Abhay and Rani Bang: Difference between revisions

Abhay and Rani Bang
Abhay and Rani Bang
Born	Wardha and Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India
Alma mater	Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur (MBBS, MD); Johns Hopkins University (MPH)
Occupation	Social activists
Known for	Social work, community health, addiction recovery, home based newborn care
Children	Anand Bang (elder), Amrut Bang (younger)
Awards	Maharashtra Bhushan Award (2003); MacArthur Foundation International Award (2006); National Award for Women's Development through Application of Science & Technology (2008); Jamnalal Bajaj Award (2006); Inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, US (2013); National Award of the Indian Council of Medical Research for Outstanding Research in Community Medicine;
Honors	Padma Shri

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Latest revision as of 07:24, 28 March 2026

Abhay and Rani Bang are Indian social activists and community health researchers who work in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, India. They are known for developing initiatives and programs focused on neonatal care, reproductive and maternal health, disease prevention and treatment, and rural development.^[1] Their work has been replicated in several developing countries and adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.^[2]^[3] In 2024, they were awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.^[4]

In the 1980s, the Bangs founded the nonprofit Society for Education, Action, and Research in Community Health (SEARCH), through which they trained community health workers to deliver reproductive and neonatal care services to tribal women, resulting in decreased infant mortality rates.^[5]^[6] Subsequently, they expanded their work to provide sex education to adolescents, support the rehabilitation of addicts, encourage blood donations, and deliver healthcare services in rural India.^[1]^[5]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Abhay Bang[edit | edit source]

Abhay Bang was born in 1950 in Wardha, Maharashtra, India, to economists Thakurdas and Suman Bang. His father was imprisoned for two years for participating in the Quit India Movement, a nationwide protest against the British rule. He was accepted into Ohio University to pursue his doctoral studies but turned down the offer upon Mahatma Gandhi's counsel and decided to work for social and political reform movements in rural India.^[7]

Abhay spent his childhood at Gandhi's ashram in Sevagram, attending a school that adhered to Nai Talim, an education system that encourages students to partake in manual labour to gain experiential knowledge.^[7]

Rani Bang[edit | edit source]

Rani Bang (née Chari) was born in Chandrapur in 1951. Her father was a teacher and her mother was a homemaker.^[8]

Abhay and Rani Bang with their youngest son Amrut

Education[edit | edit source]

Abhay and Rani met while studying for their Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) degrees at the Nagpur University, Maharashtra.^[5] After graduating in 1972, they received their Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree in 1977 and 1976 respectively.^[9] The couple got married in 1977.^[10]

The Bangs also each hold a Master in Public Health, completed in 1984, from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, United States.^[11]^[12]

Work[edit | edit source]

From 1977 to 1983, Abhay and Rani Bang worked at Chetana Vikas, a Wardha-based rural development nonprofit, founded by Ashok (Abhay's brother) and Suman Bang.^[13] They encouraged landless agricultural labourers to organize and demand a fair minimum wage from the Employment Guarantee Scheme, but failed to negotiate a "substantial increase" in the wages. Upon further investigation, Abhay found that a committee appointed by the Maharashtra government had fixed the daily minimum wage of ₹4 based on the assumption that an average adult needs only 1800 calories in a day. Contrarily, the Indian Council of Medical Research recommends between 3,900 and 3,000 for hard labourers. In 1981, Abhay published a critique of the recommendations proposed by a committee, sharing his own calculations of the minimum wage, based on the revised calorie requirements, amounted to ₹12. A year later, the state government raised the minimum wage to ₹12.^[14]^[15]

In 1985, the Bangs moved to Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. In a former warehouse, they started treating patients and set up the nonprofit Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH).^[16] Through SEARCH, they gradually built trust with the local tribals to understand and address their healthcare needs.^[6]^[17]

Infant and child mortality[edit | edit source]

The Bangs started holding regular People's Health Assemblies, allowing local inhabitants to voice their concerns, during which infant mortality emerged as one of the most pressing challenges.^[6] Their studies identified pneumonia, hypothermia, sepsis, perinatal asphyxia, and delayed breast feeding as the leading causes of death in infants.^[6]^[5] In response, they decided to implement a home-based neonatal care package to be delivered by a group of rural women trained in the basics of neonatal care. The women were taught how to diagnose pneumonia, resuscitate children, and administer antibiotics, including Vitamin K injections. Instead of locals travelling long distances to access the nearest hospital, the women (called arogyadoots or "health messengers") will carry a small health package and visit families in need of medical attention.^[6]

In 1988, the Bangs first presented their findings from this community-health initiative in The Lancet and faced scepticism regarding arogyadoots with "low level of education" administering neonatal care.^[6] However, since the inception of their childhood pneumonia management initiative in 1988 and the home-based neonatal programme in 1995, the infant mortality rate in Gadchiroli dropped from 121 per 100,000 live births in 1988 to 80 per 100,000 live births in 1990 and 30 per 100,000 live births by 2003.^[5]

The Bangs' neonatal care methods have been adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Indian Government, and implemented across low- and middle income countries (LMICs), including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Tanzania. In 2017, while hearing a series of public interest litigations (PILs) regarding the increase in "malnutrition-related deaths and illness" in the Melghat region of Vidarbha and surrounding tribal areas, the Bombay High Court accepted the Bangs' suggestions and recommendations on preventing malnutrition-driven infant and child mortality.^[18]^[19] The court directed the committee responsible for addressing malnutrition to incorporate the policy making solutions presented in their report, one of which focused on home-based neonatal and child care.^[19]

Abhay Bang with the Breath Counter he designed

Liquor ban in Gadchiroli district[edit | edit source]

Abhay and Rani Bang were the driving force for the liquor ban in Gadchiroli district. Gadchiroli is the first district in Maharashtra where liquor has been banned due to public demand. The Bangs initiated a liquor ban campaign in 1990 by informing residents about the negative health effects of alcohol consumption. The movement resulted in liquor ban in the district in 1992, being the first example in India of liquor ban due to public demand.^{[clarification needed]}

In May 2012, Abhay Bang was a member of a panel to study a possible liquor ban in Chandrapur district.^[20] He advocates the need for an alcohol-free and tobacco-free society since, per the 2015 Global Burden of Diseases, alcohol and tobacco are two of the top ten causes of death and disease in India. Abhay Bang is developing a multi-pronged approach named Muktipath in the district of Gadchiroli to reduce the prevalence of alcohol and tobacco consumption there.^[21] He also welcomed the Supreme Court of India's ban on the location of liquor shops on state and national highways.^[22]

Reproductive health and maternal care[edit | edit source]

In 1988, Rani Bang conducted a study in two Gadchiroli villages, Wasa and Amirza, to highlight the "large hidden burden of gynaecological diseases" in rural women.^[5]^[16] She found that despite 92% of them experiencing menstrual issues, infections, and infertility, only one in ten women had ever sought medical attention.^[23]^[5] In addition, her study uncovered that a prevailing misconception amongst the local pregnant women was that "a well-nourished foetus is lazy and harder to deliver." As a result, they were less likely to take supplements to support foetus growth, but more open to the idea of supporting their own health.^[5] Subsequently, she advocated for a comprehensive reproductive healthcare programme for rural women, training aryadoots and dais (traditional doulas) to become village-level community health workers.^[1]^[5]^[24]

Rani also discovered that "regressive interpretations of traditions" were commonplace in the tribal communities of Gadchiroli, leading to the mainstreaming of "antiquated concepts" such as kurma ghar characterized by small huts used to isolate women for the duration of their menstrual cycle.^[1] The huts accommodated three to four women at once and were sometimes in worse conditions than cattle sheds. Within the hut, the stock of period cloths often attracted lizards and mice. Until the end of their menstrual cycle, the women were considered untouchable, expected to cook for themselves, and often repurposed Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) leaves when they ran out of period cloths or pads. While some women embraced kurma without retaliation because it was their only chance to rest and spend time with friends, others feared "divine retribution" for defying the tradition. Given how "well-entrenched" the practice of kurma was, the Bangs, instead of attempting to trying to uproot it, decided to "revamp" it instead. They received support from Mukul Madhav Foundation to build upscale versions of kurma ghars equipped with modern facilities.^[1]

Rani's book, Putting Women First: Women and Health in a Rural Community (2010) documents her experience of addressing reproductive health and childcare issues in rural India.^[11]

Tribal health[edit | edit source]

Abhay and Rani Bang have worked with the tribal communities in the forest area of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra since 1986. They identified malaria as the biggest health concern for this population. They sought to increase awareness around using insecticide-treated mosquito nets as a preventative measure alongside regular medical treatment among the local Adivasi.

They also run a mobile medical unit in the 48 tribal villages in the Dhanora block of Gadchiroli district and a network of village volunteers trained in providing primary care in these villages. In July 2017, the Government of Maharashtra formed a task force to control the spread of malaria in the district of Gadchiroli. Abhay Bang was appointed as the head of this task force which comprises the non-profit SEARCH, Tata Trusts, National Institute of Research and Tribal Health (NIRTH) and the Government of Maharashtra.^[25]

Abhay Bang is currently chairing a 13-member expert committee set up by Union Health Ministry and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, tasked with coming out with a nationwide status report on tribal health issues, along with suggesting possible policy formulations. While the "old" problems of malaria, malnutrition, and mortality persist, Abhay Bang emphasizes "new" health issues among the Adivasi, partly caused by outside socio-cultural influences and market forces. Tribal women now list alcohol addiction and tobacco addiction among men as their biggest concern, with over 60 percent of adults in Gadchiroli consuming the latter daily. Combined with an increase in sodium consumption, hypertension rates have been increasing in these communities, according to Bang.

NIRMAN[edit | edit source]

Started in 2006, NIRMAN brings together a group of youth aged between 18 and 28 years who are looking to give meaning to their lives. Abhay and Rani Bang's younger son, Amrut currently manages it.^[26]

NIRMAN looks at identifying and nurturing young social change-makers in Maharashtra. It is an educational process to train the youth to take up crucial issues and problems in the society. It provides guidance, expertise, and an environment to inculcate self-learning and encourages youth for social action. NIRMAN includes a series of 3 camps, each separated by 6 months. A group of NIRMAN participants will go through 3 camps in a period of one year. A camp generally runs for 7–10 days at SEARCH, Gadchiroli with a view encourage young Indian students to step out of their generally secure urban surroundings into the world of rural and tribal Indians to help them come face to face with the nation's plethora of social issues, and with people working hard to solve them.

NIRMAN is a learning process based on Nai Talim way of education introduced by Mahatma Gandhi. It believes in problem-based learning instead of classroom-based learning.^[27] This initiative is providing a common platform for youth to engage, self-educate and decide on how they can make a difference to the society.

Abhay thinks that it is important to make the present generation of doctors think about social challenges. "All doctors can earn enough to make a decent living and they must think about the purpose of their lives. Change will happen the moment they start contemplating." He believes that medical students should regularly be given rural or tribal stints as part of their curriculum so that they are exposed to the real challenges. He thinks that it is equally important to reward doctors who shun the charm of corporate world to serve the real people in need.^[28]

Non-communicable diseases[edit | edit source]

Abhay and Rani Bang and their team at SEARCH work on non-communicable diseases, as those are emerging as a priority area. A study conducted by SEARCH in 86 villages of Gadchiroli district has shown that rural people are affected by lifestyle diseases like stroke which emerged as the most frequent cause of death.^[29] One-in-seven (14%) deaths in these villages occurs due to stroke, showing that places like Gadchiroli are now passing through an 'epidemiological transition'. 87.3% stroke deaths occurred at home, indicating that rural people do not approach hospitals for treatment. Taking the study ahead, the SEARCH team now plans to test village-based solutions to minimize deaths caused due to stroke in Gadchiroli villages in collaboration with the UK's Wellcome Trust and the Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India. Yogeshwar Kalkonde – Neurologist and Senior Research Officer at SEARCH – is the main author of the study. The team also included three young MBBS doctors from NIRMAN. The study was published in July 2015 in Stroke, an international journal published by the American Stroke and Heart Association,^[30] and was presented at the 5th International Conference on Neurology and Epidemiology, held between 18 and 20 November 2015 in Australia.^[31]

In a study published in Economic and Political Weekly, Bang and SEARCH team members showed that the rural and tribal district of Gadchiroli was spending approximately ₹73.4 crore annually on consuming tobacco and related products.^[32] More than 50% of the population was consuming tobacco. SEARCH has been conducting programs to spread awareness regarding the ill effects of tobacco use and providing de-addiction services. The Maharashtra state government has formed a 12-member task force under chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for creating awareness about ill effects of using tobacco products and Abhay Bang is an advisor in the force. It will concentrate on Gadchiroli district for the first three years (2015–2018). A committee has also been constituted under the Gadchiroli District Collector for implementing the plans devised by the task force. A representative of Bang's organization SEARCH will be a member of the committee. According to Bang, spread of information and awareness for prevention, initiation of village committees and urban ward committees, implementation of laws and regulations, treatment for de-addiction, counselling via NGOs and stimulation of an alcohol and tobacco free environment in government offices, schools, colleges, markets etc., will be the methods used by the task force.^[33]

Surgical care[edit | edit source]

Abhay Bang and Rani Bang, through their organization SEARCH, built the Maa Danteshwari Hospital for the rural and tribal people of Gadchiroli. Along with OPD and IPD care, a variety of surgeries are also conducted in this setup. Doctors from throughout the state of Maharashtra come and operate in this setup. Shekhar Bhojraj, a spine surgeon from Mumbai, and his team of 6-8 other spine surgeons have been associated with SEARCH for more than 10 years and have conducted more than 100 spine surgeries in Gadchiroli.^{[citation needed]} In August 2016, when Rani Bang was to undergo spinal surgery herself, she too was operated in the SEARCH hospital by Shekhar Bhojraj and his wife Shilpa, an anaesthetist in Mumbai.^[34]

Positions held[edit | edit source]

Apart from being the founder-directors of SEARCH, Abhay and Rani Bang have served on various national and state level committees. Some of them are as follows:

Chairman, Expert Group to Plan Health Care for Tribal Populations in India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India^[35]^[36]
Expert member, Central Health Council, Apex Body of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India^[37]
Member, National Rural Health Mission Steering Group, Government of India^[38]
Member, High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Care, Planning Commission, Government of India^[39]
Member, National Commission on Macro-economics and Health, Government of India^[40]
Member, Kelkar Committee on 'Regional Imbalance and Balanced Regional Development', Government of Maharashtra^[41]^[42]
Member, Audit Advisory Board, Comptroller and Auditor General, Government of India^[43]
Chairman, Child Mortality Evaluation Committee, Govt. of Maharashtra^[44]
Member, National ASHA Mentoring Group, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India^[45]
Member, High Level Committee on Status of Tribal Communities, Govt. of India^[46]
Member, National Commission on Population, Govt. of India^[47]
Member, Steering Committee, Tropical Disease Research, World Health Organization, Geneva^[48]
Member, Advisory Board, Saving New-born Lives Initiative, Save the Children, US^[48]
Member, Committee on 'Improving Birth Outcome in Developing Countries' constituted by the Global Board on Health, National Academy of Sciences, US^[48]
Member, Scientist Advisory Board, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi^[48]
Member, National Expert Group on Health for planning the 10th National Five Year Plan, Govt. of India^[48]
Member, Governing Board, National Population Stabilization Fund, India^[49]
Member, Planning Commission's Task Force on Panchayat Raj in Health^[49]
Member, WHO Review Committee on Anti-fertility Vaccines^[49]
Member, WHO Review Committee on Measuring Reproductive Morbidity^[49]
Member, Governing Body of IIHMR (Indian Institute of Health Management and Research)^[49]
Member, Institute of Medicine U.S. Committee on Improving Pregnancy Outcome in Underdeveloped Countries (2000 - 2001)^[50]

Selected publications[edit | edit source]

Books[edit | edit source]

In Marathi[edit | edit source]

In *माझा साक्षात्कारी हृदयरोग Majha Sakshatkari Hridayarog, Abhay Bang has written about his own experiences during his heart disease and the learning he has gained from it. The book won the Kelkar Award for the Best Literary Book in Marathi, 2000.

Rani Bang's गोईण (Goin) describes the relationship of tribal women with various trees in Gadchiroli district. It won the Literary Award of the Government of Maharashtra. Goin means Friend in the Gondi language of tribal people. Her book कानोसा (Kanosa) delves into the perceptions of rural women regarding various issues of reproductive health.

In English[edit | edit source]

Putting Women First: Women and Health in a Rural Community - Rani Bang published in 2010.

In Tamil[edit | edit source]

என் மாயாஜாலப் பள்ளி (தன்னறம் வெளியீடு) - Tamil translation of My Magic School.^[spelling?]

Essays and letters[edit | edit source]

Meeting the Mahatma by Abhay Bang, published in English Kumar Bharti Textbook of Class 9 of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.
My Magical School by Abhay Bang, which was translated in English by Arvind Gupta.
Sevagram to Shodhgram by Abhay Bang, which was also translated in English by Arvind Gupta.
A Postcard from Dr Abhay Bang: Vidarbha, Marathwada deserve your maximum attention, CM Fadnavis, an open letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to act on balanced development of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra and to take steps to reduce liquor consumption in the state.

