women empowerment

Ankita believes that everyone has the strength to fight against challenges, and move forward. It’s this belief that encouraged her even after she was rejected at multiple job interviews and had to take up odd jobs.

Meet Monika, a woman who turned obstacles into opportunities with her indomitable spirit. This is how her experiences motivated her to fight harder and be stronger.

Shobha Kumari from Ranchi launched Srijan Handicrafts in 1993, to popularise hand-made dolls made using clay, sawdust, and cloth, and showcase India's cultural diversity. In the process, she has also empowered thousands of women from marginal communities.

“I will never forget the sparkle in the eyes of the children and an old lady when I was visiting our first adopted village back in 2012. The sea of emotions I could see in my audience made me forget about my prepared speech. This is what motivates us.”

Medhavi Keerti, Range Forest Officer posted in Uttarakhand’s Badrigaad Range launched Dhatree, an initiative to train women in making and selling organic soaps, cutlery, rhododendron juice, and other such products. They now earn up to Rs 1 lakh

Aparna Krishnan helped women of Paalaguttapalle, a drought-hit village in Andhra Pradesh, stitch cloth bags after men in the area found it difficult to gain employment as labourers

Tripura-born Chandra Shekhar Ghosh started Bandhan Konnagar in 2001 with the aim to move beyond awareness and empower the rural population, particularly women. Through various financial inclusion and healthcare programmes, Bandhan Bank has around 2 crore customers.

Dolma Tsering, a native of Tibet, started the first momo stall in Delhi in 1994. Today, 26 years later she runs three shops and employs over 20 people.

70-year-old Kanchan Parulekar helms Swayamsiddha, a Kolhapur-based organisation that, in the last 28 years, has worked to create women entrepreneurs. The businesses range from bakeries to food processing units, bag manufacturing units, beauty parlours and handicrafts.

The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School in Rajasthan was conceptualised by CITTA founder Michael Daube, and designed by US-based architect Diana Kellogg