Sophia Shaik of Bhadrak got the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Award 2022 for his social service and development for women and children.
Shaik started her career in social service at the age of 15 years, under the tutelage of her father Sk Abdus Salam (popular as Salambhai in the social service sector in Odisha). She has been continuously taking guidance and inspiration from her father since then, in her endeavour to serve the poor, underprivileged and destitute sections in the society through her NGO named Society for Weaker Community (SWC) which was established by her father, in 1987. Till date, over 50,000 women and 60,000 children (boys and girls) have benefited from her work.
Fighting relentlessly for the rights of women and children, the 51-year old Shaik is mainly considered as a 'messiah' for women and children in distress. She has the distinction of being the first crusader against the practice of 'Triple Talaq' in Odisha. Her efforts have been instrumental in compelling the clergy and gentries to mediate and arbitrate cases of domestic violence including that of talaq victims, in a humane and just manner. Since then, Shaik has come to the rescue of many wives who have been victims of persecution.