The 2020 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) has gone to Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, Chairman of Eram Group, a business conglomerate with global operations in several sectors including oil and gas, power, construction, manufacturing, travel, healthcare, IT, media, logistics, automotive and training & education.
India’s most prestigious award for non-resident Indians is a recognition of the contributions made by a member of the Indian community and their tangible involvement in acts of charity, philanthropy and social upliftment across the board.
Conferred by the President of India as a part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Conventions organized annually since 2003, it also acknowledges the winner’s support and contribution in multiple fields of endeavor including education, business, medicine and employment opportunity.
Dr. Ahmed fits the bill with over 8000 employees in his organization and the prestige he has singularly brought to the Indian image abroad with special accent on the Gulf and Middle East.
This win is a testament to his unwavering commitment to addressing the critical challenges faced by humanity, including sanitation, environmental issues, skilling and responsible and sustainable living through integrity, innovation and ideas.
Dr. Ahmed, who hails from Kerala, has 25 years of experience under his belt and has built an enviable tech empire, his intent to use his expertise and his corporate infrastructure for the benefit of rural India in particular. Courtesy the foresight and corporate wisdom of its chairman, the Eram group has established credentials across the globe.
Expressing his gratitude to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narender Modi for the honor and thanking the Pravasi Divas committee Dr Ahmed said ,“My contribution to society is something that I have learned from my parents. They have always been soft and generous to people’s sufferings and what I do today is what I have seen growing up. It’s an irreplaceable part of my life”.
Eram Group as a caring corporation came into prominence in recent years as it enthusiastically offered its services to the ‘Make in India’ platform. Linking up with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Ahmed extended his vision and outstanding technology in the sanitation sector through his company, Eram Scientific. The innovative ‘eToilet’ in line with Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan was duly showcased in the UN Innovation exhibition and recognized by the UN’s country representative for its game-changing potential.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself bestowed on Dr. Ahmed the Toilet Titan award at the Safaigiri Summit in 2015, a salute to the Eram work ethos and the dedication of its 12,000 employees resident in 20 countries for their sensitivity to the needs of the home country.
