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. The women who received the awards were immensely grateful to the Foundation for assisting their communities contribute towards environmental protection. 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. Swaminathan Research Foundation, thanked the Rotary Club of Madras East (RI District 3234), and CavinKare Pvt. D. Suresh Jain, District Governor, RI District 3234, Club president Radhika Sathyanarayana were present.