Pushpa Shukla
Born in a remote tribal village in Chhattisgarh, Pushpa’s father's non-supportive attitude towards girls' education and systemic challenges prevented her from becoming a doctor but did not deter her from the path of education. Pushpa's unwavering commitment to providing equal opportunities to every tribal child did not falter. Instead, she rose to the challenge and created online tools and resou
Education
Bhawani Kanwar
Making inroads against gender biased taboos, and defying and challenging dominant narratives for hapless women, Bhawani fought poverty, mental abuse and gender discrimination, managing to complete her schooling and becoming the only woman with a Masters’ degree in her village. Rewriting the fate of thousands of young girls from the Nat Community forced into prostitution, Bhawani is ensuring educ
Education
Meena Rani
Despite being considered "bad luck” in her family, Meena refused to accept the limitations placed upon her and fought against a bad marriage to complete her Masters' degree. From improving the social status of women and girls to empowering them to participate in decisions that affect their lives, Meena has been making a difference, one person at a time. She believes that sensitizing the youth on
Education
Rekha Devi
Fighting oppressive poverty and cyclic episodes of severe domestic violence, Rekha bravely stepped out of an abusive marriage when it became life-threatening. Having no support whatsoever and with a young child to feed, Rekha’s education helped them sustain. Rekha eventually transformed into a formidable force to fight against child Labour and exploitation in the region, while advocating for the
Education
Swati Sawant
Coming from a family forged by tragedies enduring a shocking amount of hardship, misfortune, death and dysfunction, an adolescent Swati witnessed her own mother getting beaten to death, faced years of abuse only to step into an abusive marriage. Swati endured it all silently while working as a social mobilizer. Relating to similar stories of all the women around her, Swati took to imparting leader
Education
Zohmangaihi
Battling severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety after being diagnosed with HIV, Zoh found a new life with counselling and ART therapy. Widowed at a tender age with an infant and a malignant disease, Zoh was ostracized from the society because of revealing her HIV status. Finding solace in therapy, Zoh recuperated and took it on herself to help women like her. A counsellor, community mob
Health
Jaspreet Kaur
Born into a low-income family, Jaspreet's life began in the shadow of struggle and poverty. With a father crippled by his addiction to alcohol, her childhood was spent witnessing episodes of endless violence and the constant threat of not having a shelter for various nights in a row. Realizing early on that only education can help her out, she grabbed the first opportunity that came her way and to
Health
P Anna Vilasini
Born on the night of Amavasya (moonless night), Anna was believed to be the bad omen for the family, pushing her into a life of abuse and discrimination. Her mother abandoned her, and left behind with an alcoholic father and a tormenting grandmother. Stepping into an extremely abusive marriage tormented her further, only to make her resolve stronger to prevent children from getting abused. In a sp
Health
Razia Nasreen
Born in the most notorious slums of East India, Razia grew up witnessing violence, prevalence of multiple gangs in the area and desperate means to make ends meet on a regular basis. Stepping into a marriage by choice, Razia’s life took a steep turn to be filled with constant ridicule, verbal abuse and endless episodes of domestic abuse. While grappling with this vicious cycle, Razia invested in
Health
Sapna Verma
Born into a poverty-stricken house with days without any food, Sapna realized early on that education was the only way to climb out of the poverty they were plagued with. Married at 16 into an orthodox household, life threw more challenges at her with added responsibilities, episodes of violence and no freedom to step out of the house. Following all that she was forced to, she paved her way as a c
Health
Sunita Chauhan
Sunita overcame poverty and isolation to complete her education. Born in the remote tribal village of Melaghat, surrounded by thick forests and inadequate road connectivity, Sunita managed to complete education with diminishing resources. Disturbed by the frequent child deaths in her community and motivated by the nurses working on malnutrition, Sunita took to community health work. Addressing ins
Health
Archana Gokul Mane
Born into poverty in rural Maharashtra, Archana was forced to beg for money cementing her resolve to support her family and children. Starting off with stitching clothes and bartering them for groceries she got deeply affected by the farmer suicides in the region. Resilient and determined, she overcame poverty and hardship to become a trailblazer in empowering women and promoting sustainable farmi
