Plan India

A young teenager’s fight to make her city and community safer for girls and women has inspired her family members to join the cause and spread the word about women’s safety as well.

Women are increasingly breaking free of societal restrictions to explore their identities further. This International Women’s Day, Plan India highlights seven women who have become true examples of women going beyond traditional roles and boundaries.

At 17, Nisha has become the face of a revolution by taking a difficult, even dangerous, stand against child marriage in her community. Here’s how it happened.

Often, villages in conflict areas are unable to access basic healthcare facilities due to severe problems with supply. Meet a brave soul who’s overcome personal danger to ensure that a village in Jharkhand’s Naxalite area gets access to adequate healthcare.

Anmol isn’t your average teenager. At 19, she manages her family’s grocery store in the suburbs of Delhi. As if this weren’t enough, she has overcome cerebral palsy and inspired entire communities. This is her story.

Growing up in a destitute environment can be hard and soul-crushing for any young boy or girl. However, this young girl has refused to let her spirits be bowed down by her background, and is dreaming big dreams for her future.

In a small village of Assam, where there is no electricity, there is Kanchan, the hard-as-nails, social health worker working tirelessly to improve the health of the households in the village.

Mahima struggled to earn enough to feed her hungry children. Today, she is a model of change in her community.

Financial conditions forced Purvi work as a child labourer. Today, she has risen above her circumstances to help create awareness about child rights among the children in her village.

Growing up in a village where the family business involved snake charming, Sarjeet rose against the tide to forge a brighter future for himself and the children of his community.