Awards and honors[edit | edit source]

The Bangs won the Maharashtra Bhushan Award,^[51] and have been awarded honorary doctorates from the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow.^[52]

SNDT Women's University in Mumbai has also awarded a doctorate honoris causa to Rani Bang.^[49] Medical journal The Lancet described the couple as "the pioneers of healthcare in rural India."^[53] In 2016, Abhay and Rani Bang were recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.^[54]^[55] They were also inducted into the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars^[56] for their leadership in community-based health care focusing on newborns and children. The Bangs have contributed to the development of community-based primary healthcare in India.^[57]

Rani Bang was one of the principal speakers in the Tietze symposium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1990. She served as a consultant to the International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN) for Reproductive health, International Women's Health Advocates on Microbiologist (IWHAM)'s 10th Five Year Plan Maharashtra Health and Nutrition Committee Member. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 as a member of 1,000 women worldwide for peace prize.^[49]

Rani Bang has worked on women's reproductive health issues, sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS control, alcoholism, tribal health, and adolescent sexual health.^{[citation needed]} She conducts sex education sessions called Tarunyabhaan for adolescents and teenagers across Maharashtra.^[58]

In 2008, Pratibha Patil, President of India, presented Rani Bang with the National Award for Women's Development through Application of Science & Technology for her "outstanding and pioneering contribution" to the improvement of women's health in rural areas through "innovative" and people-centered research.^[24]

1980s[edit | edit source]

Ashoka Fellowship, 1985^[59]

1990s[edit | edit source]

Mahatma Gandhi Award for Humanitarian Service,^[50] 1994^{[citation needed]}
Seshadri Gold Medal, Indian Council of Medical Research for outstanding research in community medicine, 1996^[50]

2000s[edit | edit source]

The Kelkar Award for the best literary book in Marathi, 2000^[50]
Vivekanand Manava Sewa Award, 2002^[50]
Satpal Mittal Award for Population, Indian Association of Parliamentarians, New Delhi, 2002^[50]
Ramshastri Prabhune Puraskar for Social Justice, Satara, 2002^[50]
Maharashtra Bhushan Award, the highest state honor of the Government of Maharashtra, 2003^[49]
The Global Health Heroes, Time magazine, 2005^[60]
Stree Shakti Puraskar, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India, 2005^[49]
Navratna Puraskar, Doordarshan Sahyadri Channel, Mumbai, 2005^[50]
MacArthur Foundation International Award, 2006^[61]
Jamnalal Bajaj Award, 2006^[62]
National Award for Women's Development through application of Science & Technology, Government of India, 2007^[24]
Bapu Award, Gandhi National Memorial Society, Pune, 2009^[50]

2010s[edit | edit source]

Society of Scholars, Johns Hopkins University, US, 2013^[63]
First Distinguished Alumni Award, Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2013^[64]
Social Impact Award, Times of India, 2015^[65]
Dr. Wankar Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award, Indian Medical Association, 2015^[66]
Public Health Champions Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Health in India, WHO India, 2016^[67]^[68]
Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, 2018^[69]
Iconic Changemaker Award, The Hindu, 2018^[70]
Mahatma Gandhi Manava Seva Puraskar, M. G. College, Armori, 2019^[71]
Degree of Literature (D.Litt.) Honoris Causa from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik at Mumbai by Hon. Chief Minister Maharashtra, 2019^[71]
Shahu, Phule, Ambedkar, Award, 2019^[71]

2020[edit | edit source]

J.R.D. Tata Award for Excellence in Public Service, 2020^[72]
JRD Tata Award by Ratan Tata from Population Foundation of India, New Delhi, 2020^[71]
Achievement Award in Science Field from Vanita Samaj, Mumbai, 2020^[71]
D.Sc. Degree from Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Loni, Dist. Ahmednagar, 2020^[71]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 "From Menstrual Exile to Death: What Drove Dr Rani Bang To Fight for Tribal Women's Healthcare – The Better India". thebetterindiacom.wpcomstaging.com. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
↑ Day, Elizabeth (20 March 2011). "Dr Abhay Bang: the revolutionary paediatrician". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
↑ "Save the Children UK | International Children's Charity" (PDF).
↑ "Padma Shri for Bangs and late Ramteke". The Times of India. 26 January 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 ^5.3 ^5.4 ^5.5 ^5.6 ^5.7 ^5.8 Kirby, Tony (1 February 2021). "Rani Bang—leader in women's reproductive health". The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 21 (2): 178. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00014-1. ISSN 1473-3099.
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 ^6.3 ^6.4 ^6.5 Shetty, Priya (2011). "Rani and Abhay Bang—pioneers of health care in rural India". The Lancet. 377 (9761): 199. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60034-2. ISSN 0140-6736. PMID 21237388. Archived from the original on 30 April 2025.
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Bang, Abhay (January 2019). "Meeting the Mahatma". The Indian Journal of Medical Research. 149 (Suppl): S49–S55. doi:10.4103/0971-5916.251657. ISSN 0971-5916. PMC 6515738. PMID 31070177.
↑ Kawalkar, Umesh; Mankar, Amar; Gophane, Ravindra; Patil, Manoj S (31 August 2024). "People's Health in People's Hands: Dr. Abhay Bang and Dr. Rani Bang's Pioneering Approach to Rural Healthcare in India". Cureus. 16 (8) e68345. doi:10.7759/cureus.68345. ISSN 2168-8184. PMC 11442638. PMID 39355064.
↑ Bang, Dr. (smt) Rani Abhay. "Recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Uplift and Welfare of Women and Children-2006" (PDF). Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation. Retrieved 10 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑ "Be The Pathfinder: Dr. Abhay Bang on Grassroots Healthcare". Healthcare Executive. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 Perry, Alex (31 October 2005). "The Listeners". Time. Archived from the original on 1 November 2005. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
↑ "From Gandhi to Gadchiroli—via Johns Hopkins | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health". publichealth.jhu.edu. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
↑ Bang, A. (n.d.). BIO DATA OF DR. ABHAY BANG. https://nirman.mkcl.org/doc/Bio_DrAbhay_and_DrRani_Bang-updated.pdf
↑ Bang, Dr Abhay (10 May 2018). "Research, for whom?". Newslaundry. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
↑ Bang, Abhay (1981). "Minimum Wages for Agricultural Labour: A Critique of Page Committee Recommendations". Economic and Political Weekly. 16 (35): 1419–1422. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4370168.
↑ ^16.0 ^16.1 Gopinath, P. Krishna (28 February 2024). "Headling hearts and minds in Gadchiroli: The inspiring healthcare mission of the Bangs and SEARCH". Frontline. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
↑ Gopinath, P. Krishna (28 February 2024). "Headling hearts and minds in Gadchiroli: The inspiring healthcare mission of the Bangs and SEARCH". Frontline. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
↑ "What's the point of progress if kids are malnourished, Bombay High Court asks Maha govt". SabrangIndia. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
↑ ^19.0 ^19.1 "HC accepts report on malnutrition". The Hindu. 3 May 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
↑ "Liquor panel may suggest ban in Chanda". Times of India. 12 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
↑ Bang, Abhay. "मृत्युपथ विरुद्ध 'मुक्तिपथ'". beta1.esakal.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
↑ Bang, Abhay (20 March 2017). "None For The Road". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
↑ Perry/Shodhagram, Alex. "The Listeners". TIME. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
↑ ^24.0 ^24.1 ^24.2 "National Award for Women's Development through application of Science & Technology Conferred on Dr. Rani Bang". www.dst.gov.in. 8 March 2008. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ "Govt forms task force to tackle malaria in G'chiroli". The Times of India. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
↑ "Where youth's discussions veer to country-building". The Times of India. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
↑ "About NIRMAN". www.nirman.mkcl.org. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
↑ "Doc couple with heart for neglected". The Times of India. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
↑ "Strokes are major cause of death in Gadchiroli tribals". The Times of India. 16 July 2015. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
↑ Shrivastav, Snehlata (16 July 2015). "Strokes are major cause of death in Gadchiroli tribals". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
↑ "Programme - Programmer & Committees - ICNE 2015". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
↑ Bang, Abhay; Shah, Dharav; Deshmukh, Mahesh; Sawalkar, Santosh; Kalkonde, Yogeshwar (2013). "Tobacco vs Development: Private Spending on Tobacco in Gadchiroli District". Economic and Political Weekly. 48 (5): 7–8. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
↑ "Task force set up to fight tobacco abuse". The Times of India. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
↑ "Dr Rani Bang undergoes spine surgery at Gadchiroli's SEARCH hospital". The Times of India. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
↑ "Indian Council of Medical Research DG calls for new researches on tribal health". The Economic Times. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ Veda, Gunjan (28 November 2015). "Taking health care to tribal heartland". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
↑ "Bang on Central health council". The Times of India. 28 April 2016. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
↑ "Mission Steering Group for NRHM holds 8th Meeting Hib Vaccines to be introduced in 6 more States Uniform Branding of MMUs as "Rashtriya Mobile Medical Unit" More Incentives to ASHAs Approved". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ "UHC India". www.uhc-india.org. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ "Report of the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health" (PDF). www.who.int. August 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2006. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ Bhagwat, Ramu (24 December 2014). "Kelkar report seeks 10% rise in funds for Vidarbha | Nagpur News". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ Roy, Ashish (3 September 2016). "'Kelkar report not biased against any region' | Nagpur News". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
↑ "Dr Abhay Bang appointed on CAG's audit advisory board". The Economic Times. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ "Report indicts Maharashtra govt for malnutrition deaths". The Times of India. 19 December 2004. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ "National ASHA Mentoring Group". nrhm.gov.in. Archived from the original on 3 November 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ "Composition of New Committee:High Level Committee on status of tribal Communities". Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ "National Award for Women's Development through Application of Science & Technology conferred on Dr. Rani Bang". pib.nic.in. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ ^48.0 ^48.1 ^48.2 ^48.3 ^48.4 "Abhay Bang & Rani Bang". www.searchgadchiroli.org. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
↑ ^49.0 ^49.1 ^49.2 ^49.3 ^49.4 ^49.5 ^49.6 ^49.7 ^49.8 "S.N.D.T. Women's University". sndt.ac.in. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013.
↑ ^50.0 ^50.1 ^50.2 ^50.3 ^50.4 ^50.5 ^50.6 ^50.7 ^50.8 "Biodata" (PDF). planningcommission.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
↑ Bang, Abhay T; Bang, Rani A; Baitule, Sanjay B; Reddy, M Hanimi; Deshmukh, Mahesh D (4 December 1999). "Effect of home-based neonatal care and management of sepsis on neonatal mortality: field trial in rural India". The Lancet. 354 (9194): 1955–1961. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(99)03046-9. PMID 10622298. S2CID 27157242. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
↑ "PGI ने मनाया 20वां दीक्षांत समारोह, वीमेन हेल्थ इश्यूज पर हुई चर्चा". www.bhaskar.com. 27 September 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
↑ "The Lancet honor for Bang couple". The Times of India. 13 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
↑ "Distinguished Alumnus/a Award | Alumni Association". alumni.jhu.edu. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
↑ लोकसत्ता टीम (2 April 2016). "डॉ. राणी व डॉ. अभय बंग यांना जॉन्स हॉपकिन्स विद्यापीठाचा पुरस्कार". Loksatta (in मराठी). Retrieved 15 June 2022.
↑ "Faculty Affairs". Retrieved 20 August 2025.
↑ "Alumni Award". www.jhsph.edu. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013.
↑ "'Tarunyabhaan', a workshop on sex education". www.sakaaltimes.com. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 18 May 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
↑ "Abhay Bang | Ashoka | Everyone a Change maker". www.ashoka.org. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
↑ Poster of Duke Global Health Institute on the website of SEARCH Archived 6 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
↑ "Abhay Bang, SEARCH on MacArthur Award". MacArthur Foundation. 18 December 2006. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
↑ "Jamnalal Bajaj Award". Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation. 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
↑ "Society of Scholars, 1969 to Present". Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
↑ "Alumni Award". Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
↑ Warrier, Sunil (9 March 2015). "TOI Social Impact Awards 2015: 'Search' light shines on tribal lives". The Times of India.
↑ Gwalani, Payal (19 October 2015). "Don't avoid rural service, Devendra Fadnavis tells docs". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
↑ "WHO India honors public health champions". Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
↑ Shrivastav, Snehlata (9 April 2016). "Chela gets award along with guru". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
↑ "MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS PRESS NOTE" (PDF). mha.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
↑ Madhavan, N. (16 March 2018). "'We deliberately chose to go where the problems are'". www.thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
↑ ^71.0 ^71.1 ^71.2 ^71.3 ^71.4 ^71.5 "Founders | Search for Health".
↑ "India's 370 mn youth will drive its future: Ratan Tata". outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.

External links[edit | edit source]

Sevagram to Shodgram, a speech by Abhay Bang
SEARCH website
NIRMAN website

[:5-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 "From Menstrual Exile to Death: What Drove Dr Rani Bang To Fight for Tribal Women's Healthcare – The Better India". thebetterindiacom.wpcomstaging.com. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2026.

[RPI-2] Day, Elizabeth (20 March 2011). "Dr Abhay Bang: the revolutionary paediatrician". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2012.

[3] "Save the Children UK | International Children's Charity" (PDF).

[4] "Padma Shri for Bangs and late Ramteke". The Times of India. 26 January 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 January 2026.

[:3-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 ^5.3 ^5.4 ^5.5 ^5.6 ^5.7 ^5.8 Kirby, Tony (1 February 2021). "Rani Bang—leader in women's reproductive health". The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 21 (2): 178. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00014-1. ISSN 1473-3099.

[:2-6] 6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 ^6.3 ^6.4 ^6.5 Shetty, Priya (2011). "Rani and Abhay Bang—pioneers of health care in rural India". The Lancet. 377 (9761): 199. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60034-2. ISSN 0140-6736. PMID 21237388. Archived from the original on 30 April 2025.

[:1-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Bang, Abhay (January 2019). "Meeting the Mahatma". The Indian Journal of Medical Research. 149 (Suppl): S49–S55. doi:10.4103/0971-5916.251657. ISSN 0971-5916. PMC 6515738. PMID 31070177.

[8] Kawalkar, Umesh; Mankar, Amar; Gophane, Ravindra; Patil, Manoj S (31 August 2024). "People's Health in People's Hands: Dr. Abhay Bang and Dr. Rani Bang's Pioneering Approach to Rural Healthcare in India". Cureus. 16 (8) e68345. doi:10.7759/cureus.68345. ISSN 2168-8184. PMC 11442638. PMID 39355064.

[9] Bang, Dr. (smt) Rani Abhay. "Recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Uplift and Welfare of Women and Children-2006" (PDF). Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation. Retrieved 10 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[10] "Be The Pathfinder: Dr. Abhay Bang on Grassroots Healthcare". Healthcare Executive. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2026.

[TL-11] 11.0 ^11.1 Perry, Alex (31 October 2005). "The Listeners". Time. Archived from the original on 1 November 2005. Retrieved 11 November 2013.

[12] "From Gandhi to Gadchiroli—via Johns Hopkins | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health". publichealth.jhu.edu. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2026.

[13] Bang, A. (n.d.). BIO DATA OF DR. ABHAY BANG. https://nirman.mkcl.org/doc/Bio_DrAbhay_and_DrRani_Bang-updated.pdf

[14] Bang, Dr Abhay (10 May 2018). "Research, for whom?". Newslaundry. Retrieved 13 January 2026.

[15] Bang, Abhay (1981). "Minimum Wages for Agricultural Labour: A Critique of Page Committee Recommendations". Economic and Political Weekly. 16 (35): 1419–1422. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4370168.

[:6-16] 16.0 ^16.1 Gopinath, P. Krishna (28 February 2024). "Headling hearts and minds in Gadchiroli: The inspiring healthcare mission of the Bangs and SEARCH". Frontline. Retrieved 13 January 2026.

[17] Gopinath, P. Krishna (28 February 2024). "Headling hearts and minds in Gadchiroli: The inspiring healthcare mission of the Bangs and SEARCH". Frontline. Retrieved 13 January 2026.

[18] "What's the point of progress if kids are malnourished, Bombay High Court asks Maha govt". SabrangIndia. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2026.

[:4-19] 19.0 ^19.1 "HC accepts report on malnutrition". The Hindu. 3 May 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 January 2026.

[20] "Liquor panel may suggest ban in Chanda". Times of India. 12 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

[21] Bang, Abhay. "मृत्युपथ विरुद्ध 'मुक्तिपथ'". beta1.esakal.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.

[22] Bang, Abhay (20 March 2017). "None For The Road". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 June 2022.

[23] Perry/Shodhagram, Alex. "The Listeners". TIME. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2026.

[dst.gov.in-24] 24.0 ^24.1 ^24.2 "National Award for Women's Development through application of Science & Technology Conferred on Dr. Rani Bang". www.dst.gov.in. 8 March 2008. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[25] "Govt forms task force to tackle malaria in G'chiroli". The Times of India. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.

[26] "Where youth's discussions veer to country-building". The Times of India. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2015.

[27] "About NIRMAN". www.nirman.mkcl.org. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

[28] "Doc couple with heart for neglected". The Times of India. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.

[29] "Strokes are major cause of death in Gadchiroli tribals". The Times of India. 16 July 2015. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 January 2026.

[30] Shrivastav, Snehlata (16 July 2015). "Strokes are major cause of death in Gadchiroli tribals". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 October 2015.

[31] "Programme - Programmer & Committees - ICNE 2015". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.

[32] Bang, Abhay; Shah, Dharav; Deshmukh, Mahesh; Sawalkar, Santosh; Kalkonde, Yogeshwar (2013). "Tobacco vs Development: Private Spending on Tobacco in Gadchiroli District". Economic and Political Weekly. 48 (5): 7–8. Retrieved 25 January 2016.

