women empowerment

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

Hindustani Classical vocalist Hirabai Barodekar of the Kirana Gharana was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan and paved the way for female artists at a time when they were not allowed to perform on stage. Her immense talent and popularity earned her several awards and disciples, including Padma Shri winner Prabha Atre, Vrinda Limaye, Bakul Pandit, Saraswati Rane and many more.

Lady Abala Bose’s contributions to Indian history also include fighting for the women’s suffrage movement, along with the education of widows.

Delhi-based ORCO offers natural, healthy and certified organic condiments and spices, which are hand ground, hand pounded and cleaned by women

A Karnataka queen lost in the pages of history, Maharani Kempananjammani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana made Mysuru prosperous by focussing on civic issues like health, water, electricity, and education.

After being debt-ridden for years, these two middle-aged women from Hooghly took up farming and are now inspiring other women in the rural areas.