Micro Enterprise
Bishnupriya Swain
Challenging the status quo of a dominating father, charting her own path despite observing abuse and oppression in her family. Facing constant rebuke by the community for not getting married, Bishnu held on to the opportunity of working with Dalit women to come out of the shackles of her father’s control. Started off by working for the rights of the fishing community and pivoted towards liveliho
Micro Enterprise
Laxmi Rani
With an infectious smile and unbreakable spirit, Laxmi lifted herself from being a survivor of domestic violence to a revivor of traditional handicrafts in rural Rajasthan. Even when she was embroiled in a legal battle with her husband for seeking her child’s custody, Laxmi kept looking for opportunities to support her family. Laxmi initiated the artisan clusters to support the traditional handi
Micro Enterprise
Poonam Paul
Born in a small village hidden in the remote Himalayas, Poonam with her indomitable spirit fought the harsh geography and unforgiving winters. Despite being married off at a tender age and enduring emotional abuse from her in-laws, she persisted with unyielding resolve. Building on the skill of knitting acquired traditionally, Poonam used her entrepreneurial endeavours to create a market for the p
Micro Enterprise
Rita Devi
Coming from an orthodox rural area in Bihar, Rita grew up in a house with strict gender roles and societal expectations. Despite facing extreme violence at home to being constantly reminded of her place as a woman she refused to give up on her dreams. Rita seized the opportunity to attend a stitching class in her village where she discovered her passion for art and craft. Starting off as a trainer
Micro Enterprise
Sonali More
Facing acute poverty since childhood and being forced into a marriage of violence and inequality Sonali’s life was filled with challenges. With days going by without any food for her children, Sonali promised herself a life of self-sufficiency. Struggling to complete her education, she joined an SHG as a bookkeeper, from thereon she started promoting women's empowerment through vocational traini
Micro Enterprise
Minu Mandrawaliya
Affected by polio as an infant, Minu Mandrawaliya was constantly reminded of her disability by the world. Passionate about learning, she decided to focus on what she could do with her hands and brain and excelled at it. She became a Master Trainer just a year after learning to stitch bags and
has spread the net of training wider and wider in Ajmer district. Minu’s training programs not only tea
Micro Enterprise
has spread the net of training wider and wider in Ajmer district. Minu’s training programs not only teach a skill but also develop a woman’s personality and self-worth. Covering the length and breadth of Ajmer with the help of her crutches, Minu’s never-back-down attitude has helped her
train over 13000 women, and she serves as an inspiration for them.
Minakshi Birajdar
Married off by her father right after Std X in the hope of having a son, Minakshi Birajdar had to let go of her dream of becoming a teacher. She had settled as a homemaker, but she became a young widow who eventually took over her social worker husband’s organisation with a sudden turn of
fate. Minakshi has crossed one milestone after another to become a ‘master trainer’, a helping hand and
Micro Enterprise
fate. Minakshi has crossed one milestone after another to become a ‘master trainer’, a helping hand and a guide to over 20000 destitute women through a series of livelihood training, SHG savings etc.
Malan Raut
Married at the age of 17, life for city girl Malan Raut turned upside down when her in-laws decided to return to their village in Latur. For Malan, a bright student who studied till Std XII on a scholarship, work on a farm, and the confines of her village home were a constant source of frustration. Not one to be bogged down, she toiled to become an excellent farmer. Then, a chance encounter led he
Micro Enterprise
Chandrikaben Makwana
Trapped in the clutches of poverty, Chandrikaben’s siblings worked as child labourers to support
her education. While her mother was forced to work as a ‘panihari’ (bonded labourer), the penury
nearly robbed Chandrikaben of her education. When life eventually led her to social work, she made
it her life’s mission to break the endless cycle of debts created by the ‘panihari’ system b
Micro Enterprise
her education. While her mother was forced to work as a ‘panihari’ (bonded labourer), the penury
nearly robbed Chandrikaben of her education. When life eventually led her to social work, she made
it her life’s mission to break the endless cycle of debts created by the ‘panihari’ system by helping
communities set up microenterprises. A dedicated learner, Chandrikaben’s inherent talent for
community mobilisation and leadership development have made her a stalwart of social work
benefitting over 11000 people in Bharuch district.