[33] "Task force set up to fight tobacco abuse". The Times of India. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.

[34] "Dr Rani Bang undergoes spine surgery at Gadchiroli's SEARCH hospital". The Times of India. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.

[35] "Indian Council of Medical Research DG calls for new researches on tribal health". The Economic Times. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[36] Veda, Gunjan (28 November 2015). "Taking health care to tribal heartland". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 December 2015.

[37] "Bang on Central health council". The Times of India. 28 April 2016. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.

[38] "Mission Steering Group for NRHM holds 8th Meeting Hib Vaccines to be introduced in 6 more States Uniform Branding of MMUs as "Rashtriya Mobile Medical Unit" More Incentives to ASHAs Approved". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[39] "UHC India". www.uhc-india.org. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[40] "Report of the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health" (PDF). www.who.int. August 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2006. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[41] Bhagwat, Ramu (24 December 2014). "Kelkar report seeks 10% rise in funds for Vidarbha | Nagpur News". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[42] Roy, Ashish (3 September 2016). "'Kelkar report not biased against any region' | Nagpur News". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2016.

[43] "Dr Abhay Bang appointed on CAG's audit advisory board". The Economic Times. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[44] "Report indicts Maharashtra govt for malnutrition deaths". The Times of India. 19 December 2004. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[45] "National ASHA Mentoring Group". nrhm.gov.in. Archived from the original on 3 November 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[46] "Composition of New Committee:High Level Committee on status of tribal Communities". Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[47] "National Award for Women's Development through Application of Science & Technology conferred on Dr. Rani Bang". pib.nic.in. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[SEARCH-48] 48.0 ^48.1 ^48.2 ^48.3 ^48.4 "Abhay Bang & Rani Bang". www.searchgadchiroli.org. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

[SNDT-49] 49.0 ^49.1 ^49.2 ^49.3 ^49.4 ^49.5 ^49.6 ^49.7 ^49.8 "S.N.D.T. Women's University". sndt.ac.in. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013.

[:0-50] 50.0 ^50.1 ^50.2 ^50.3 ^50.4 ^50.5 ^50.6 ^50.7 ^50.8 "Biodata" (PDF). planningcommission.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2015.

[51] Bang, Abhay T; Bang, Rani A; Baitule, Sanjay B; Reddy, M Hanimi; Deshmukh, Mahesh D (4 December 1999). "Effect of home-based neonatal care and management of sepsis on neonatal mortality: field trial in rural India". The Lancet. 354 (9194): 1955–1961. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(99)03046-9. PMID 10622298. S2CID 27157242. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

[52] "PGI ने मनाया 20वां दीक्षांत समारोह, वीमेन हेल्थ इश्यूज पर हुई चर्चा". www.bhaskar.com. 27 September 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.

[Honor-53] "The Lancet honor for Bang couple". The Times of India. 13 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

[54] "Distinguished Alumnus/a Award | Alumni Association". alumni.jhu.edu. Retrieved 20 August 2025.

[55] लोकसत्ता टीम (2 April 2016). "डॉ. राणी व डॉ. अभय बंग यांना जॉन्स हॉपकिन्स विद्यापीठाचा पुरस्कार". Loksatta (in मराठी). Retrieved 15 June 2022.

[56] "Faculty Affairs". Retrieved 20 August 2025.

[jhsph.edu-57] "Alumni Award". www.jhsph.edu. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013.

[sakaaltimes.com-58] "'Tarunyabhaan', a workshop on sex education". www.sakaaltimes.com. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 18 May 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2015.

[59] "Abhay Bang | Ashoka | Everyone a Change maker". www.ashoka.org. Retrieved 22 March 2016.

[60] Poster of Duke Global Health Institute on the website of SEARCH Archived 6 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine

[MAA-61] "Abhay Bang, SEARCH on MacArthur Award". MacArthur Foundation. 18 December 2006. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.

[Jamnalal_Bajaj_Award-62] "Jamnalal Bajaj Award". Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation. 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.

[63] "Society of Scholars, 1969 to Present". Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.

[64] "Alumni Award". Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Retrieved 16 October 2015.

[65] Warrier, Sunil (9 March 2015). "TOI Social Impact Awards 2015: 'Search' light shines on tribal lives". The Times of India.

[66] Gwalani, Payal (19 October 2015). "Don't avoid rural service, Devendra Fadnavis tells docs". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 January 2016.

[67] "WHO India honors public health champions". Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.

[68] Shrivastav, Snehlata (9 April 2016). "Chela gets award along with guru". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 April 2016.

[69] "MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS PRESS NOTE" (PDF). mha.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.

[70] Madhavan, N. (16 March 2018). "'We deliberately chose to go where the problems are'". www.thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 15 June 2022.

[Founders_{{pipe}}_Search_for_Health-71] 71.0 ^71.1 ^71.2 ^71.3 ^71.4 ^71.5 "Founders | Search for Health".

[72] "India's 370 mn youth will drive its future: Ratan Tata". outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.

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v t e Jamnalal Bajaj Award winners
Constructive work	Jugatram Dave (1978) Sarla Devi and Baba Amte (1979) Gandhi Niketan Ashram (1980) Amalprava Das (1981) Gokulbhai Daulatram Bhatt (1982) Tagaduru Ramachandra Rao (1983) Popatlal Ramchandra Shah (1984) T. S. Avinashilingam Chettiar (1985) Sunderlal Bahuguna (1986) Natwar Thakkar (1987) Krishnammal Jagannathan (1988) K. Janardanan Pillai (1989) Tirath Ram (1990) Dwarko Sundarani (1991) Thakurdas Bang (1992) Vichitra Narain Sharma (1993) L. N. Gopalaswami (1994) Kashinath Trivedi (1995) Manubhai Pancholi (1996) R. K. Patil (1997) Acharya Ramamurti (1998) Narayan Desai (1999) Somdutt Vedalankar (2000) Sisir Sanyal (2001) Siddharaj Dhadda (2002) Rabindra Nath Upadhyay (2003) Radhakrishna Bajaj (2004) P. Gopinathan Nair (2005) Salem Nanjundaiah Subba Rao (2006) Yashpal M. Mittal (2007) Biswanath Pattnaik (2008) Lavanam (2009) Chunilal Vaidya (2010) Ramesh Bhaiya and Vimla Bahan (2011) Jayant Mathkar (2012) G. V. Subba Rao (2013) Surendra Koulagi (2014) Man Singh Rawat (2015) Mohan Hirabai Hiralal (2016)
Science and Technology	Satish Chandra Das Gupta (1978) Jayant Shamrao Patil (1979) Anil Sadgopal (1980) A. M. M. Murugappa Chettiar (1981) Prembhai (1982) Manibhai Desai (1983) Mohan Narhari Parikh (1984) Sanjit Roy (1985) Vilas B. Salunke (1986) Sunit Dhanaji Bonde (1987) Ishwarbhai Patel (1988) T. G. K. Menon (1989) Shripad Dabholkar (1990) S. Krishnamurthy Mirmira (1991) K. Vishwanathan (1992) Dinkarrao G. Pawar (1993) V. S. Aggarwal (1994) G. Muniratnam (1995) V. S. Aggarwal (1996) S. S. Katagihallimath (1997) Devendra Kumar (1998) Ajoy Kumar Basu (1999) Bhaskar Save (2000) Anil K. Rajvanshi (2001) Arunkumar Dave (2002) Vinayak Patil (2003) Prabhakar Shankar Thakur (2004) Rajendra Singh (2005) Anil Prakash Joshi (2006) Anand Dinkar Karve (2007) Tushar Kanjilal (2008) Ayyappa Masagi (2009) Chewang Norphel (2010) Anupam Mishra (2011) Kalyan Paul (2012) Snehlata Nath (2013) Ram Kumar Singh (2014) Perumal Vivekanandan (2015) B. V. Nimbkar (2016)
Women and child welfare	Kamalabai Hospet (1980) Ramadevi Choudhury (1981) Taraben Mashruwala (1982) Pushpaben Mehta (1983) Gaura Devi (1984) Anutai Wagh (1985) Vasanti S. Roy (1986) Annapragada C. Krishna Rao (1987) Malati Choudhury (1988) Indirabai Halbe (1989) Ratan Shastri (1990) Radha Bhatt (1991) Shalini Moghe (1992) Kantaben and Harivilasben Shah (1993) Shanti Devi (1994) Vimla Bahuguna (1995) Indumati Parikh (1996) Vinoba Niketan (1997) Rajammal P. Devadas (1998) Saraswathi Gora (1999) Vidya Devi (2000) Rehmat Sultan Fazelbhoy (2001) Chitra Naik (2002) Alice Garg (2003) Sarojini Varadappan (2004) Arunaben Shankarprasad Desai (2005) Rani Bang (2006) Ashoka Gupta (2007) Phoolbasan Bai Yadav (2008) Jaya Arunachalam (2009) Shakuntaladevi Choudhary (2010) Shobhana Ranade (2011) Glenn D. Paige (2012) Vidhya Das (2013) Chennupati Vidaya (2014) Anne Ferrer (2015) Dr. N. Manga Devi (2016)
International	Pierre Parodi (1988) Danilo Dolci (1989) A. T. Ariyaratne (1990) Charles Walker (1991) Homer A. Jack (1992) Johan Galtung (1993) Gedong Bagus Oka (1994) Kamala (1995) Adolfo De Obieta (1996) Young Seek Choue (1997) Jharna Dhara Chowdhury (1998) Joseph Rotblat (1999) Desmond Tutu (2000) Satish Kumar (2001) George W. Willoughby (2002) Mary E. King (2003) Marie Thoeger (2004) Daisaku Ikeda (2005) Ismail Serageldin (2006) Michael Nagler (2007) Louis Campana (2008) Charles Peter Dougherty (2009) Lia Diskin (2010) Agus Indra Udayana (2011) Nighat Shafi (2012) Jean-Marie Muller (2013) Sulak Sivaraksa (2014) Minoru Kasai (2015) Rached Ghannouchi (2016)
Templates WikiProject

