, unity in diversity, and the everyday resilience of marginalized communities. Each performance was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Following these performances, the stars of Prayas – children who, despite coming from difficult circumstances, have excelled in their respective fields were honored and awarded by dignitaries. Those presenting the awards included Mr. Salman Khurshid, Professor Sonjoy Roy, Mr. Gyanendra Srivastava (Retd. IAS), Mrs. Karan, Mr. Manoj Singh, Ms. Rashmi Singh, Mr. Randeep Hooda, Ms. Anjali Sangwan, Mrs. Rekha Kanth, Mr. Amod K. Kanth, and Mr. Amal Sinha. Their recognition highlighted the extraordinary achievements and resilience of Prayas’ young talents.

The Foundation Day celebration stood as a powerful reminder of Prayas’ enduring commitment to protecting and empowering marginalized children and communities through education, rehabilitation, vocational training, and social inclusion.

Marking 37 years of service, Prayas remains rooted in the belief that every child deserves protection, every young person deserves guidance, and every marginalized community deserves a partner in their journey toward dignity and growth. The Foundation Day celebration not only honored its past but strengthened its commitment to touching lives, nurturing dreams, and building a more compassionate society.