Bobby Mahato
Determination and grit come to Bobby Mahato quite naturally. Every time she saw an imminent threat from her in-laws, she escaped into the fields and hid for the night. After much suffering, she left her husband’s abusive home and did not take long to turn her life around. Starting as a
community worker and then diversifying into garment-making, an enterprising Bobby leaves no skill unlearned or
Micro Enterprise
community worker and then diversifying into garment-making, an enterprising Bobby leaves no skill unlearned or unshared. Through training and helping them set up enterprises, Bobby has given financial independence and social mobility to over 20000 women while also serving as an
inspiration for those struggling as she once was.
Dhapu Devi
From having no formal schooling to identifying her zeal to work for malnourished children and anaemic women, Dhapu paved her way and set up Super 5. Learning on the job and training for months, she leads a production unit and caters to the health care needs of women and children. Dhapu supplies
Amritchuran, or Super 5, to 40 villages in Ajmer district through a network of women entrepreneurs. The
Health
Amritchuran, or Super 5, to 40 villages in Ajmer district through a network of women entrepreneurs. The miracle mixture has helped over 24000 women and children. Currently producing Super 5 at double capacity, Dhapu aims to spread the net of health and nutrition to other states.
Tumpa Adhikary
Born to a sex worker in Kolkata’s Kalighat red-light area, Tumpa Adhikary grew up in a hostile environment, faced sexual abuse and intense discrimination in school. With a strong will to lead,she refused to accept the situation and started a new venture, Diksha, working with the children and mothers of the red-light area. Counselling the children who live under the constant threat of violence, s
Health
Pooja Kagade
Born in a Dalit community engaged in manual scavenging, Pooja Kagade grew up in Old Hyderabad’s urban slums. She led a dark and lonely childhood amid years of sexual abuse. Hope arrived in the form of Shaheen Welfare Association, where she learned about patriarchy and developed her self-worth.Having found the right platform, she fought her demons and emerged as a strong leader and role model who
Health
Manju Khatik
Married off at 13, Manju Khatik found that her life was a nightmare of constant abuse and violence. Four children and 4 abortions later, Manju found herself dealing with a mentally unsound husband and extreme poverty. When life presented her with an opportunity to speak to domestic violence survivors,Manju realised how rampant this problem was. Dealing with abuse at home, violence and threat at th
Health
Mahananda Chavhan
For Mahananda, the initial years of her life were defined by not being able to make the choices that she wanted. Married at the age of 17, feeling stuck between household chores and bearing children, Mahananda chose her work as a way to establish her identity. Personal merged with professional as she realised that women could oversee their lives if they can gain access to basic facilities, which d
Health
Reeta Kaushik
Reeta Kaushik’s determination and drive became apparent early on when she refused to be just a chaperone to her school-going younger brothers and made her way inside their school classroom. Born in the marginalised Dalit community in Uttar Pradesh, she faced and fought caste-based
discrimination throughout her school and work life. With a strengthening resolve, Reeta was the first girl from her
Education
discrimination throughout her school and work life. With a strengthening resolve, Reeta was the first girl from her village to go to school. Working with Musahars and Dalits to create in them the desire to educate their children, Reeta has benefitted over 25000 children through direct linkages
and bridge courses.
Sushary Tirkey
For Sushary Tirkey, hardships started early on in life as she was orphaned and pushed into destitution at eight. Rescued after two years of back-breaking child labour by her aunt, involved in social and community development, Sushary found inspiration in her and the resolve to effect transformation in her own experiences. As a girl of just 10, she started small and covered the length and breadth o
Education
villages on foot, convincing people to educate their children. Today, she has linked over 30000 children of tea garden labourers to educational institutions ensuring a secure and bright future for them.
Meera Yadav
For Meera Yadav, having struggled to study all her childhood, marriage seemed like a good escape from the treacherous life she was leading. Unfortunately, it opened another pandora’s box of problems, leaving her with no money to treat her nine-month-old child suffering from cholera.