v t e Recipients of Padma Shri in Medicine
1950s	Bir Bhan Bhatia (1954) V. R. Khanolkar (1954) Perakath Verghese Benjamin (1955) Mahesh Prasad Mehray (1955) Sohan Singh Bhakna (1956) Murugappa Channaveerappa Modi (1956) Chintaman Govind Pandit (1956) Isaac Santra (1956) Khushdeva Singh (1957)
1960s	Hilda Mary Lazarus (1961) George William Gregory Bird (1963) Hakim Abdul Hameed (1965) Jerusha Jhirad (1966) Edith Helen Paull (1967) Amar Prasad Ray (1967) Natteri Veeraraghavan (1967) B. K. Anand (1969) Ram Kumar Caroli (1969) Vulimiri Ramalingaswami (1969) Krishna Gopal Saxena (1969)
1970s	Ajit Kumar Basu (1970) Coluthur Gopalan (1970) Perugu Siva Reddy (1970) Badri Narain Sinha (1970) B. N. B. Rao (1971) Krishnaswami Srinivas Sanjivi (1971) Dorothy Chacko (1972) Thayil John Cherian (1972) Balasubramaniam Ramamurthi (1972) Balu Sankaran (1972) K. N. Udupa (1972) R. Marthanda Varma (1972) Mary Verghese (1972) K. T. Dholakia (1973) M. K. Krishna Menon (1973) J. M. Pahwa (1973) Prakash Narain Tandon (1973) Jamshed Vazifdar (1973) Govindappa Venkataswamy (1973) Mani Kumar Chetri (1974) Nagarur Gopinath (1974) L. S. N. Prasad (1974) Kadiyala Ramachandra (1974) Reuben David (1975) Stanley John (1975) Mary Poonen Lukose (1975) Kadiyala Ramachandra (1975) Durga Deulkar (1976) Lucy Oommen (1977)
1980s	Jasbir Singh Bajaj (1981) P. K. Sethi (1981) K. Vardachari Thiruvengadam (1981) C. P. Thakur (1982) Raj Vir Singh Yadav (1982) S. S. Badrinath (1983) Raj Baveja (1983) Shishupal Ram (1983) Purshottam Lal Wahi (1983) B. K. Goyal (1984) Vera Hingorani (1984) K. P. Mathur (1984) N. Balakrishnan Nair (1984) Hariharan Srinivasan (1984) Ramniklal K. Gandhi (1985) Samiran Nundy (1985) Usha Sharma (1985) M. S. Valiathan (1985) Gopal Krishna Vishwakarma (1985) Santosh Kumar Kackar (1986) V. Shanta (1986) Prabhu Dayal Nigam (1987) Daljit Singh (1987) Harbans Singh Wasir (1987)
1990s	N. H. Antia (1990) M. G. Deo (1990) P. K. Rajagopalan (1990) M. M. S. Ahuja (1991) Sneh Bhargava (1991) K. M. Cherian (doctor) (1991) G. N. Malviya (1991) Shiela Mehra (1991) S. C. Munshi (1991) M. N. Passey (1991) Jai Pal Singh (1991) Naresh Trehan (1991) Rathin Datta (1992) Khalid Hameed, Baron Hameed (1992) Anil Kohli (1992) Ramesh Kumar (nephrologist) (1992) Usha Kehar Luthra (1992) J. S. Mahashabde (1992) P. V. A. Mohandas (1992) E. T. Neelakandan Mooss (1992) Kameshwar Prasad (1992) Luis Jose De Souza (1992) Amrit Tewari (1992) G. S. Venkataraman (1992) Ranjit Roy Chaudhury (1998) K. A. Abraham (1999) Raj Bothra (1999) Balendu Prakash (1999) Devendra Triguna (1999) P. K. Warrier (1999)
2000s	Mahendra Bhandari (2000) Vipin Buckshey (2000) Vaidya Suresh Chaturvedi (2000) Kirpal Singh Chugh (2000) P. K. Dave (2000) Mathew Kalarickal (2000) Kakarla Subba Rao (2000) G. S. Sainani (2000) Immaneni Sathyamurthy (2000) Jyoti Bhushan Banerji (2001) Alaka Deshpande (2001) Sharad Kumar Dixit (2001) Chittoor Mohammed Habeebullah (2001) M. Krishnan Nair (2001) Dasari Prasada Rao (2001) Laishram Nabakishore Singh (2001) Bhupathiraju Somaraju (2001) Suresh H. Advani (2002) Pradeep Chowbey (2002) Vijay Kumar Dada (2002) Prakash Nanalal Kothari (2002) Harsh Mahajan (2002) Vikram Marwah (2002) Atluri Sriman Narayana (2002) Kamaljit Singh Paul (2002) Karimpat Mathangi Ramakrishnan (2002) Gullapalli Nageswara Rao (2002) D. Nageshwar Reddy (2002) Prahlad Kumar Sethi (2002) J. S. Guleria (2003) Narayana Panicker Kochupillai (2003) Rajagopalan Krishnan (2003) Ashok Seth (2003) Vijay Prakash Singh (2003) Sharad Moreshwar Hardikar (2004) S. C. Manchanda (2004) Ashwin Balachand Mehta (2004) S. K. Sama (2004) Rajan Saxena (2004) Devi Shetty (2004) Gopal Prasad Sinha (2004) G. Bakthavathsalam (2005) Jitendra Mohan Hans (2005) P. N. V. Kurup (2005) Veer Singh Mehta (2005) Lavu Narendranath (2005) Cyrus S. Poonawalla (2005) Sanjeev Bagai (2006) Mohan Kameswaran (2006) Upendra Kaul (2006) Tsering Landol (2006) Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman (2006) Harbhajan Singh Rissam (2006) Kamal Kumar Sethi (2006) Tehemton Erach Udwadia (2006) Harpinder Singh Chawla (2007) Narmada Prasad Gupta (2007) Ashok Kumar Hemal (2007) Atul Kumar (ophthalmologist) (2007) C. N. Manjunath (2007) Anoop Misra (2007) P. Namperumalsamy (2007) Mayilvahanan Natarajan (2007) K. R. Palaniswamy (2007) Mahipal S. Sachdev (2007) B. Paul Thaliath (2007) Sheo Bhagwan Tibrewal (2007) Mohsin Wali (2007) S. N. Arya (2008) Dinesh K. Bhargava (2008) Tony Fernandez (ophthalmologist) (2008) Rakesh Kumar Jain (2008) Raman Kapur (2008) T. P. Lahane (2008) Keiki R. Mehta (2008) M. C. Pant (2008) Arjunan Rajasekaran (2008) Malvika Sabharwal (2008) Indu Bhushan Sinha (2008) Randhir Sud (2008) C. U. Velmurugendran (2008) Kalyan Banerjee (2009) Balswarup Choubey (2009) Saibaba Goud (2009) Yash Gulati (2009) P. R. Krishna Kumar (2009) Arvind Lal (2009) D. S. Rana (2009) Thanikachalam Sadagopan (2009) Ashok K. Vaid (2009) G. Vijayaraghavan (2009)
2010s	K. K. Aggarwal (2010) Philip Augustine (2010) Anil Kumar Bhalla (2010) Kodaganur S. Gopinath (2010) Laxmi Chand Gupta (2010) Jalakantapuram Ramaswamy Krishnamoorthy (2010) Vikas Mahatme (2010) B. Ramana Rao (2010) Rabindra Narain Singh (2010) Arvinder Singh Soin (2010) Madanur Ahmed Ali (2011) Pukhraj Bafna (2011) Mansoor Hasan (2011) Indira Hinduja (2011) Shyama Prasad Mandal (2011) Jose Chacko Periappuram (2011) A. Marthanda Pillai (2011) Sivapatham Vittal (2011) Nitya Anand (2012) Mukesh Batra (2012) Mahdi Hasan (2012) Jugal Kishore (2012) V. Mohan (2012) J. Hareendran Nair (2012) Vallalarpuram Sennimalai Natarajan (2012) Jitendra Kumar Singh (2012) Shrinivas S. Vaishya (2012) Sudarshan K. Aggarwal (2013) Rajendra Achyut Badwe (2013) Krishna Chandra Chunekar (2013) Taraprasad Das (2013) T. V. Devarajan (2013) Saroj Chooramani Gopal (2013) Vishwa Kumar Gupta (2013) Pramod Kumar Julka (2013) Gulshan Rai Khatri (2013) Ganesh Kumar Mani (2013) Amit Prabhakar Maydeo (2013) Sundaram Natarajan (2013) C. Venkata S. Ram (2013) Kiritkumar Mansukhlal Acharya (2014) Subrat Kumar Acharya (2014) Balram Bhargava (2014) Indira Chakravarty (2014) Ramakant Krishnaji Deshpande (2014) Pawan Raj Goyal (2014) Rajesh Kumar Grover (2014) Amod Gupta (2014) Daya Kishore Hazra (2014) Thenumgal Poulose Jacob (2014) Shashank R. Joshi (2014) Hakim Syed Khaleefathullah (2014) Milind Vasant Kirtane (2014) Lalit Kumar (2014) Mohan Mishra (2014) Vamsi Mootha (2014) Siddhartha Mukherjee (2014) Nitish Naik (2014) M. Subhadra Nair (2014) Ashok Panagariya (2014) Narendra Kumar Pandey (2014) Sunil Pradhan (2014) Ashok Rajgopal (2014) Kamini A. Rao (2014) Sarbeswar Sahariah (2014) J. S. Titiyal (2014) Om Prakash Upadhyaya (2014) Mahesh Verma (2014) Manjula Anagani (2015) Yogesh Kumar Chawla (2015) Bimola Kumari (2015) Randeep Guleria (2015) K. P. Haridas (2015) Rajesh Kotecha (2015) Alka Kriplani (2015) Harsh Kumar (2015) Dattatreyudu Nori (2015) Tejas Patel (2015) Raghu Ram Pillarisetti (2015) Narendra Prasad (2015) Saumitra Rawat (2015) Yog Raj Sharma (2015) Nikhil Tandon (2015) Hargovind Laxmishanker Trivedi (2015) Gopi Chand Mannam (2016) Praveen Chandra (2016) John Ebnezar (2016) Daljeet Singh Gambhir (2016) A. G. K. Gokhale (2016) Murli Manohar Joshi (2016) Ravi Kant (2016) Shiv Narain Kureel (2016) T. K. Lahiri (2016) Anil Kumari Malhotra (2016) Yarlagadda Nayudamma (2016) Sudhir V. Shah (2016) Ram Harsh Singh (2016) M. V. Padma Srivastava (2016) T. S. Chandrasekar (2016) Harkishan Singh (2017) Suniti Solomon (2017) Bhakti Yadav (2017) Abhay and Rani Bang (2018) Yeshi Dhonden (2018) Lakshmikutty (2018) M. R. Rajagopal (2018) Sanduk Ruit (2018) Ilias Ali (2019) Omesh Kumar Bharti (2019) Mammen Chandy (2019) Sudam Kate (2019) Ravindra and Smita Kolhe (2019) Jagat Ram (2019) Ramaswami Venkataswami (2019)
2020s	Yogi Aereon (2020) Padma Bandopadhyay (2020) Sushovan Banerjee (2020) Digambar Behera (2020) Leela Joshi (2020) Arunoday Mondal (2020) Shanti Roy (2020) Gurdip Singh (2020) Sandra Desa Souza (2020) Kushal Konwar Sarma (2020) Ravi Kannan R (2020) Krishna Mohan Pathi (2021) Jitendra Nath Pande (2021)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|Indian social activists, and researchers}}
+{{short description|Indian social activists and researchers}}
-{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
+{{Multiple issues|
-{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
+{{promotional|date=September 2017}}
-{{multiple issues|
-{{citation style|date=November 2016}}
-{{external links|date=November 2016}}
-{{Tone|date=September 2016|reason=This article uses too many superlatives and reads promotional in nature.}}
-{{advert|date=September 2017}}
 {{COI|date=April 2020}}
-{{POV|date=April 2020}}
 {{resume-like|date=April 2019}}
 }}
+{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
 {{Infobox person
-| name = Abhay and Rani Bang
+| name               = Abhay and Rani Bang
-| image = Dr. Abhay and Rani Bang 3.jpg
+| image              = Dr. Abhay and Rani Bang 3.jpg
-| alt =
+| alt                = a photograph of Abhay and Rani Bang
-| caption = Abhay and Rani Bang
+| birth_place        = [[Wardha]] and [[Chandrapur]], [[Maharashtra]], India
-| birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name -->
+| alma_mater         = [[Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur]] (MBBS, MD)<br/>[[Johns Hopkins University]] ([[Masters in Public Health|MPH]])
-| birth_place = [[Wardha]] and Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India
+| occupation         = Social activists
-| nationality = Indian
+| known_for          = Social work, community health, addiction recovery, home based newborn care
-| other_names =
+| children           = Anand Bang (elder), Amrut Bang (younger)
-| alma_mater = [[Nagpur University]] ([[MBBS, MD]])<br/>[[Johns Hopkins University]], US ([[Masters in Public Health|M.P.H.]])
+| awards             = {{bulleted list
-| occupation = Social activists
-| known_for = Social work, community health, de-addiction, home based newborn care
-| children = Anand Bang (elder) and Amrut Bang (younger)
-| awards = {{bulleted list
 | [[Maharashtra Bhushan Award]] {{small|(2003)}}
 | [[MacArthur Foundation]] International Award {{small|(2006)}}
@@ Line 33: / Line 24: @@
 | National Award of the Indian Council of Medical Research for Outstanding Research in Community Medicine
 }}
-| honours = [[Padma Shri]]
+| honors             = [[Padma Shri]]
 }}
+'''Abhay''' and '''Rani Bang''' are Indian social activists and [[community health]] researchers who work in the [[Gadchiroli district]] of [[Maharashtra]], India. They are known for developing initiatives and programs focused on neonatal care, reproductive and maternal health, disease prevention and treatment, and rural development.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2024-10-09 |title=From Menstrual Exile to Death: What Drove Dr Rani Bang To Fight for Tribal Women's Healthcare – The Better India |url=https://thebetterindiacom.wpcomstaging.com/369350/dr-abhay-bang-rani-search-gadchiroli-maharashtra-tribal-healthcare-access/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=thebetterindiacom.wpcomstaging.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Their work has been replicated in several developing countries and adopted by the [[World Health Organization|World Health Organization (WHO)]] and [[UNICEF]].<ref name="RPI">{{Cite web |last=Day |first=Elizabeth |date=2011-03-20 |title=Dr Abhay Bang: the revolutionary paediatrician |url=http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2011/mar/20/dr-abhay-bang-revolutionary-paediatrician |access-date=28 November 2012 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://savethechildren.org.uk/content/dam/global/reports/advocacy/no-child-born-to-die.pdf | title=Save the Children UK {{pipe}} International Children's Charity }}</ref> In 2024, they were awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the [[Government of India]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-01-26 |title=Padma Shri for Bangs and late Ramteke |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/padma-shri-for-bangs-and-late-ramteke/articleshow/62657350.cms |access-date=2026-01-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
+In the 1980s, the Bangs founded the nonprofit Society for Education, Action, and Research in Community Health (SEARCH), through which they trained community health workers to deliver reproductive and neonatal care services to tribal women, resulting in decreased [[infant mortality]] rates.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> Subsequently, they expanded their work to provide sex education to adolescents, support the rehabilitation of addicts, encourage blood donations, and deliver healthcare services in rural India.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" />
-'''Abhay Bang''' and '''Rani Bang''' are [[Indian people|Indian]] social activists and researchers working in the field of [[community health]] in the [[Gadchiroli]] district of [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]. They have revolutionized healthcare for the poorest people in India and have overseen a programme that has substantially reduced [[infant mortality]] rates in one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the world. The [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) and [[UNICEF]] have endorsed their approach to treating newborn babies and the programme is currently being rolled out across India and in parts of Africa.<ref name=RPI>http://www {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060326070849/http://www/ |date=26 March 2006 }}.Global development, Infant and child mortality, Elizabeth Day – The Observer, Sunday 20 March 2011 [https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2011/mar/20/dr-abhay-bang-revolutionary-paediatrician Dr Abhay Bang: the revolutionary pediatrician] (Accessed on 28 November 2012)</ref> Abhay and Rani Bang founded the Society For Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH)<ref>[http://www.searchgadchiroli.org/ Official website of SEARCH] (Archived on 7 November 2012)</ref> – a non-profit organisation, which is involved in rural health service and research. The couple is the winner of the [[Maharashtra Bhushan Award]].<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Dr Abhay T Bang MD|author2=Rani A Bang MD|author3=Sanjay B Baitule DHMS|author4=M Hanimi Reddy PhD|author5=Mahesh D Deshmukh MSc|title=Effect of home-based neonatal care and management of sepsis on neonatal mortality: field trial in rural India|journal=The Lancet|date=4 December 1999|volume=354|issue=9194|pages=1955–1961|url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(99)03046-9/fulltext|access-date=17 June 2014 |doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(99)03046-9|pmid=10622298|s2cid=27157242}}</ref> [[Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences]], Lucknow has conferred [[honorary doctorate]]s on Abhay and Rani Bang.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bhaskar.com/news/UP-LUCK-governor-ram-naik-join-convocation-of-sgpgi-in-lucknow-5125333-PHO.html?seq=1 | title=Pgi ने मनाया 20वां दीक्षांत समारोह, वीमेन हेल्थ इश्यूज पर हुई चर्चा| date=27 September 2015}}</ref> [[SNDT Women's University]], Mumbai has also awarded ''[[honoris causa]]'' to Rani Bang.<ref name=SNDT>SNDT Women's University [http://sndt.ac.in/convocation/dr-rani-bang.htm Convocation Rani Abhay Bang]</ref> ''The Lancet'' has honoured the couple as "the pioneers of health care in rural India".<ref name=Honor>{{Cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/The-Lancet-honour-for-Bang-couple/articleshow/7279436.cms | title=The Lancet honour for Bang couple|work=The Times of India}}</ref> Abhay and Rani Bang are the first recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of International Health at the [[Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health]]. They were also inducted into the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars. The Bangs are honoured for their leadership in community-based health care that is now helping to save the lives of millions of the most vulnerable newborns and children. During their careers, the Bangs have helped foster a renaissance in community-based primary health care.<ref name="jhsph.edu">{{Cite web | url=http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/international-center-for-maternal-and-newborn-health/bangs.htm | title=Alumni Award}}</ref> In 2016, [[Johns Hopkins University]] conferred the Distinguished Alumni Award upon them.<ref>Loksatta [http://www.loksatta.com/maharashtra-news/dr-rani-and-dr-abhay-bang-get-johns-hopkins-university-award-1222248/ डॉ. राणी व डॉ. अभय बंग यांना जॉन्स हॉपकिन्स विद्यापीठाचा पुरस्कार ] (Accessed on 3 April 2016)</ref>
+== Early life{{Anchor|Personal life and background}} ==
-== Personal life and background ==
+=== Abhay Bang ===
-Abhay Bang was born at [[Wardha]], Maharashtra, India, in 1950 to [[Thakurdas Bang]] and Suman Bang. His parents were followers of the [[Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement|Sarvodaya movement]] which was inspired by [[Gandhian]] thoughts. His father, a young economist, went to [[Mahatma Gandhi]] to seek his blessings when he was about to go to the United States for his doctoral studies. Gandhi looked at him for few seconds, then said, "Young man, if you want to study economics, go to the villages of India"<ref name=MAA/> Thakurdas cancelled his planned voyage, and remained in India to study the economics of Indian villages.
+Abhay Bang was born in 1950 in [[Wardha]], [[Maharashtra]], India, to [[economist]]s Thakurdas and Suman Bang. His father was imprisoned for two years for participating in the [[Quit India Movement]], a nationwide protest against the [[History of the British Raj|British rule]]. He was accepted into [[Ohio University]] to pursue his doctoral studies but turned down the offer upon [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s counsel and decided to work for social and political reform movements in rural India.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Bang |first=Abhay |date=January 2019 |title=Meeting the Mahatma |journal=The Indian Journal of Medical Research |volume=149 |issue=Suppl |pages=S49–S55 |doi=10.4103/0971-5916.251657 |doi-access=free |issn=0971-5916 |pmc=6515738 |pmid=31070177}}</ref>
-Abhay spent his childhood in Gandhi's [[Sevagram|Sevagram Ashram]] at Wardha with Mahatma Gandhi's foremost disciple [[Acharya Vinoba Bhave]]. Until ninth standard, he studied in a school which followed the tenets of [[Nai Taleem]] (a method of practical hands-on education) as propagated by Gandhiji.<ref>[http://multiworldindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/my-magical-school-dr.abhay-bang.pdf My Magical School – Abhay Bang] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908111959/http://multiworldindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/my-magical-school-dr.abhay-bang.pdf |date=8 September 2013 }} (Accessed on 24 May 2012)</ref>
+Abhay spent his childhood at Gandhi's [[ashram]] in [[Sevagram]], attending a school that adhered to [[Nai Talim]], an education system that encourages students to partake in manual labour to gain experiential knowledge.<ref name=":1"/>
-When Abhay was 13-years-old, he and his elder brother Ashok, who was 16 years old, would have discussions on what they should do with their lives. Ashok Bang decided to work for issues related to farming and Abhay decided to work for the health of villagers.<ref name=RPI/><ref name=MWM>[http://nirman.mkcl.org/Downloads/Articles/Mahatmyashi_bhet.pdf Meeting with Mahatma – Abhay Bang] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524233647/http://nirman.mkcl.org/Downloads/Articles/Mahatmyashi_bhet.pdf |date=24 May 2010 }} (Accessed on 8 November 2012)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://amoalsale.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/dr-abhay-bang-man-with-indomitable-spirit/|title=Dr. Abhay Bang – Man with Indomitable Spirit|date=10 March 2011|website=amoalsale.wordpress.com|access-date=17 June 2014|last1=Sale|first1=Amoal}}</ref>
+=== Rani Bang ===
+Rani Bang (née Chari) was born in [[Chandrapur]] in 1951. Her father was a teacher and her mother was a homemaker.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kawalkar |first1=Umesh |last2=Mankar |first2=Amar |last3=Gophane |first3=Ravindra |last4=Patil |first4=Manoj S |date=2024-08-31 |title=People's Health in People's Hands: Dr. Abhay Bang and Dr. Rani Bang's Pioneering Approach to Rural Healthcare in India |journal=Cureus |volume=16 |issue=8 |article-number=e68345 |language=en |doi=10.7759/cureus.68345 |doi-access=free |issn=2168-8184 |pmc=11442638 |pmid=39355064}}</ref>
-Rani Bang (formerly Rani Chari) was born in Chandrapur. She belonged to a family with strong commitment both to medical service and, in her grandparents' generation, to public service.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ashoka.org/fellow/rani-bang | title=Rani Bang}}</ref> Abhay and Rani completed their graduation and post graduation in medical studies from [[Nagpur University]]. When Abhay was studying for final year exam of MBBS at Nagpur, he read an incident about Gandhi where Gandhi was very careful regarding use of natural resources. After reading the incident Abhay decided to use resources carefully. He switched off the fan in his room. He thought that he should be able to live without fan. He did not use the fan for next five years during his education even in the heat of Nagpur.<ref name=MWM/>
+[[File:Dr. Abhay and Rani Bang 4.jpg|right|thumb|Abhay and Rani Bang with their youngest son Amrut]]
