Dr. Nitin Sumant Shah, Chairman of Heart Foundation and Research Institute, has been working tirelessly in various fields of social service for the last five decades. He has made significant contributions in many areas such as health, education, cultural development, environmental protection, women empowerment, community development, Divyangjan welfare and public awareness. More than 11 lakh people in society have benefited from these activities of the organization.
Under his guidance, Heart Foundation and Research Institute has established leading organizations of society such as Sadvichar Parivar, Andhajan Mandal, Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG), Vicharta Pratima, Utthan, Umang School (Hearing-Impaired Children) run by Dr. Manseta, and B. M. Institute for Mental Health. It has also provided financial and other support to Shri Sanatan Ramdham Mandir (complete ground floor, Annakshetra) and many other institutions for social service and public welfare works.
Currently, a modern and large complex that can accommodate more than one thousand visually impaired people is under construction in Ahmedabad by C. U. Shah Pragnyachakshu Mahila Sevakunj. This complex will provide education, skill development and training for self-employment to visually impaired persons. Heart Foundation and Research Institute is actively associated with this ambitious human service project.
On the occasion of the completion of 50 years of the social service journey of Heart Foundation and Research Institute, Dr. Nitin Sumant Shah, while announcing the new initiative, said, “I have resolved that while many NGOs are working in Ahmedabad and other metro cities, I now want to work in villages and small towns for women who are doing extraordinary and inspiring work in environmental protection, employment generation, social service, women’s upliftment, women’s power, women’s empowerment and various other fields.”
Currently, HFRI has decided to adopt a school for children from the tribal area of Balasinore and redevelop it into a state-of-the-art school. Classrooms with modern digital facilities have already been built in two schools in the Ambaji and Data areas.
“In my 50 years of work, I have worked in all sectors, but with a new project, I have thought of renovating the last resting place (crematorium) in the village. And I want to build a modern NGO centre.”
In 50 years, Dr. Nitin Sumant Shah has received many awards and honours at the state, national and international levels for his significant contributions to health services, social service, empowerment of persons with disabilities, public awareness and humanitarian service.
State Level: Gauravvanta Gujarati Award (2019), Commendation from the Governor of Gujarat, Shri O. P. Kohli (2019), and many honours for humanitarian services during COVID-19.
National Level: AIAARO CON Award (2014), Genius Award – Top World Record Holders (2014).
International Level: Honour for World Peace Rally 2019.
All these awards and more than 758 honours are a symbol of Dr. Nitin Sumant Shah’s unwavering commitment to selfless humanitarian service, health service and social welfare for decades.
Recently, on 10th August 2026, on Gujarat Day, Dr. Nitin Sumant Shah was felicitated with the “Gujarat Vikas Asmita Awards.”