Driven by the need to gain economic independence, Meera was motivated by the desire to teach children in her city
Education
Driven by the need to gain economic independence, Meera was motivated by the desire to teach children in her city and through consistent efforts, Meera became a champion of children’s education in Varanasi. Having touched the lives of over 18000 children hailing from 17 urban slums,
Meera aims to have zero children out of school.
Durga Kharadi
Durga Kharadi was an unwanted child, and she faced rejection and abuse by her family repeatedly.A curious child, the one thing that probably pained her the most was missing out on a proper education. Ever since she joined social work in 2000, her work has focused on educating people in
one way or another. Today, her work with tribal populations in Rajasthan’s Mordongri has ensured better opport
Education
one way or another. Today, her work with tribal populations in Rajasthan’s Mordongri has ensured better opportunities for over 6400 children. Durga’s efforts have also brought about social and legal education of tribals, thus uplifting them.
Boni Basak
Boni Basak, a handball champion, had to give up on her dreams amid financial difficulties in her family. Lack of opportunities for girls and gender discrimination at every stage forced Boni to ignite thousands of young minds through community initiatives at Towards Future. Her efforts for the
continuation of education have reached over 2300 young girls and women in Mahammadpur village. Her passio
Education
continuation of education have reached over 2300 young girls and women in Mahammadpur village. Her passion for sports led to creating a girls’ football team where young girls are encouraged to follow their dreams and become self-reliant.
Kailash Kanwar
Breaking dominant Rajput traditions, Kailash Kanwar is one of the first women of her community to walk out of her violent family and become economically- independent. Having studied till class 5, Kailash harnessed her skills as a tailor to spearhead a crafts-based social enterprise where 2900 women like her have become skilled craft producers and earn rewarding wages. As a community leader, Kailas
Micro Enterprise
Geeta Tiwari
Small earnings as a Balwadi worker gave Geeta the courage to fund the expensive medical treatment of her children. Walking out of a violent marriage, she set up an organization that connects Dalit and tribal women with entrepreneurship opportunities in the poorest districts of UP. Geeta has collectivized 22,207 SHG members, equipped 5,180 women with remunerative livelihoods, and launched 800 rural
Micro Enterprise
Rupali Shinde
Born into a Dalit family, Rupali was married to a man who treated the carcass of dead animal. She transformed his caste occupation into a thriving business in leather-based musical instruments. Rupali has mentored 1,000 drought-affected women to start up their own ventures. Known as the ‘rural digital guru’, she has trained 5,500 women entrepreneurs in technology-based financial transactions,
Micro Enterprise
R. Neela
Born into the nomadic Lambadi tribe, Neela studied till class two. She went on to put the forgotten Lambadi craft traditions on the national map. From growing organic cotton to reviving the traditional embroidery styles to building retail networks, Neela’s venture has generated revenues of Rs. 3.12 crore. Women employed by Porgai have re-learnt their crafts and increased their family incomes by
Micro Enterprise
Chandrakali Markam
Daughter of Adivasi wage labourers, Chandrakali pulled her family out of extreme poverty through small SHG savings. With this conviction, she grew a federation of 507 SHGs in Dindori, located in a densely forested belt affected by Naxalism. This SHG federation of 6,000 Adivasi women has an annual turnover of Rs. 70 crore. In a region untouched by entrepreneurship, Chandrakali leads a poultry busin
Micro Enterprise
Nirmala
Child marriage, domestic violence, and murder attempts on her life led Nirmala to find her purpose. This champion of child protection is building active village child protection committees (VCPCs) across the hazardous district of Madhubani to protect all at-risk children from harm. By turning 1,452 youth, adolescents, teachers, parents, and government officials into barefoot child protection exper
Education
Bharti
Bharti’s birth led to the banishment of her parents from their village. Beating poverty and patriarchy, she found purpose in socially engaged theatre. Working in rural government schools of Haryana, Bharti runs Taaron Ki Toli, an adolescent and youth leadership program that combines life skills, gender empowerment, and theatre. She has trained 10,400 adolescents and 480 youth leaders who are ris
Education
Aarti Singh
Poverty, violence, and corporal punishment forced Aarti to dropout of school twice. Today, she is a teacher–changemaker in Prerna, a school for disadvantaged girls from urban poor communities in Lucknow. Through feminist pedagogy and a gender empowering model of education, Aarti has transformed 4,500 Prerna students into change agents. She also leads Veerangana, a movement of girl champions, tha
Education
Rekha Bhandare
Daughter of a devadasi, Rekha was committed to this practice at the age of 11. She had two daughters by the age of 14. Today, this champion of education and child protection has transformed the lives of 6,200 at-risk girls and women. Through advocacy at the district and state levels, her organization, MASS, has ended the devadasi practice in Belgaum.