-Abhay and Rani married in 1977. Both of them have secured MPH ([[Masters in Public Health]]) from [[Johns Hopkins University]]. Anand Bang is their elder son and Amrut Bang is their younger son.
-[[File:Dr. Abhay and Rani Bang 4.jpg|right|thumb|Abhay and Rani Bang, along with their younger son Amrut]]
 == Education ==
-Abhay and Rani Bang completed their [[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery|MBBS]] from Government Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra in 1972. Abhay Bang was first in the university in MBBS and had three gold medals. Abhay Bang did his MD (with a first position in the university) while Rani Bang did her MD in obstetrics and gynaecology (with a first position in the university and gold medal). They helped organise and lead a national group of medical professionals concerned with health-care quality and delivery.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://singapore.ashoka.org/fellow/abhay-bang | title=Ashoka &#124; Everyone a changemaker}}</ref> After their medical studies, the couple moved to Wardha and co-founded Chetna Vikas – a non-profit organization. While working in villages of Wardha district, Abhay Bang published a study challenging the minimum wages fixed for agriculture labour in Maharashtra, forcing the government to raise the minimum wages.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://healthmarketinnovations.org/blog/search-experience | title=The SEARCH experience &#124; the Center for Health Market Innovations}}</ref> This strengthened their belief in the power of research as a way of solving social problems. They realized the need for further studies in public health to address larger health-care issues. Both of them completed Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, America, in 1984. The couple had decided to follow Gandhian principles and to work with the poor and thus immediately returned to India after finishing their masters.<ref name="TL">Alex Perry (31 October 2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20051101144906/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1124299,00.html "The Listeners"]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''. (Accessed on 11 November 2012)</ref>
+Abhay and Rani met while studying for their [[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery]] (M.B.B.S.) degrees at the [[Nagpur University]], Maharashtra.<ref name=":3" /> After graduating in 1972, they received their [[Doctor of Medicine]] (M.D.) degree in 1977 and 1976 respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bang |first=Dr. (smt) Rani Abhay |title=Recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Uplift and Welfare of Women and Children-2006 |url=https://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/media/pdf/JBA_2006_Bio_Dr_Rani_Bang.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2026 |website=Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation}}</ref> The couple got married in 1977.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-06 |title=Be The Pathfinder: Dr. Abhay Bang on Grassroots Healthcare |url=https://www.healthcareexecutive.in/blog/be-the-pathfinder |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=Healthcare Executive |language=en-US}}</ref>
+The Bangs also each hold a [[Master in Public Health]], completed in 1984, from [[Johns Hopkins University]] in Baltimore, United States.<ref name="TL">{{Cite magazine |last=Perry |first=Alex |date=31 October 2005 |title=The Listeners |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1124299,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051101144906/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1124299,00.html |archive-date=1 November 2005 |access-date=11 November 2013 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-04-15 |title=From Gandhi to Gadchiroli—via Johns Hopkins {{!}} Johns Hopkins {{!}} Bloomberg School of Public Health |url=https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2013/abhay-rani-bang-international-health-award |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=publichealth.jhu.edu |language=en}}</ref>
 == Work ==
-After returning to India they started working in Gadchiroli. They founded SEARCH in December 1985 and started working on community health problems in the tribal and rural areas of Gadchiroli. SEARCH established a partnership with communities in Gadchiroli for health and development and helped create "tribal-friendly" clinics and a hospital in the district.
+From 1977 to 1983, Abhay and Rani Bang worked at Chetana Vikas, a Wardha-based rural development nonprofit, founded by Ashok (Abhay's brother) and Suman Bang.<ref>Bang, A. (n.d.). ''BIO DATA OF DR. ABHAY BANG''. <nowiki>https://nirman.mkcl.org/doc/Bio_DrAbhay_and_DrRani_Bang-updated.pdf</nowiki></ref> They encouraged landless agricultural labourers to organize and demand a fair [[minimum wage]] from the Employment Guarantee Scheme, but failed to negotiate a "substantial increase" in the wages. Upon further investigation, Abhay found that a committee appointed by the Maharashtra government had fixed the daily minimum wage of ₹4 based on the assumption that an average adult needs only 1800 calories in a day. Contrarily, the [[Indian Council of Medical Research]] recommends between 3,900 and 3,000 for hard labourers. In 1981, Abhay published a critique of the recommendations proposed by a committee, sharing his own calculations of the minimum wage, based on the revised calorie requirements, amounted to ₹12. A year later, the state government raised the minimum wage to ₹12.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bang |first=Dr Abhay |date=2018-05-10 |title=Research, for whom? |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/05/10/medical-research-health-grassroots-communities |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=Newslaundry |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bang |first=Abhay |date=1981 |title=Minimum Wages for Agricultural Labour: A Critique of Page Committee Recommendations |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=16 |issue=35 |pages=1419–1422 |jstor=4370168 |issn=0012-9976}}</ref>
-===Reduction in infant mortality rate===
+In 1985, the Bangs moved to [[Gadchiroli]] district of Maharashtra. In a former warehouse, they started treating patients and set up the nonprofit Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH).<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Gopinath |first=P. Krishna |date=2024-02-28 |title=Headling hearts and minds in Gadchiroli: The inspiring healthcare mission of the Bangs and SEARCH |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/public-health/headling-hearts-and-minds-in-gadchiroli-the-inspiring-healthcare-mission-of-the-bangs-and-search/article67890944.ece |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=Frontline |language=en}}</ref> Through SEARCH, they gradually built trust with the local tribals to understand and address their healthcare needs.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gopinath |first=P. Krishna |date=2024-02-28 |title=Headling hearts and minds in Gadchiroli: The inspiring healthcare mission of the Bangs and SEARCH |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/public-health/headling-hearts-and-minds-in-gadchiroli-the-inspiring-healthcare-mission-of-the-bangs-and-search/article67890944.ece |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=Frontline |language=en}}</ref>
-When the couple started holding people<ref>dictionary</ref> health assemblies they found that addressing infant mortality was a pressing need. The death of a one-month-old child within minutes of being brought to them greatly impacted the couple. They found that there were 18 causes that may have been responsible for that infant's death, ranging from poverty, diarrhoea, infection or pneumonia to lack of a hospital. The challenge was how to save an infant who can die of 18 causes.<ref name="WEF">[http://www.weforum.org/sessions/summary/insight-idea-abhay-bang]{{dead link|date=October 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The Bangs and their colleagues at SEARCH conducted world-class research on practical approaches to reduce mortality of young children in resource-constrained settings. Bang's solution was to train the village women in neonatal care.<ref name="RPI" /> He wrote a draft of the action research to be conducted and sought comments from his mentor, [[Carl E. Taylor]], the founder of the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins University. In a handwritten note on the draft, Taylor wrote "Abhay, this will be the most important work that you will ever do in your life".<ref>''Johns Hopkins Magazine'' [http://hub.jhu.edu/magazine/2015/fall/abhay-rani-bang SEARCH Mission](Accessed on 3 April 2016)</ref> Subsequent work by Abhay Bang and his colleagues in two of the most notable of their studies demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of community-based management of childhood pneumonia and the provision of home-based neonatal care by community health workers.
+=== Infant and child mortality ===
+The Bangs started holding regular People's Health Assemblies, allowing local inhabitants to voice their concerns, during which infant mortality emerged as one of the most pressing challenges.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Shetty |first=Priya |date= 2011|title=Rani and Abhay Bang—pioneers of health care in rural India |url=https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)60034-2/fulltext |journal=The Lancet |language=English |volume=377 |issue=9761 |page=199 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60034-2 |pmid=21237388 |issn=0140-6736 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250430200247/https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)60034-2/fulltext |archive-date=2025-04-30|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Their studies identified [[pneumonia]], [[hypothermia]], [[sepsis]], [[perinatal asphyxia]], and delayed breast feeding as the leading causes of death in infants.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Kirby |first=Tony |date=2021-02-01 |title=Rani Bang—leader in women's reproductive health |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921000141 |journal=The Lancet Infectious Diseases |volume=21 |issue=2 |page=178 |doi=10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00014-1 |issn=1473-3099|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In response, they decided to implement a home-based neonatal care package to be delivered by a group of rural women trained in the basics of neonatal care. The women were taught how to diagnose pneumonia, resuscitate children, and administer antibiotics, including [[Vitamin K]] injections. Instead of locals travelling long distances to access the nearest hospital, the women (called ''arogyadoots'' or "health messengers") will carry a small health package and visit families in need of medical attention.<ref name=":2" />
+In 1988, the Bangs first presented their findings from this community-health initiative in ''[[The Lancet]]'' and faced scepticism regarding ''arogyadoots'' with "low level of education" administering neonatal care.<ref name=":2" /> However, since the inception of their childhood pneumonia management initiative in 1988 and the home-based neonatal programme in 1995, the infant mortality rate in Gadchiroli dropped from 121 per 100,000 live births in 1988 to 80 per 100,000 live births in 1990 and 30 per 100,000 live births by 2003.<ref name=":3" />
+The Bangs' neonatal care methods have been adopted by the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO), [[UNICEF]], and the Indian Government, and implemented across [[Developing country|low- and middle income countries]] (LMICs), including [[Pakistan]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Nepal]], and [[Tanzania]]. In 2017, while hearing a series of [[Public interest litigation in India|public interest litigations]] (PILs) regarding the increase in "[[malnutrition]]-related deaths and illness" in the [[Melghat]] region of [[Vidarbha]] and surrounding tribal areas, the [[Bombay High Court]] accepted the Bangs' suggestions and recommendations on preventing malnutrition-driven infant and child mortality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-15 |title=What's the point of progress if kids are malnourished, Bombay High Court asks Maha govt |url=https://sabrangindia.in/article/whats-point-progress-if-kids-are-malnourished-bombay-high-court-asks-maha-govt/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=SabrangIndia |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2017-05-03 |title=HC accepts report on malnutrition |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/hc-accepts-report-on-malnutrition/article18379834.ece |access-date=2026-01-13 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The court directed the committee responsible for addressing malnutrition to incorporate the [[policy]] making solutions presented in their report, one of which focused on home-based neonatal and child care.<ref name=":4" />
-Home Based Neonatal Care (HBNC) model developed by Bang has resulted in reduction in infant mortality in the study villages of Gadchiroli. The home-based neonatal care interventions developed at SEARCH ignited worldwide interest and research on preventing neonatal deaths in high-mortality, resource-constrained settings. Prior to that, such deaths were considered nearly impossible to avert. As a result of their work, home-based neonatal care and community-based management of childhood pneumonia are now being implemented throughout the world in these settings.<ref name="jhsph.edu" /> Although initially the medical fraternity objected to Bang's unconventional methods, they gradually understood his wisdom to provide an alternative to a large village community. Later, Indian paediatricians, after studying the evidence from the field, wholeheartedly backed Bang's initiative to save newborns. Today, based on Bang's Gadchiroli model, 800,000 village women in India are now being trained by the government under the ASHA programme.<ref name="WEF" /> A report from the Harvard University South Asia Institute states that "SEARCH is world renowned for its pioneering work in home-based neonatal care", "the landmark paper, published in ''[[Lancet (journal)|The Lancet]]'', changed the medical community's perception of community health workers and the power of home based care for neonates forever" and "the success of the HBNC program spawned the creation of over 800,000 "ASHA" workers through India's National Rural Health Mission."<ref name="cdn2.sph.harvard.edu">[https://cdn2.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/03/Task-Shifting-in-Indian-Healthcare-Jan-2017.pdf Task Shifting in Healthcare, Report by Harvard University] (Accessed on 7 July 2017)</ref>
-India has incorporated this model in 12th national five-year plan to reduce infant mortality. This field trial showed that newborn care can be brought out of the confines of big hospitals and high tech units and be so simplified that it can be provided in any village in any home. After this research the global newborn care has never been the same. This approach, which brought down the infant mortality rate in rural Gadchiroli from 121 per 1000 live births to 30, was honoured by T''he'' ''Lancet'' in 2005 as one of the Vintage Papers. The editor and the historian of the journal considered Bang's paper on newborn care to be one of the milestone ones published in 180 years.<ref name="Honor" /> This approach has been incorporated in the national program by the Government of India and has been accepted by the WHO, UNICEF and USAID for reducing newborn mortality in developing countries.<ref name="CGH">[http://compassioninglobalhealth.org/about/cigh-carter-center-meeting/abhay-bang/ Brief information about Bang on www.compassioninglobalhealth.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326233316/http://compassioninglobalhealth.org/about/cigh-carter-center-meeting/abhay-bang/|date=26 March 2016}} (Accessed on 1 December 2012)</ref><ref name="cdn2.sph.harvard.edu" />
 [[File:Dr. Abhay Bang with breath counter.JPG|right|upright|thumb|Abhay Bang with the Breath Counter he designed]]
-In May 2017, the High Court of Bombay invited Abhay Bang to provide suggestions about how to reduce child mortality and malnutrition in the state of Maharashtra. The High Court accepted the suggestions made by Abhay Bang and directed the state government to incorporate the recommendations in its policy decisions and take appropriate actions.<ref>''The Hindu'' 4 May 2017 [http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/hc-accepts-report-on-malnutrition/article18379834.ece HC accepts report on malnutrition] (Accessed on 6 May 2017)</ref>
+=== Liquor ban in Gadchiroli district ===
+Abhay and Rani Bang were the driving force for the liquor ban in [[Gadchiroli district]]. Gadchiroli is the first district in Maharashtra where liquor has been banned due to public demand. The Bangs initiated a liquor ban campaign in 1990 by informing residents about the negative health [[Health effects of alcohol|effects of alcohol consumption]]. The movement resulted in liquor ban in the district in 1992, being the first example in India of liquor ban due to public demand.{{Clarify|reason=repetitive|date=June 2022}}
-=== Liquor ban in Gadchiroli district ===
+In May 2012, Abhay Bang was a member of a panel to study a possible liquor ban in [[Chandrapur district]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 February 2012 |title=Liquor panel may suggest ban in Chanda |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Liquor-panel-may-suggest-ban-in-Chanda/articleshow/11854464.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716055406/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-12/nagpur/31051719_1_ja-sheikh-manohar-sapre-liquor-ban |archive-date=16 July 2012 |url-status=live |website=[[Times of India]]}}</ref> He advocates the need for an [[Alcoholism|alcohol]]-free and [[tobacco]]-free society since, per the 2015 [[Global Burden of Disease Study|Global Burden of Diseases]], alcohol and tobacco are two of the top ten causes of death and disease in India. Abhay Bang is developing a multi-pronged approach named ''Muktipath'' in the district of Gadchiroli to reduce the prevalence of [[Alcohol (drug)|alcohol]] and tobacco consumption there.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bang |first=Abhay |title=मृत्युपथ विरुद्ध 'मुक्तिपथ' |url=http://beta1.esakal.com/sampadakiya/dr-abhay-bang-artilce-36780 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325111125/http://beta1.esakal.com/sampadakiya/dr-abhay-bang-artilce-36780 |archive-date=25 March 2017 |access-date=8 April 2017 |website=beta1.esakal.com}}</ref> He also welcomed the [[Supreme Court of India]]'s ban on the location of liquor shops on state and national highways.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bang |first=Abhay |date=2017-03-20 |title=None For The Road |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/none-for-the-road-highway-liquor-ban-drunk-driving-4576589/ |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
-Abhay and Rani Bang were driving force for the movement of liquor ban in Gadchiroli district. Gadchiroli is the first district in Maharashtra where liquor is banned due to demand by the public. Bang made people of Gadchiroli aware about ill effects of alcohol, which led to demand from people to ban alcohol in Gadchiroli. Maharashtra government has come up with ban on alcohol in Gadchiroli. In 1990, the couple raised a movement for liquor ban in Gadchiroli district. The movement resulted in liquor ban in the district in year 1992, being the first example in India of liquor ban due to public demand. In May 2012, Abhay Bang was member of panel to study ban of Liquor in [[chandrapur]] district.<ref>''Times of India'' 12 February 2012 – Nagpur [https://archive.today/20120716055406/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-12/nagpur/31051719_1_ja-sheikh-manohar-sapre-liquor-ban Liquor panel may suggest ban in Chanda] (Accessed on 1 December 2012)</ref> He advocates the need for an alcohol and tobacco free society since as per the Global Burden of Diseases 2015, alcohol and tobacco are two of the top ten causes of death and disease in India. Abhay Bang is developing a multi-pronged approach named "Muktipath" in the district of Gadchiroli to reduce the prevalence of alcohol and tobacco consumption there.<ref>Sakal Guest Editorial on 25 March 2017 [http://beta1.esakal.com/sampadakiya/dr-abhay-bang-artilce-36780 मृत्युपथ विरुद्ध 'मुक्तिपथ'] (Accessed on 8 April 2017)</ref> He also welcomed Supreme Court of India's ban on liquor shops on state and national highways.<ref>The Indian Express 20 March 2017 [http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/none-for-the-road-highway-liquor-ban-drunk-driving-4576589/ None For The Road] (Accessed on 8 April 2017)</ref>
 [[File:Dr. Abhay and Rani Bang 5.JPG|right|thumb|Abhay and Rani Bang]]
-=== Women's issues ===
+=== Reproductive health and maternal care ===
-Rani Bang has worked extensively on women's medical issues. The community based study of gynaecological problems in rural area that she conducted in 1988 is the first study in the world focusing on women's health beyond maternity care. Rani Bang first brought to the notice of the world that rural women had a large hidden burden of gynecological diseases. She subsequently trained the Dais{{clarify|reason=What are 'Dais'?|date=November 2016}} in villages to make them village level health workers. With convincing evidence she advocated the need for a comprehensive reproductive health care package for rural women in India.<ref name="dst.gov.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.dst.gov.in/whats_new/press-release08/national-award-rani-bang.htm|title=Archived copy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910135157/http://www.dst.gov.in/whats_new/press-release08/national-award-rani-bang.htm|archive-date=10 September 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=14 October 2015}} (Accessed on 16 October 2015)</ref> This study initiated the programme of women's reproductive health all over the world specifically in developing countries.
