Archive · 19 Dec 2025
Dr. Ashish and Dr. Kavita Satav Win NDTV Health Leader of the Year 2025
Dr. Ashish and Dr. Kavita Satav are a doctor couple who have been helping people in the Melghat forests of Maharashtra for over 25 years.
They started a small clinic in a hut and now have a big hospital.
They have helped reduce child deaths and malnutrition a lot.
Dr. Ashish trained local women to help with healthcare, and Dr. Kavita has performed many eye surgeries.
They have also done important research that has changed government policies.
They won a big award for their hard work.
Dr. Ashish and Dr. Kavita Satav won the NDTV Indian of the Year 2025 - Health Leader of the Year award.
They founded the MAHAN Trust in 1997 to provide healthcare to tribal populations in the Melghat region of Maharashtra.
Their work has led to a 68% reduction in child mortality and a 75% reduction in malnutrition in their operational areas.
Dr. Ashish developed the Arogyadoot model, training semi-literate tribal women as health messengers to reduce child mortality.
Dr. Kavita has performed over 30,000 free eye surgeries and established a blindness control program.
- Who
- Dr. Ashish Satav and Dr. Kavita Satav, founders of MAHAN Trust
- What
- Won NDTV Indian of the Year 2025 - Health Leader of the Year
- When
- 2025
- Where
- Melghat, Maharashtra
- Why
- For their significant contributions to healthcare in tribal regions
- Award
- NDTV Indian of the Year 2025 - Health Leader of the Year
- Award Presenters
- Kiran Nadar and Anurag Chauhan
- NGO Founded
- MAHAN Trust (1997)
- Region Served
- Melghat, Maharashtra
- Child Mortality Reduction
- 68%
- Malnutrition Reduction
- 75%
- Eye Surgeries Performed
- 30,000+
- Research Papers Published
- 40+