Education
Reshma Aadam Vohara
Rising from her own experience of violence, Reshma is the proverbial 2.00 a.m. friend to thousands of Muslim women in Baroda who face daily communal and domestic violence. She and her team are building agency among Muslim women through gender and sexuality awareness, leadership trainings for peace, and access to livelihoods. Her work has impacted 5,000 families. Reshma has also amplified the issue
Health
Pushpa Devi
Married at the age of 15, Pushpa lost several pregnancies and landed up in hospital frequently due to grievous spousal violence. Today, she has transformed 5,500 women survivors of violence into change agents. They, in turn, have enabled 14,000 Dalit, Muslim and Adivasi women to build agency and walk out of domestic abuse. To create a culture that makes violence against women unacceptable, Pushpa
Health
Laxmi Mahadev Waghmare
Born into a Dalit family, Laxmi was married at the age of eight to her maternal uncle. Surviving domestic violence, she raised her family on meagre earnings as a village health worker. Today, she leads a mass-based organization dedicated to advancing the rights of rural single women in Maharashtra. Laxmi has trained 190 single women leaders like her own self. Together they have lifted more than 17
Health
Anjum
Born in the most impoverished slum of Mumbai, Anjum is leading a movement for safe public toilets. She has trained slum residents, including disabled and transgender persons, to become civic rights leaders. They conduct toilet surveys from the lens of gender, privacy, safety, and hygiene. Then, using data and evidence, they partner with municipalities to construct, repair, and maintain toilet bloc
Health
Sumitra Gagrai
Born into the indigenous Ho tribe, Sumitra fought poverty to emerge as a health change agent. Working in the interiors of Jharkhand, she and her team have impacted 36,000 tribals, reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. Losing her sister to depression and suicide moved Sumitra to launch a rural model for community mental health care. Run by 30 tribal youth counsellors, this model provides destigmat
Health
Nilima Tigga
We confer this Award on Ms. Nilima Tigga, nominated by Pradan for her exemplary work in the field of Micro Enterprise by providing for livelihood opportunities through formation of Self Help groups. Nilima is a forerunner in providing micro-entrepreneurship opportunities to the women linked to her federation
Small savings from a SHG and earnings from her micro-enterprise enabled Nilima to pull
Micro Enterprise
Small savings from a SHG and earnings from her micro-enterprise enabled Nilima to pull her family back from the brink of starvation. With this conviction, she grew from a SHG peon to setting up Shankhdhara Mahila Vikash Mandal (SMVM), a federation of 1030 SHGs in Lohardargah, Jharkhand, one of the most backward districts of India. Under her leadership, SMVM has created significant income increase for 15000 women and their families through SHGs and 700 women through microentrepreneurship.
CII Foundation salutes her persevering efforts in providing optimal livelihood options for the tribal people of Lohardagah, Jharkhand.
Vanlalruati
We confer this Award on Ms. Vanlalruati, nominated by Positive Womens Network for her exemplary work in the field of health living with HIV Aids. Vanlalruati works towards provision of policies and health services for the people of Mizoram.
Vanlalruati overcame poverty, drug abuse, violence and family abandonment to become a towering champion for women living with HIV. Discriminated by the sta
Health
Vanlalruati overcame poverty, drug abuse, violence and family abandonment to become a towering champion for women living with HIV. Discriminated by the state health system, she became one of the first Mizo woman to publicly declare her HIV positive status. Vanlalruati founded the Mizoram Positive Womens Network (MPWN) and has directly impacted 20,000 persons living with HIV in the state. In a state with the highest prevalence of HIV, she has pushed for large-scale policy shifts, leading to the integration of persons with HIV in the general healthcare system
CII Foundation salutes her conscientious contribution in transforming the lives HIV Positive people with her undying spirit.