+In 1988, Rani Bang conducted a study in two Gadchiroli villages, Wasa and Amirza, to highlight the "large hidden burden of gynaecological diseases" in rural women.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" /> She found that despite 92% of them experiencing menstrual issues, infections, and infertility, only one in ten women had ever sought medical attention.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Perry/Shodhagram |first=Alex |title=The Listeners |url=https://time.com/archive/6675216/the-listeners/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240624003952/https://time.com/archive/6675216/the-listeners/ |archive-date=2024-06-24 |access-date=2026-01-13 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> In addition, her study uncovered that a prevailing misconception amongst the local pregnant women was that "a well-nourished foetus is lazy and harder to deliver." As a result, they were less likely to take supplements to support foetus growth, but more open to the idea of supporting their own health.<ref name=":3" /> Subsequently, she advocated for a comprehensive reproductive healthcare programme for rural women, training ''aryadoots'' and ''dais'' (traditional [[Doula|''doula'']]''s)'' to become village-level community health workers.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name="dst.gov.in">{{cite web |date=8 March 2008 |title=National Award for Women's Development through application of Science & Technology Conferred on Dr. Rani Bang |url=http://www.dst.gov.in/whats_new/press-release08/national-award-rani-bang.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910135157/http://www.dst.gov.in/whats_new/press-release08/national-award-rani-bang.htm |archive-date=10 September 2015 |access-date=14 October 2015 |website=www.dst.gov.in}}</ref>
-She has written a book – ''Putting Woman First'', which throws light on women's issues in rural India. Their research showed that nearly 92 percent of women had some kind of gynaecological issues.<ref name="TL" /> Her research in this field has changed the understanding of this issue worldwide and global policy has changed accordingly.
-Rani Bang was one of the principal speakers in Tietze symposium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1990. She served as a consultant to INCLEN (International Clinical Epidemiology Network) for Reproductive health, IWHAM (International Women's Health Advocates on Microbicides), 10th Five Year Plan Maharashtra Health and Nutrition Committee Member. She was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 as a member of 1000 women worldwide for peace prize.<ref name="SNDT" />
+Rani also discovered that "regressive interpretations of traditions" were commonplace in the tribal communities of Gadchiroli, leading to the mainstreaming of "antiquated concepts" such as ''kurma ghar'' characterized by small huts used to isolate women for the duration of their [[menstrual cycle]].<ref name=":5" /> The huts accommodated three to four women at once and were sometimes in worse conditions than cattle sheds. Within the hut, the stock of period cloths often attracted lizards and mice. Until the end of their menstrual cycle, the women were considered untouchable, expected to cook for themselves, and often repurposed Mahua (''[[Madhuca longifolia]]'') leaves when they ran out of period cloths or pads. While some women embraced ''kurma'' without retaliation because it was their only chance to rest and spend time with friends, others feared "divine retribution" for defying the tradition. Given how "well-entrenched" the practice of ''kurma'' was, the Bangs, instead of attempting to trying to uproot it, decided to "revamp" it instead. They received support from Mukul Madhav Foundation to build upscale versions of ''kurma ghars'' equipped with modern facilities.<ref name=":5" />
-Rani Bang has worked on women's reproductive health issues, sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS control, adolescent sexual health, tribal health, alcohol and alcoholism. She conducts sessions on sex education called 'Tarunyabhaan' for adolescents and teenagers across Maharashtra.<ref name="sakaaltimes.com">''Sakaal Times'', 'Tarunyabhaan', a workshop on sex education [http://www.sakaaltimes.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=4835353079283494239] (Accessed on 16 October 2015)</ref>
-Rani Bang has been awarded with National Award for Women's Development through Application of Science & Technology in recognition of her outstanding and pioneering contribution for the past two and a half decades on improving women's health in rural India through an innovative and powerful approach of research with the people and for the people. The award was conferred upon her by the President of India at the National Conference on Showcasing Cutting Edge Science & Technology by Women in New Delhi.<ref name="dst.gov.in" />
+Rani's book, ''Putting Women First: Women and Health in a Rural Community'' (2010) documents her experience of addressing reproductive health and childcare issues in rural India.<ref name="TL" />
 === Tribal health ===
-Abhay and Rani Bang have been working with the tribal communities in the forest area of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra since 1986. They found malaria to pose the biggest health concern for this population. They sought to make the local adivasis aware about the importance of using insecticide-treated mosquito nets, in addition to regular medical treatment. They also run a mobile medical unit in the forty eight tribal villages in the Dhanora block of Gadchiroli district and have a network of village volunteers trained in providing primary care in these villages. In July 2017, the Government of Maharashtra formed a task force to control the spread of malaria in the district of Gadchiroli. Abhay Bang has been appointed as the head of this task force which comprises the nonprofit SEARCH, Tata Trusts, National Institute of Research and Tribal Health (NIRTH) and the Government of Maharashtra.<ref>''Times of India'' [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/govt-forms-task-force-to-tackle-malaria-in-gchiroli/articleshow/59639314.cms Govt forms task force to tackle malaria in G'chiroli] (Accessed on 25 July 2017)</ref>
+Abhay and Rani Bang have worked with the tribal communities in the forest area of [[Gadchiroli]] district in [[Maharashtra]] since 1986. They identified [[malaria]] as the biggest health concern for this population. They sought to increase awareness around using [[insecticide-treated mosquito net]]s as a preventative measure alongside regular medical treatment among the local [[Adivasi]].
-Abhay Bang is chairing a 13-member expert committee set up by Union Health Ministry and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, tasked with coming out with a nationwide status report on tribal health issues along with suggesting possible policy formulations. While the "old" problems of malaria, malnutrition and mortality persist, Abhay Bang emphasises "new" health issues among tribals partly due to outside socio-cultural influences and steady inroads by market forces. Tribal women now list alcohol addiction among men as their biggest concern. The same goes with tobacco, with over 60 per cent of adults in Gadchiroli consuming it daily. These, alongside addition of salt in their foods and stress, are contributing to increased incidence of hypertension, according to Bang. The problems of language barrier and lack of motivation among healthcare staff, besides vacancies and absenteeism when it comes to working in tribal areas, has rendered the formal public healthcare system virtually dysfunctional.<ref>The Indian Express [http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/adivasis-health-when-new-lifestyle-diseases-compound-old-problems/ A pioneering doctor-activist speaks to The Indian Express about the unique health issues confronting India's tribal communities] (Accessed on 18 January 2016)</ref>
+They also run a mobile medical unit in the 48 tribal villages in the [[Dhanora]] block of [[Gadchiroli]] district and a network of village volunteers trained in providing primary care in these villages. In July 2017, the [[Government of Maharashtra]] formed a task force to control the spread of malaria in the district of Gadchiroli. Abhay Bang was appointed as the head of this task force which comprises the non-profit SEARCH, [[Sir Ratan Tata Trust|Tata Trusts]], National Institute of Research and Tribal Health (NIRTH) and the Government of Maharashtra.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 July 2017 |title=Govt forms task force to tackle malaria in G'chiroli |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/govt-forms-task-force-to-tackle-malaria-in-gchiroli/articleshow/59639314.cms |access-date=25 July 2017 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
+Abhay Bang is currently chairing a 13-member expert committee set up by [[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare|Union Health Ministry]] and the [[Ministry of Tribal Affairs]], tasked with coming out with a nationwide status report on tribal health issues, along with suggesting possible policy formulations. While the "old" problems of malaria, malnutrition, and mortality persist, Abhay Bang emphasizes "new" health issues among the Adivasi, partly caused by outside socio-cultural influences and market forces. Tribal women now list alcohol addiction and tobacco addiction among men as their biggest concern, with over 60 percent of adults in Gadchiroli consuming the latter daily. Combined with an increase in sodium consumption, [[hypertension]] rates have been increasing in these communities, according to Bang.
 === NIRMAN ===
-In 2006, they started an initiative, NIRMAN, for identifying and nurturing young social change-makers in Maharashtra. It is an educational process to train the youth to take up crucial issues and problems in the society. NIRMAN provides guidance, expertise and environment to inculcate self learning and encourages youth for social action. NIRMAN includes a series of 3 camps, each separated by 6 months. So a batch of NIRMAN goes through 3 camps in a period of 1 year. A camp generally runs for 7–10 days at SEARCH, Gadchiroli. NIRMAN is a learning process based on Nai Talim way of education introduced by Mahatma Gandhi. It believes in – problem based learning instead of – classroom based learning.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nirman.mkcl.org/aboutnirman.htm|title=Archived copy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907113722/http://nirman.mkcl.org/aboutnirman.htm|archive-date=7 September 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=17 October 2015}} (Accessed on 16 October 2015)</ref> NIRMAN initiative is providing a common platform for youth to engage, self-educate and decide on how they can make a difference to the society.
+Started in 2006, NIRMAN brings together a group of youth aged between 18 and 28 years who are looking to give meaning to their lives. Abhay and Rani Bang's younger son, Amrut currently manages it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 July 2012 |title=Where youth's discussions veer to country-building |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/where-youths-discussions-veer-to-country-building/articleshow/15084938.cms |access-date=16 October 2015 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
+NIRMAN looks at identifying and nurturing young social change-makers in Maharashtra. It is an educational process to train the youth to take up crucial issues and problems in the society. It provides guidance, expertise, and an environment to inculcate self-learning and encourages youth for social action. NIRMAN includes a series of 3 camps, each separated by 6 months. A group of NIRMAN participants will go through 3 camps in a period of one year. A camp generally runs for 7–10 days at SEARCH, Gadchiroli with a view encourage young Indian students to step out of their generally secure urban surroundings into the world of rural and tribal Indians to help them come face to face with the nation's plethora of social issues, and with people working hard to solve them.
-Started in 2006, NIRMAN brings together a group of youth aged between 18–28 years who are looking to give meaning to their lives. Amrut, Abhay and Rani Bang's younger son actively manage NIRMAN.<ref>''The Times of India'', [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Where-youths-discussions-veer-to-country-building/articleshow/15084938.cms Where youth's discussions veer to country-building] (Accessed on 16 October 2015)</ref>
+NIRMAN is a learning process based on ''[[Nai Talim]]'' way of education introduced by Mahatma Gandhi. It believes in [[problem-based learning]] instead of classroom-based learning.<ref>{{cite web |title=About NIRMAN |url=http://www.nirman.mkcl.org/aboutnirman.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907113722/http://nirman.mkcl.org/aboutnirman.htm |archive-date=7 September 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |website=www.nirman.mkcl.org}}</ref> This initiative is providing a common platform for youth to engage, self-educate and decide on how they can make a difference to the society.
-Abhay thinks that it is important to make present generation of doctors think about social challenges. "All doctors can earn enough to make a decent living and they must think about the purpose of their lives. Change would happen the moment they start contemplating." He believes that medical students should regularly be given rural or tribal stints as part of their curriculum so that they are exposed to the real challenges. He thinks that it is equally important to reward doctors who shun the charm of corporate world to serve the real people in need.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Doc-couple-with-heart-for-neglected/articleshow/49121334.cms Doc couple with heart for neglected] ''Times of India'', 27 September 2015 (Accessed on 31 October 2015)</ref>
+Abhay thinks that it is important to make the present generation of doctors think about social challenges. "All doctors can earn enough to make a decent living and they must think about the purpose of their lives. Change will happen the moment they start contemplating." He believes that medical students should regularly be given rural or tribal stints as part of their curriculum so that they are exposed to the real challenges. He thinks that it is equally important to reward doctors who shun the charm of corporate world to serve the real people in need.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 September 2015 |title=Doc couple with heart for neglected |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/doc-couple-with-heart-for-neglected/articleshow/49121334.cms |access-date=31 October 2015 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
 === Non-communicable diseases ===
-Abhay and Rani Bang and their team at SEARCH has started working on the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as that is emerging as a priority area. A study conducted by SEARCH in 86 villages of Gadchiroli district has shown that rural people are now falling prey to lifestyle diseases like stroke which emerged as the most frequent cause of death. One in seven (14%) deaths in these villages occurs due to stroke, showing that the places like Gadchiroli are now passing through an 'epidemiological transition'. 87.3% stroke deaths occurred at home, indicating that rural people don't approach hospitals for treatment. Taking the study ahead, the SEARCH team now plans to test village based solutions to minimize deaths caused due to stroke in Gadchiroli villages in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust of UK and the department of biotechnology of the government of India.
+Abhay and Rani Bang and their team at SEARCH work on [[non-communicable disease]]s, as those are emerging as a priority area. A study conducted by SEARCH in 86 villages of Gadchiroli district has shown that rural people are affected by lifestyle diseases like [[stroke]] which emerged as the most frequent cause of death.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-07-16 |title=Strokes are major cause of death in Gadchiroli tribals |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/strokes-are-major-cause-of-death-in-gadchiroli-tribals/articleshow/48090816.cms |access-date=2026-01-15 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> One-in-seven (14%) deaths in these villages occurs due to stroke, showing that places like Gadchiroli are now passing through an 'epidemiological transition'. 87.3% stroke deaths occurred at home, indicating that rural people do not approach hospitals for treatment. Taking the study ahead, the SEARCH team now plans to test village-based solutions to minimize deaths caused due to stroke in Gadchiroli villages in collaboration with the UK's [[Wellcome Trust]] and the [[Department of Biotechnology]] of the Government of India. Yogeshwar Kalkonde – Neurologist and Senior Research Officer at SEARCH – is the main author of the study. The team also included three young MBBS doctors from NIRMAN. The study was published in July 2015 in ''Stroke'', an international journal published by the American Stroke and Heart Association,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shrivastav |first=Snehlata |date=16 July 2015 |title=Strokes are major cause of death in Gadchiroli tribals |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/strokes-are-major-cause-of-death-in-gadchiroli-tribals/articleshow/48090816.cms |access-date=31 October 2015 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> and was presented at the 5th International Conference on Neurology and Epidemiology, held between 18 and 20 November 2015 in [[Australia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icne2015.com/en/icne2015-programme-committees/programme|title=Programme - Programmer & Committees - ICNE 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208110905/http://www.icne2015.com/en/icne2015-programme-committees/programme|archive-date=8 December 2015|access-date=1 December 2015}}</ref>
-Yogeshwar Kalkonde, Neurologist and Senior Research Officer at SEARCH is the main author of the study. The team also included three young MBBS doctors from [[Nirman]]. The study has been published in 'Stroke', an international journal published by American Stroke and Heart Association.<ref>''Times of India'' 16 July 2015, Nagpur [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Nagpur/Strokes-are-major-cause-of-death-in-Gadchiroli-tribals/articleshow/48090816.cms Stroke is a major cause of death] (Accessed on 31 October)</ref> The work has been presented at the 5th International Conference on Neurology and Epidemiology (18–20 November 2015) in Australia.<ref>5th International Conference on Neurology and Epidemiology, Australia {{cite web|url=http://www.icne2015.com/en/icne2015-programme-committees/programme|title=Archived copy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208110905/http://www.icne2015.com/en/icne2015-programme-committees/programme|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=1 December 2015}} (Accessed on 30 November)</ref>
-In a study published in ''Economic and Political Weekly'', Bang and SEARCH team members showed that the rural and tribal district of Gadchiroli was spending approximately {{INR|73.4}} [[Crore]]. annually on consuming tobacco and related products.<ref>Economic & Political Weekly 2 February 2013 [http://www.epw.in/journal/2013/05/commentary/tobacco-vs-development.html Tobacco vs Development Private Spending on Tobacco in Gadchiroli District] (Accessed on 25 January 2016)</ref> More than 50% of the population was consuming tobacco. SEARCH has been conducting programs to spread awareness regarding the ill effects of tobacco use and providing de-addiction services. The Maharashtra state government has formed a 12-member task force under chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for creating awareness about ill effects of using tobacco products and Abhay Bang is an advisor in the force. It will concentrate on Gadchiroli district for the first three years. A committee has also been constituted under the Gadchiroli District Collector for implementing the plans devised by the task force. A representative of Bang's organization SEARCH will be a member of the committee. According to Bang, spread of information and awareness for prevention, initiation of village committees and urban ward committees, implementation of laws and regulations, treatment for deaddiction, counselling via NGOs and stimulation of an alcohol and tobacco free environment in government offices, schools, colleges, markets etc. will be the methods used by the task force.<ref>''Times of India'', Nagpur 15 January 2016 [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Task-force-set-up-to-fight-tobacco-abuse/articleshow/50583559.cms Task force set up to fight tobacco abuse] (Accessed on 25 January 2016)</ref>
