Dr Ramchandra Godbole and his wife Sunita Godbole have been conferred the Padma Shri award in 2026 by the Government of India for over 37 years of selfless service in healthcare and social work among tribal communities in Bastar and Abujhmad regions of Chhattisgarh. Their work, alongside that of other awardees from the state such as tribal social worker Budhri Tati, reflects grassroots service with national impact. Through their initiative Trust for Health, they regularly organise health camps in villages reachable only on foot or via limited transport. Villagers affectionately refer to Dr Godbole as “Doctor Bhaiya,” a term that reflects deep trust and gratitude. Chhattisgarh stands out this year with three Padma Shri awardees, including the Godbole couple and Budhri Tati a social worker known locally as “Badi Didi” for her work empowering tribal women.