Bhimavva Chalwadi
We confer this award on Ms. Bhimavva Chalwadi, nominated by Anyay Rahit Zindagi for her outstanding work in the field of Education in Goa. Bhimavva is a pioneer in providing vocational training and alternative learning methods to women who are rescued from the Devadasi Practice.
Daughter of a rag picker, Bhimavva became a devadasi at the age of 15. Her rescue from sex work put her on the path o
Education
Daughter of a rag picker, Bhimavva became a devadasi at the age of 15. Her rescue from sex work put her on the path of child protection. Bhimavva has counselled and prevented 2500 girls from joining the Devadasi practise. She has provided rehabilitation support to 1400 women rescued from sex work. A child protection champion and advocate of education, Bhimavva herself is unschooled. She has created a unique algorithm of symbols and images to decipher and comprehend the languages. Bhimavva has taught this code to other sex workers like her. A firm believer in vocational education, Bhimavva leads Swift Wash Laundry -a unique social business- that has opened up jobs with dignity for 280 women who were once engaged with sex work. CII Foundation salutes her assiduous contribution in providing education and alternative livelihood solutions to Devadasi Women.
Munni Begam
We confer this Award on Ms Munni Begam, nominated by Tarun Chetna Sansthan, for her outstanding work in the field of education in Uttar Pradesh. Munnis untiring efforts have enabled functional literacy for women and strengthened women collectives to advocate for their rights and entitlements.
Born into a family of farm laborers, Munni was married at the age of 12 and schooled herself by writin
Education
Born into a family of farm laborers, Munni was married at the age of 12 and schooled herself by writing with coal on waste paper discarded by her neighbours. Overcoming poverty, combatting deep rooted social discrimination and the Patriarchal fabric, she is a leading advocate for womens functional literacy, campaigner for womens education and advisor to the Gram Panchayat. She has educated more than 400 women beedi workers and mobilized them to form a collective for creating and enhancing their support network. This Malala of Eastern UP has transformed the lives of 5,770 illiterate rural women in Jaunpur and Pratapgarh districts.
She nurtures an unquenchable thirst for knowledge that adds to her dynamic personality. This constant pursuit of knowledge is what strengthens her fearless self. Her drive to improve peoples lives, especially those of women, stems from a deep-rooted sense of empathy.
CII Foundation salutes her assiduous contribution in empowering marginalized women through education.
Asha
We confer this Award on Ms Asha, nominated by Positive Womens Network, for campaigning for the rights of people both living with and affected by HIV, and strengthening community health in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Married at the age of 9, a daily wage labourer at 11; widowed, diagnosed as HIV positive, and lost her newborn child by the age of 16; Asha is a survivor, leading the community of people liv
Health
Married at the age of 9, a daily wage labourer at 11; widowed, diagnosed as HIV positive, and lost her newborn child by the age of 16; Asha is a survivor, leading the community of people living with HIV and connecting them to the national public health system, care services and government welfare schemes.
An epitome of courage and willpower, Asha founded Saksham, the Ajmer chapter of the Positive Womens Network to eliminate the stigma associated with HIV by opening access to government health services & welfare schemes for people infected and affected by HIV. Working in Nasirabad, Rajasthans most high-prevalence HIV belt, Asha has ensured destigmatized counseling, free treatment, and nutritional supplements to 6,011 women, children and men living with HIV. As a result of Ashas advocacy and referrals, maternity ward nurses and midwives at Nasirabad Government Hospital were able to demand for HIV test kits in their labor rooms.
CII Foundation salutes Ashas compassion in providing improved health care, better access to treatments and more vigorous prevention efforts and support to the most excluded and vulnerable communities.