+In a study published in ''Economic and Political Weekly'', Bang and SEARCH team members showed that the rural and tribal district of [[Gadchiroli district|Gadchiroli]] was spending approximately {{INR|73.4}} [[crore]] annually on consuming tobacco and related products.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bang |first1=Abhay |last2=Shah |first2=Dharav |last3=Deshmukh |first3=Mahesh |last4=Sawalkar |first4=Santosh |last5=Kalkonde |first5=Yogeshwar |date=2013 |title=Tobacco vs Development: Private Spending on Tobacco in Gadchiroli District |url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2013/05/commentary/tobacco-vs-development.html |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |language=en |volume=48 |issue=5 |pages=7–8 |access-date=25 January 2016}}</ref> More than 50% of the population was consuming tobacco. SEARCH has been conducting programs to spread awareness regarding the ill effects of [[tobacco]] use and providing [[Drug rehabilitation|de-addiction services]]. The Maharashtra state government has formed a 12-member task force under chief minister [[Devendra Fadnavis]] for creating awareness about ill effects of using tobacco products and Abhay Bang is an advisor in the force. It will concentrate on Gadchiroli district for the first three years (2015–2018). A committee has also been constituted under the Gadchiroli [[District magistrate|District Collector]] for implementing the plans devised by the task force. A representative of Bang's organization SEARCH will be a member of the committee. According to Bang, spread of information and awareness for prevention, initiation of village committees and urban ward committees, implementation of laws and regulations, treatment for de-addiction, counselling via NGOs and stimulation of an alcohol and tobacco free environment in government offices, schools, colleges, markets etc., will be the methods used by the task force.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 January 2016 |title=Task force set up to fight tobacco abuse |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/task-force-set-up-to-fight-tobacco-abuse/articleshow/50583559.cms |access-date=25 January 2016 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
-=== Surgical care===
+=== Surgical care ===
-The couple, through their organisation SEARCH, built the Maa Danteshwari Hospital for the rural and tribal people of Gadchiroli. Along with OPD and IPD care, a variety of surgeries are also conducted in this setup. Doctors from throughout the state of Maharashtra come and operate in this setup. Spine surgeon from Mumbai, Shekhar Bhojraj and his team of 6 - 8 other spine surgeons have been associated with SEARCH for 10 years and have conducted more than 100 spine surgeries in Gadchiroli. In August 2016, when Rani Bang was to undergo spinal surgery herself, she too was operated in the SEARCH hospital by Shekhar Bhojraj and his wife Shilpa who is an anaesthetist in Mumbai.<ref>''Times of India'' 30 August 2016, Nagpur [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Dr-Rani-Bang-undergoes-spine-surgery-at-Gadchirolis-SEARCH-hospital/articleshow/53918334.cms Dr Rani Bang undergoes spine surgery at Gadchiroli's SEARCH hospital] (Accessed on 30 August 2016)</ref>
+Abhay Bang and Rani Bang, through their organization SEARCH, built the Maa Danteshwari Hospital for the rural and tribal people of Gadchiroli. Along with [[Outpatient department|OPD]] and [[Inpatient care|IPD care]], a variety of surgeries are also conducted in this setup. Doctors from throughout the state of Maharashtra come and operate in this setup. Shekhar Bhojraj, a [[Orthopedic surgery|spine surgeon]] from Mumbai, and his team of 6-8 other spine surgeons have been associated with SEARCH for more than 10 years and have conducted more than 100 spine surgeries in Gadchiroli.{{cn|date=November 2025}} In August 2016, when Rani Bang was to undergo [[Neurosurgery|spinal surgery]] herself, she too was operated in the SEARCH hospital by Shekhar Bhojraj and his wife Shilpa, an anaesthetist in Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 August 2016 |title=Dr Rani Bang undergoes spine surgery at Gadchiroli's SEARCH hospital |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/dr-rani-bang-undergoes-spine-surgery-at-gadchirolis-search-hospital/articleshow/53918334.cms |access-date=30 August 2016 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
 == Positions held ==
-Apart from being the founder directors of SEARCH, Abhay and Rani Bang have served on various national and state level committees. Some of them are as follows:
+Apart from being the founder-directors of SEARCH, Abhay and Rani Bang have served on various national and state level committees. Some of them are as follows:
-* Chairman, Expert Group to Plan Health Care for Tribal Populations in India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India<ref>''The Economic Times'' [http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/indian-council-of-medical-research-dg-calls-for-new-researches-on-tribal-health/articleshow/49335311.cms](Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref><ref>The Hindu - Taking health care to tribal heartland [http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/taking-health-care-to-tribal-heartland/article7927736.ece](Accessed on 9 December 2015)</ref>
+* Chairman, Expert Group to Plan Health Care for Tribal Populations in India, [[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]], Government of India<ref>{{Cite news |title=Indian Council of Medical Research DG calls for new researches on tribal health |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/indian-council-of-medical-research-dg-calls-for-new-researches-on-tribal-health/articleshow/49335311.cms |access-date=14 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Veda |first=Gunjan |date=2015-11-28 |title=Taking health care to tribal heartland |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/taking-health-care-to-tribal-heartland/article7927736.ece |access-date=9 December 2015 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
-* Expert member, Central Health Council, Apex Body of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India<ref>''The Times of India'', 28 April 2016 [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Bang-on-Central-health-council/articleshow/52017255.cms Bang on Central health council]</ref>
+* Expert member, Central Health Council, Apex Body of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 April 2016 |title=Bang on Central health council |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/bang-on-central-health-council/articleshow/52017255.cms |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=The Times of India |language=en |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615030726/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/bang-on-central-health-council/articleshow/52017255.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>
-* Member, National Rural Health Mission Steering Group, Govt. of India<ref>Press Information Bureau of Govt. of India [http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=82307](Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref>
+* Member, National Rural Health Mission Steering Group, Government of India<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mission Steering Group for NRHM holds 8th Meeting Hib Vaccines to be introduced in 6 more States Uniform Branding of MMUs as "Rashtriya Mobile Medical Unit" More Incentives to ASHAs Approved |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=82307 |access-date=14 October 2015 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
-* Member, High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Care, Planning Commission, Govt. of India<ref>Public Health Foundation of India [http://www.uhc-india.org/about_hleg_members.php](Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref>
+* Member, High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Care, [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]], Government of India<ref>{{Cite web |title=UHC India |url=http://www.uhc-india.org/about_hleg_members.php |access-date=14 October 2015 |website=www.uhc-india.org |archive-date=4 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004000449/http://www.uhc-india.org/about_hleg_members.php |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
-* Member, National Commission on Macro-economics and Health, Govt. of India<ref>World Health Organization [https://www.who.int/macrohealth/action/Report%20of%20the%20National%20Commission.pdf](Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref>
+* Member, National Commission on Macro-economics and Health, Government of India<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2005 |title=Report of the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health |url=https://www.who.int/macrohealth/action/Report%20of%20the%20National%20Commission.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324040831/https://www.who.int/macrohealth/action/Report%20of%20the%20National%20Commission.pdf |archive-date=24 March 2006 |access-date=14 October 2015 |website=www.who.int}}</ref>
-* Member, Kelkar Committee on 'Regional Imbalance and Balanced Regional Development', Govt. of Maharashtra<ref>''Times of India'' [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Kelkar-report-seeks-10-rise-in-funds-for-Vidarbha/articleshow/45622873.cms] (Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref><ref>''Times of India'' [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Kelkar-report-not-biased-against-any-region/articleshow/53991286.cms Kelkar report not biased against any region] (Accessed on 4 September 2016)</ref>
+* Member, [[Kelkar committee on PPP in India|Kelkar Committee]] on 'Regional Imbalance and Balanced Regional Development', Government of Maharashtra<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhagwat |first=Ramu |date=24 December 2014 |title=Kelkar report seeks 10% rise in funds for Vidarbha {{!}} Nagpur News  |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/kelkar-report-seeks-10-rise-in-funds-for-vidarbha/articleshow/45622873.cms |access-date=14 October 2015 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Ashish |date=3 September 2016 |title='Kelkar report not biased against any region' {{!}} Nagpur News  |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/kelkar-report-not-biased-against-any-region/articleshow/53991286.cms |access-date=4 September 2016 |website=The Times of India |language=en |archive-date=19 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019230650/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Kelkar-report-not-biased-against-any-region/articleshow/53991286.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>
-* Member, Audit Advisory Board, Comptroller and Auditor General, Govt. of India<ref>''The Economic Times'' [http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-09-10/news/41937629_1_cag-maharashtra-bhushan-audit-advisory-board](Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref>
+* Member, Audit Advisory Board, Comptroller and Auditor General, Government of India<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 September 2013 |title=Dr Abhay Bang appointed on CAG's audit advisory board |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-09-10/news/41937629_1_cag-maharashtra-bhushan-audit-advisory-board |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915173132/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-09-10/news/41937629_1_cag-maharashtra-bhushan-audit-advisory-board |archive-date=15 September 2013 |access-date=14 October 2015 |website=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref>
-* Chairman, Child Mortality Evaluation Committee, Govt. of Maharashtra<ref>''The Times of India'' [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Report-indicts-Maharashtra-govt-for-malnutrition-deaths/articleshow/963982.cms](Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref>
+* Chairman, Child Mortality Evaluation Committee, Govt. of Maharashtra<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2004 |title=Report indicts Maharashtra govt for malnutrition deaths   |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/report-indicts-maharashtra-govt-for-malnutrition-deaths/articleshow/963982.cms |access-date=14 October 2015 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
-* Member, National ASHA Mentoring Group, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India<ref>National Health Mission, Govt. of India [http://nrhm.gov.in/communitisation/asha/minutes-of-asha-mentoring-group.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103052757/http://nrhm.gov.in/communitisation/asha/minutes-of-asha-mentoring-group.html |date=3 November 2015 }}(Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref>
+* Member, National ASHA Mentoring Group, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India<ref>{{Cite web |title=National ASHA Mentoring Group |url=http://nrhm.gov.in/communitisation/asha/minutes-of-asha-mentoring-group.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103052757/http://nrhm.gov.in/communitisation/asha/minutes-of-asha-mentoring-group.html |archive-date=3 November 2015 |access-date=14 October 2015 |website=nrhm.gov.in}}</ref>
-* Member, High Level Committee on Status of Tribal Communities, Govt. of India<ref>NIC, Govt. of India [http://hlc.tribal.nic.in/content/2_1_CompositionofNewCommittee.aspx?format=Print] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820172541/http://hlc.tribal.nic.in/content/2_1_CompositionofNewCommittee.aspx?format=Print |date=20 August 2014 }}(Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref>
+* Member, High Level Committee on Status of Tribal Communities, Govt. of India<ref>{{Cite web |title=Composition of New Committee:High Level Committee on status of tribal Communities |url=http://hlc.tribal.nic.in/content/2_1_CompositionofNewCommittee.aspx?format=Print |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820172541/http://hlc.tribal.nic.in/content/2_1_CompositionofNewCommittee.aspx?format=Print |archive-date=20 August 2014 |access-date=14 October 2015 }}</ref>
-* Member, National Commission on Population, Govt. of India<ref>NIC, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India [http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=36126](Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref>
+* Member, National Commission on Population, Govt. of India<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Award for Women's Development through Application of Science & Technology conferred on Dr. Rani Bang |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=36126 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019221257/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=36126 |archive-date=19 October 2017 |access-date=14 October 2015 |website=pib.nic.in}}</ref>
-* Member, Steering Committee, Tropical Disease Research, World Health Organization, Geneva<ref name="SEARCH">[http://searchgadchiroli.org/position.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120212223/http://www.searchgadchiroli.org/position.html |date=20 November 2015 }}(Accessed on 17 October 2015)</ref>
+* Member, Steering Committee, Tropical Disease Research, World Health Organization, Geneva<ref name="SEARCH">{{Cite web |title=Abhay Bang & Rani Bang |url=http://www.searchgadchiroli.org/position.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120212223/http://www.searchgadchiroli.org/position.html |archive-date=20 November 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |website=www.searchgadchiroli.org}}</ref>
-* Member, Advisory Board, Saving Newborn Lives Initiative, Save the Children, US.<ref name="SEARCH" />
+* Member, Advisory Board, Saving New-born Lives Initiative, [[Save the Children USA|Save the Children, US]]<ref name="SEARCH" />
-* Member, Committee on 'Improving Birth Outcome in Developing Countries' constituted by the Global Board on Health, National Academy of Science, US<ref name="SEARCH" />
+* Member, Committee on 'Improving Birth Outcome in Developing Countries' constituted by the Global Board on Health, [[National Academy of Sciences]], US<ref name="SEARCH" />
-* Member, Scientist Advisory Board, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi<ref name="SEARCH" />
+* Member, Scientist Advisory Board, [[Indian Council of Medical Research]], New Delhi<ref name="SEARCH" />
 * Member, National Expert Group on Health for planning the 10th National Five Year Plan, Govt. of India<ref name="SEARCH" />
 * Member, Governing Board, National Population Stabilization Fund, India<ref name="SNDT" />
-* Member, Planning Commission's Task Force on Panchyat Raj in Health<ref name="SNDT" />
+* Member, Planning Commission's Task Force on Panchayat Raj in Health<ref name="SNDT" />
 * Member, WHO Review Committee on Anti-fertility Vaccines<ref name="SNDT" />
 * Member, WHO Review Committee on Measuring Reproductive Morbidity<ref name="SNDT" />
-* Member, Governing Body of IIHMR(Indian Institute of Health Management and Research)<ref name="SNDT" />
+* Member, Governing Body of IIHMR (Indian Institute of Health Management and Research)<ref name="SNDT" />
-* Member, Institute of Medicine U.S. Committee on Improving Pregnancy Outcome in Underdeveloped Countries (2000 - 2001)<ref>Planning Commission Website, Govt. of India [http://planningcommission.gov.in/aboutus/committee/Presentation/AbhayBang/Bang_Profile.pdf](Accessed on 16 October 2015)</ref>
+* Member, Institute of Medicine U.S. Committee on Improving Pregnancy Outcome in Underdeveloped Countries (2000 - 2001)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Biodata |url=http://planningcommission.gov.in/aboutus/committee/Presentation/AbhayBang/Bang_Profile.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502034855/http://planningcommission.gov.in/aboutus/committee/Presentation/AbhayBang/Bang_Profile.pdf |archive-date=2 May 2012 |access-date=16 October 2015 |website=planningcommission.gov.in}}</ref>
+== Selected publications{{Anchor|Authored books, essays, letters}} ==
 [[File:Dr. Abhay and Rani Bang 2.jpg|right|thumb|Abhay and Rani Bang]]
-== Authored books, essays, letters ==
+=== Books ===
-'''Marathi books'''
-*''माझा साक्षात्कारी हृदयरोग Majha Sakshtakari Hrudayrog'' – Abhay Bang
+==== In Marathi ====
+In *''माझा साक्षात्कारी हृदयरोग Majha Sakshatkari Hridayarog, Abhay Bang has written about his own experiences during his [[BDORT|heart disease]] and the learning he has gained from it. The book won the Kelkar Award for the Best Literary Book in Marathi, 2000.''
-(In this book Abhay Bang has written about his experiences during his heart disease and the learning he has gained due to it. The book won the Kelkar Award for the Best Literary Book in Marathi, 2000.)
+Rani Bang's ''गोईण (Goin)'' describes the relationship of tribal women with various trees in Gadchiroli district. It won the Literary Award of the Government of Maharashtra. ''Goin'' means ''Friend'' in the [[Gondi language]] of tribal people. Her book ''कानोसा (Kanosa)'' delves into the perceptions of [[rural women]] regarding various issues of [[Reproductive health care for incarcerated women in the United States|reproductive health]].
-*''गोईण (Goin)'' – Rani Bang
+==== In English ====
+*''Putting Women First: Women and Health in a Rural Community'' - Rani Bang published in 2010.
-(This book won the Literary Award of the Government of Maharashtra. Goin means Friend in the Gondi language of tribal people. The book describes the relationship of tribal women with various trees in Gadchiroli district.)
+==== In Tamil ====
+* என் மாயாஜாலப் பள்ளி (தன்னறம் வெளியீடு) - Tamil translation of ''My Magic School.''{{Verify spelling|date=June 2022}}
-*''कानोसा (Kanosa)'' – Rani Bang
+=== Essays and letters ===
-(This book is about the perceptions of rural women regarding various issues of reproductive health.)
+* ''Meeting the Mahatma'' by Abhay Bang, published in English Kumar Bharti Textbook of Class 9 of [[Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education]].
+* ''My Magical School'' by Abhay Bang, which was translated in English by [[Arvind Gupta (toy inventor)|Arvind Gupta]].
+* ''Sevagram to Shodhgram'' by Abhay Bang, which was also translated in English by Arvind Gupta.
+* ''A Postcard from Dr Abhay Bang: Vidarbha, Marathwada deserve your maximum attention, CM Fadnavis'', an open letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to act on balanced development of [[Vidarbha]] and [[Marathwada]] regions of Maharashtra and to take steps to reduce liquor consumption in the state.
-'''English Book'''
+==Awards and honors==
-*''Putting Women First: Women and Health in a Rural Community'' – Rani Bang (Published in 2010.)
+The Bangs won the [[Maharashtra Bhushan|Maharashtra Bhushan Award]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bang |first1=Abhay T |last2=Bang |first2=Rani A |last3=Baitule |first3=Sanjay B |last4=Reddy |first4=M Hanimi |last5=Deshmukh |first5=Mahesh D |date=4 December 1999 |title=Effect of home-based neonatal care and management of sepsis on neonatal mortality: field trial in rural India |url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(99)03046-9/fulltext |journal=The Lancet |volume=354 |issue=9194 |pages=1955–1961 |doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(99)03046-9 |pmid=10622298 |access-date=17 June 2014 |s2cid=27157242|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and have been awarded [[honorary doctorate]]s from the [[Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences]] in Lucknow.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 September 2015 |title=PGI ने मनाया 20वां दीक्षांत समारोह, वीमेन हेल्थ इश्यूज पर हुई चर्चा |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/UP-LUCK-governor-ram-naik-join-convocation-of-sgpgi-in-lucknow-5125333-PHO.html?seq=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101235/https://www.bhaskar.com/news/UP-LUCK-governor-ram-naik-join-convocation-of-sgpgi-in-lucknow-5125333-PHO.html?seq=1 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |website=www.bhaskar.com }}</ref>
