Dr. UNB Rao, Ph.D (IIT Delhi), IPS (Retd.), who is the Founder and Chairperson of Urivi Vikram Charitable Trust (UVCT) has been honoured with the Mahatma Award for Lifetime Achievement- 2022 in recognition of his impactful work with adolescents, young lives and his lifetime contribution to social causes. The Mahatma Award is founded by social entrepreneur Amit Sachdeva and supported by Aditya Birla Group, which recognizes and celebrates impact leaders and changemakers across the globe. The facilitation programme was organised at Indian International Centre on 01.10.2022.
Born in a middle-class family, Dr. Rao excelled in studies and in the first attempt got selected for Police Service. He performed his police service commendably, which culminating in receiving the ‘Police Medal for Meritorious Services’ and ultimately the most prestigious ‘President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services’.
After the tragic death of his only son (URIVI VIKRAM), in a road accidentin 1990, Dr. Rao with his family chose to dedicate himself to the national cause, nay world cause by establishing ‘Urivi Vikram Charitable Trust’for empowering adolescents (aged 10 to 19 yeas).In the direction of Dr. Rao, UVCT has played a pioneering role in obtaining a distinct status for ‘Adolescents’ in the Indian planning system and programmatic initiatives and established the first ever National Centre for Adolescent in Dwarka, Sector-22, New Delhi. It focuses on a wide range of adolescent centric issues including Life Skill Education. Among many other development programmes, UVCT has undertaken projects for women empowerment and awareness campaigns on public health, environmental protection and reformation/rehabilitation of delinquents. UVCT is working in six states of India – Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana, besides a Chapter in the USA -through Government Schemes, UN Organisations, PSUs and individual donors.
Dr. Rao has not ever looked for recognitions and self-glorification. He believed in work and work alone. Dr Rao played both the roles with aplomb: both as an IPS officer and a Social Worker equally well, he remained non-controversial and apolitical. His accomplishments perhaps amply deserve him “Mahatma Award for Life long achievements” and many such accolades.