-Abhay Bang has written an article "Meeting the Mahatma"<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nirman.mkcl.org/images/downloads/articles/Meeting_the_Mahatma.pdf |title=Meeting the Mahatma |access-date=6 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185637/http://nirman.mkcl.org/images/downloads/articles/Meeting_the_Mahatma.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> which is published in English Kumarbharti Textbook of Class 9 of [[Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education]].
+[[SNDT Women's University]] in [[Mumbai]] has also awarded a doctorate ''[[Honorary degree|honoris causa]]'' to Rani Bang.<ref name="SNDT">{{Cite web |title=S.N.D.T. Women's University |url=http://sndt.ac.in/convocation/dr-rani-bang.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121232115/http://sndt.ac.in/convocation/dr-rani-bang.htm |archive-date=21 January 2013 |website=sndt.ac.in}}</ref> Medical journal ''[[The Lancet]]'' described the couple as "the pioneers of healthcare in rural India."<ref name="Honor">{{Cite web |date=13 January 2011 |title=The Lancet honor for Bang couple |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/The-Lancet-honour-for-Bang-couple/articleshow/7279436.cms |work=The Times of India |access-date=17 October 2015 |archive-date=30 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930173659/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/The-Lancet-honour-for-Bang-couple/articleshow/7279436.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, Abhay and Rani Bang were recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of International Health at the [[Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distinguished Alumnus/a Award {{!}} Alumni Association |url=https://alumni.jhu.edu/about/alumni-association-awards/distinguished-alumnus-award |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=alumni.jhu.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=लोकसत्ता टीम |date=2 April 2016 |title=डॉ. राणी व डॉ. अभय बंग यांना जॉन्स हॉपकिन्स विद्यापीठाचा पुरस्कार |url=https://www.loksatta.com/maharashtra/dr-rani-and-dr-abhay-bang-get-johns-hopkins-university-award-1222248/ |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=Loksatta |language=mr}}</ref> They were also inducted into the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faculty Affairs |url=https://facultyaffairs.jhu.edu/accolades/sos/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |language=en}}</ref> for their leadership in community-based health care focusing on newborns and children. The Bangs have contributed to the development of community-based primary healthcare in India.<ref name="jhsph.edu">{{Cite web |title=Alumni Award |url=http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/international-center-for-maternal-and-newborn-health/bangs.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728144859/https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/international-center-for-maternal-and-newborn-health/bangs.htm |archive-date=28 July 2013 |website=www.jhsph.edu}}</ref>
-Two of his articles "My Magical School"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mkgandhi.org/articles/magical_school.htm|title=My Magical School : Articles - On and By Gandhi|website=www.mkgandhi.org|language=en|access-date=9 April 2017}}</ref> and "Sevagram to Shodhgram"<ref>[http://arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/sevagramtoshodgram.pdf Sevagram to Shodhgram]</ref> have been translated in English by Arvind Gupta.
-He has written an open letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, [[Devendra Fadnavis]], urging him to act on balanced development of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra and to take steps to reduce liquor consumption in the state.<ref>A Postcard from Dr Abhay Bang [http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/a-postcardvidarbha-marathwada-deserve-your-maximum-attention/] Accessed on 6 January 2016</ref>
-'''Tamil Book'''
+Rani Bang was one of the principal speakers in the Tietze symposium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1990. She served as a consultant to the International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN) for Reproductive health, International Women's Health Advocates on Microbiologist (IWHAM)'s 10th Five Year Plan Maharashtra Health and Nutrition Committee Member. She was nominated for the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] in 2003 as a member of 1,000 women worldwide for peace prize.<ref name="SNDT" />
-* என் மாயாஜாலப் பள்ளி (தன்னறம் வெளியீடு) - Tamil translation of My Magic school
+Rani Bang has worked on women's [[reproductive health]] issues, [[sexually transmitted diseases]], [[AIDS prevention|AIDS control]], [[alcoholism]], tribal health, and adolescent [[sexual health]].{{cn|date=November 2025}} She conducts [[sex education]] sessions called ''Tarunyabhaan'' for adolescents and teenagers across Maharashtra.<ref name="sakaaltimes.com">{{Cite web |date=19 November 2010 |title='Tarunyabhaan', a workshop on sex education |url=http://www.sakaaltimes.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=4835353079283494239 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518234852/http://www.sakaaltimes.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=4835353079283494239 |archive-date=18 May 2016 |access-date=16 October 2015 |website=www.sakaaltimes.com}}</ref>
-==Awards and honours==
+In 2008, [[Pratibha Patil]], President of India, presented Rani Bang with the National Award for Women's Development through Application of Science & Technology for her "outstanding and pioneering contribution" to the improvement of women's health in rural areas through "innovative" and people-centered research.<ref name="dst.gov.in" />
-Abhay and Rani Bang and their organization SEARCH have been felicitated with a number of awards, a few of them are as follows:
-* [[Padma Shri]],The fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, 2018<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards2018_E_25012018.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070641/http://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards2018_E_25012018.pdf |archive-date=26 January 2018 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
+=== 1980s ===
-* [[Maharashtra Bhushan Award]] The highest state honour of the Government of Maharashtra, 2003<ref name=SNDT/>
+* [[Ashoka Fellowship]], 1985<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abhay Bang {{!}} Ashoka {{!}} Everyone a Change maker |url=https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/fellow/abhay-bang |access-date=22 March 2016 |website=www.ashoka.org |language=en-us}}</ref>
-* [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] The Global Health Heroes, 2005<ref>[http://www.searchgadchiroli.org/PDF%20files/global.pdf Poster of Duke Global Health Institute on the website of SEARCH] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006150556/http://www.searchgadchiroli.org/PDF%20files/global.pdf |date=6 October 2011 }} (Accessed on 1 December 2012)</ref>
-* MacArthur Foundation International Award, 2006<ref name=MAA>VIDEO Abhay Bang, SEARCH on MacArthur Award 18 December 2006, 3:03 p.m. [http://www.macfound.org/videos/304/ Official website of Macarthur foundation] (Accessed on 11 November 2012)</ref>
+=== 1990s ===
-* Society of Scholars, Johns Hopkins University, US, 2013<ref>Johns Hopkins University Commencement [http://web.jhu.edu/commencement/honorees/scholall.html Society of Scholars, 1969 to Present](Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref>
+* Mahatma Gandhi Award for Humanitarian Service,<ref name=":0" /> 1994{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}
-* World Health Organization - Public Health Champions Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Health in India, WHO India, 2016<ref>WHO India Website [http://www.searo.who.int/india/mediacentre/events/world_health_day/PHC_Awards_2016/en/ WHO India honours public health champions] (Accessed on 8 April 2016)</ref><ref>''The Times of India'', 9 April [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Chela-gets-award-along-with-guru/articleshow/51749275.cms Chela gets award along with guru] (Accessed on 9 April 2016)</ref>
+* Seshadri Gold Medal, [[Indian Council of Medical Research]] for outstanding research in community medicine, 1996<ref name=":0" />
-* National Award for Women's Development through application of Science & Technology, Government of India, 2007<ref>Department of Science and Technology, Government of India {{cite web|url=http://www.dst.gov.in/whats_new/press-release08/national-award-rani-bang.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=14 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910135157/http://www.dst.gov.in/whats_new/press-release08/national-award-rani-bang.htm |archive-date=10 September 2015  }}(Accessed on 14 October 2015)</ref>
-* Sheshadri Gold Medal of the Indian Council of Medical Research for outstanding research in community medicine, 1996<ref name="Planning">Planning Commission of the Government of India [http://planningcommission.gov.in/aboutus/committee/Presentation/AbhayBang/Bang_Profile.pdf Bang's Profile](Accessed on 16 October 2015)</ref>
+=== 2000s ===
-* Ashoka Fellows, 1984<ref>Ashoka Website [https://www.ashoka.org/fellow/abhay-bang Ashoka Innovators for the Public](Accessed on 22 March 2016)</ref><ref>Ashoka India Website [http://india.ashoka.org/fellow/rani-bang Ashoka India Investing in New Solutions for Our World's Toughest Problems](Accessed on 22 March 2016)</ref>
+* The Kelkar Award for the best literary book in Marathi, 2000<ref name=":0" />
-* ''Times of India'' Social Impact Award, 2015<ref>Sunil Warrier, TNN 9 March 2015,[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/TOI-Social-Impact-Awards-2015-Search-light-shines-on-tribal-lives/articleshow/46497567.cms TOI Social Impact Awards 2015: 'Search' light shines on tribal lives]</ref>
+* Vivekanand Manava Sewa Award, 2002<ref name=":0" />
-* [[Jamnalal Bajaj Award]], 2006<ref name="Jamnalal Bajaj Award">{{cite web|url=http://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/awards/archives/2006/women-and-child-welfare/dr-smt-rani-abhay-bang |title=Jamnalal Bajaj Award |publisher=Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation |date=2015 |access-date=13 October 2015 }}</ref>
+* Satpal Mittal Award for Population, Indian Association of Parliamentarians, New Delhi, 2002<ref name=":0" />
-* First Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2013<ref>Johns Hopkins University, International Center for Maternal & Newborn Health [http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/international-center-for-maternal-and-newborn-health/bangs.htm Drs. Abhay and Rani Bang Honored by the Johns Hopkins University and the Department of International Health](Accessed on 16 October 2015)</ref>
+* Ramshastri Prabhune Puraskar for Social Justice, [[Satara (city)|Satara]], 2002<ref name=":0" />
-* Stree Shakti Puraskar from Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India, 2005<ref name="SNDT" />
+* [[Maharashtra Bhushan Award]], the highest state honor of the Government of Maharashtra, 2003<ref name="SNDT" />
-* Satpal Mittal Award for Population by the Indian Association of Parliamentarians, New Delhi, 2002<ref name=Planning/>
+* The Global Health Heroes, [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]], 2005<ref>[http://www.searchgadchiroli.org/PDF%20files/global.pdf Poster of Duke Global Health Institute on the website of SEARCH] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006150556/http://www.searchgadchiroli.org/PDF%20files/global.pdf|date=6 October 2011}}</ref>
-* Mahatma Gandhi Award for Humanitarian Service, 1994<ref name="Planning" />
+* [[Nari Shakti Puraskar|Stree Shakti Puraskar]], [[Ministry of Women & Child Development]], Government of India, 2005<ref name="SNDT" />
-* 'Bapu' Award from Gandhi National Memorial Society, Pune, 2009<ref name="Planning" />
+* Navratna Puraskar, [[DD Sahyadri|Doordarshan Sahyadri Channel]], Mumbai, 2005<ref name=":0" />
-* Vivekanand Manava Sewa Award, 2002<ref name=Planning/>
+* [[MacArthur Foundation]] International Award, 2006<ref name="MAA">{{Cite web |date=18 December 2006 |title=Abhay Bang, SEARCH on MacArthur Award |url=https://www.macfound.org/videos/abhay-bang-search-on-macarthur-award |website=MacArthur Foundation |access-date=15 June 2022 |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615030723/https://www.macfound.org/videos/abhay-bang-search-on-macarthur-award |url-status=live }}</ref>
-* The Kelkar Award for the best literary book in Marathi, 2000<ref name=Planning/>
+* [[Jamnalal Bajaj Award]], 2006<ref name="Jamnalal Bajaj Award">{{cite web |date=2015 |title=Jamnalal Bajaj Award |url=https://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/awards/archives/2006/women-and-child-welfare/smt-rani-abhay-bang |access-date=13 October 2015 |publisher=Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation}}</ref>
-* Ramshastri Prabhune Puraskar for Social Justice, 2002<ref name=Planning/>
+* National Award for Women's Development through application of Science & Technology, Government of India, 2007<ref name="dst.gov.in" />
-* 'Navratna Puraskar' from Doordarshan Sahyadri Channel, Mumbai, 2005<ref name=Planning/>
+* Bapu Award, Gandhi National Memorial Society, Pune, 2009<ref name=":0" />
-* 'Dr Wankar Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award' Indian Medical Association, 2016<ref>''Times of India'', Nagpur Edition 19 October 2015 [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Dont-avoid-rural-service-Devendra-Fadnavis-tells-docs/articleshow/49445066.cms Don't avoid rural service, Devendra Fadnavis tells docs] (Accessed on 25 January 2016)</ref>
-* 'Iconic Changemaker Award' ''The Hindu'', Business Line, 2018<ref>[https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blchangemakers/we-deliberately-chose-to-go-where-the-problems-are/article23275050.ece Iconic Changemaker — Dr (Mrs) Rani Bang and Dr Abhay Bang]</ref>
+=== 2010s ===
-* J.R.D. Tata Award for Excellence in Public Service<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/indias-370-mn-youth-will-drive-its-future-ratan-tata/1747616|title=India's 370 mn youth will drive its future: Ratan Tata|website=outlookindia.com/|access-date=2020-02-29}}</ref>
+* Society of Scholars, Johns Hopkins University, US, 2013<ref>{{Cite web |title=Society of Scholars, 1969 to Present |url=http://web.jhu.edu/commencement/honorees/scholall.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821062447/http://web.jhu.edu/commencement/honorees/scholall.html |archive-date=21 August 2015 |access-date=14 October 2015}}</ref>
+* First Distinguished Alumni Award, Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2013<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alumni Award |url=https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/international-center-for-maternal-and-newborn-health/bangs.htm |access-date=16 October 2015 |website=Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health |language=en}}</ref>
+* Social Impact Award, ''[[Times of India]]'', 2015<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warrier |first=Sunil |date=9 March 2015 |title=TOI Social Impact Awards 2015: 'Search' light shines on tribal lives |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/toi-social-impact-awards-2015-search-light-shines-on-tribal-lives/articleshow/46497567.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
+* Dr. Wankar Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award, [[Indian Medical Association]], 2015<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gwalani |first=Payal |date=19 October 2015 |title=Don't avoid rural service, Devendra Fadnavis tells docs |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/dont-avoid-rural-service-devendra-fadnavis-tells-docs/articleshow/49445066.cms |access-date=25 January 2016 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
+* Public Health Champions Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Health in India, WHO India, 2016<ref>{{Cite web |title=WHO India honors public health champions |url=http://www.searo.who.int/india/mediacentre/events/world_health_day/PHC_Awards_2016/en/ |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415210152/http://www.searo.who.int/india/mediacentre/events/world_health_day/PHC_Awards_2016/en/ |archive-date=15 April 2016 |access-date=8 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shrivastav |first=Snehlata |date=9 April 2016 |title=Chela gets award along with guru |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/chela-gets-award-along-with-guru/articleshow/51749275.cms |access-date=9 April 2016 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
+* [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, 2018<ref>{{Cite web |title=MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS PRESS NOTE |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards2018_E_25012018.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070641/http://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards2018_E_25012018.pdf |archive-date=26 January 2018 |access-date=25 January 2018 |website=mha.nic.in}}</ref>
+* Iconic Changemaker Award, ''[[The Hindu]]'', 2018<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madhavan |first=N. |date=16 March 2018 |title='We deliberately chose to go where the problems are' |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blchangemakers/we-deliberately-chose-to-go-where-the-problems-are/article23275050.ece |access-date=15 June 2022 |website=www.thehindubusinessline.com |language=en}}</ref>
+* Mahatma Gandhi Manava Seva Puraskar, [[Mahatma Gandhi College|M. G. College]], [[Armori]], 2019<ref name="Founders {{pipe}} Search for Health">{{cite web | url=http://searchforhealth.ngo/founders | title=Founders {{pipe}} Search for Health }}</ref>
+* Degree of Literature (D.Litt.) [[Honorary degree|Honoris Causa]] from [[Maharashtra University of Health Sciences]], Nashik at Mumbai by Hon. Chief Minister Maharashtra, 2019<ref name="Founders {{pipe}} Search for Health"/>
+* Shahu, Phule, Ambedkar, Award, 2019<ref name="Founders {{pipe}} Search for Health"/>
+=== 2020 ===
+* J.R.D. Tata Award for Excellence in Public Service, 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=India's 370 mn youth will drive its future: Ratan Tata |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/indias-370-mn-youth-will-drive-its-future-ratan-tata/1747616 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229101836/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/indias-370-mn-youth-will-drive-its-future-ratan-tata/1747616 |archive-date=29 February 2020 |access-date=29 February 2020 |website=outlookindia.com}}</ref>
+* JRD Tata Award by [[Ratan Tata]] from [[Population Foundation of India]], New Delhi, 2020<ref name="Founders {{pipe}} Search for Health"/>
+* Achievement Award in Science Field from Vanita Samaj, Mumbai, 2020<ref name="Founders {{pipe}} Search for Health"/>
+* D.Sc. Degree from [[Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences]], Loni, Dist. [[Ahmednagar]], 2020<ref name="Founders {{pipe}} Search for Health"/>
 == References ==
-{{Reflist}}
+{{reflist}}
 == External links ==
-{{Commons category|Abhay and Rani Bang}}
+{{Commons category}}
-{{wikiquote|Abhay Bang}}
+{{Wikiquote|Abhay Bang}}
+* [http://arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/sevagramtoshodgram.pdf ''Sevagram to Shodgram''], a speech by Abhay Bang
 *[http://searchforhealth.ngo SEARCH website]
 * [http://nirman.mkcl.org/ NIRMAN website]
-* [http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/Presentation/AbhayBang/Bang_Profile.pdf Bio data on the website of planning commission, a government website]
-* [http://forbesindia.com/article/ideas-to-change-the-world/dr-abhay-bang-research-with-the-people/13742/1 Research with the People – Article by Bang in ''Forbes India'']
 {{Jamnalal Bajaj Award winners}}
 {{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Medicine}}
+{{Authority control|additional=auto}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Bang, Abhay and Rani}}
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 [[Category:MacArthur Fellows]]
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-[[Category:Social workers]]
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-[[Category:Indian women medical doctors]]
 [[Category:20th-century Indian educational theorists]]
 [[Category:20th-century Indian women scientists]]
-[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in medicine]]
 [[Category:Women educators from Maharashtra]]
 [[Category:Educators from Maharashtra]]
 [[Category:Scientists from Nagpur]]
-[[Category:20th-century women physicians]]
+[[Category:20th-century Indian women medical doctors]]
+[[Category:20th-century Indian women educational theorists]]
 [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
-[[Category:20th-century women educators]]
+[[Category:Public health researchers]]
+[[Category:People in public health]]
+[[Category:Indian people in public health]]
+[[Category:Indian public health doctors]]
+[[Category:Indian medical researchers]]
+[[Category:Indian social workers]]
+[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri]]