Vechulou Kanuo
We confer this Award on Ms Vechulou Kanuo, nominated by Entrepreneurs Associates, for her outstanding work in the field of micro-enterprises in Nagaland. Vechulous transformational leadership has built the rural entrepreneurship ecosystem in Phek district and spurred employability of rural Naga youth, especially women.
Vechulou Kanuo grew up in an isolated village on the Indo-Burmese border, m
Micro Enterprise
Vechulou Kanuo grew up in an isolated village on the Indo-Burmese border, managing farm work and domestic chores. Her capacity for back-breaking work enabled her to transform a bankrupt organization to one of the most successful livelihoods ventures in the state. With no orientation, training or understanding of the NGO sector, Vechulou succeeded in forging strategic partnerships with various organizations to promote community livelihoods, tribal development and financial linkages. She has introduced modern agriculture and animal husbandry to 10,586 women, farmers & youth, seeding thousands of small entrepreneurs in the deep rural interiors of Nagaland. Vechulou has also trained drop outs and educated unemployed youth in weaving and tailoring, putting them on the path of self-employment. The only woman to be invited to traditional Naga tribal council meetings, Vechulou represents the voice of Naga women in the state.
CII Foundation salutes her indefatigable spirit and efforts of putting women at the center of micro entrepreneurship and livelihoods creation in Phek.
Bandari Jayamma
We confer this Award on Ms Jayamma Bandari for her outstanding work in the field of education in Hyderabad. Jayammas untiring efforts have enabled children of sex workers to gain education and life skills, further preventing them from trafficking and violence.
Orphaned at a young age, Jayamma dropped out of school due to poverty. Later, domestic violence forced her to earn through sex work. Sh
Education
Orphaned at a young age, Jayamma dropped out of school due to poverty. Later, domestic violence forced her to earn through sex work. She fought against all odds to quit the profession and set up Chaithanya Mahila Mandali (CMM), an NGO dedicated to the empowerment of women in sex work and their children.
Through large-scale campaigns and education drives, CMM enrols and retains children of sex workers in government schools. It builds positive learning environment for them, free of stigma. Jayamma also runs a home for 43 extremely vulnerable children to give them a safe and dignified childhood. CMM has prevented 3500 children from harm and instilled new hope in their lives.
Jayamma works actively with women in sex work and connects them to child care facilities, child protection schemes, skill trainings and alternative livelihoods. This has opened up possibilities that were once beyond their reach. She and her team have directly impacted 4428 women in sex work, of which 1000 are now engaged in alternative livelihoods.
Campaigning boldly and tirelessly with media, bureaucrats, police and international bodies, Jayamma is humanizing the struggles of women in sex work and building citizen action against trafficking.
CII Foundation salutes her indefatigable spirit and contribution to education for children and women from the most excluded segments of society.
Manika Majumdar
We confer this Award on Ms Manika Majumdar for her leadership in the field of mental health in the Rajarhat-Gopalpur area of West Bengal. Manika is West Bengals first barefoot mental health professional. She is making mental health services accessible and affordable for poor and excluded communities who live in peri-urban areas.
A survivor of domestic violence and acute poverty, Manika had to
Health
A survivor of domestic violence and acute poverty, Manika had to discontinue her education after primary school. Her experience of living with trauma made her more resilient and empathetic to other survivors like her. As she engaged with local Self Help Groups, her interactions with community women sparked off her latent leadership skills.
Manika was among the first to join Janamanas a mental health program for grassroots communities run by Anjali, a Kolkata-based NGO. After rigorous training to become a mental health professional, Manika set up West Bengals first community mental health kiosk in partnership with the Rajarhat-Gopalpur Municipality.
Manika works with a team of five other women mental health workers. Together, they conduct door-step identification and counselling of persons with mental illnesses. They facilitate hospital referrals, medication and follow up on treatment adherence for these individuals.
Manika and her team are also building empathetic communities where individuals can identify and openly discuss their mental health challenges with others. Stigma does not block them from seeking timely support.
Manikas work has directly impacted 800 persons living with psycho-social distress. Every year, she and her team sensitize 3000 community members across 35 municipal wards on positive mental health. They also launch grassroots mental health volunteers and champions.
CII Foundation salutes her remarkable efforts and contribution of taking mental health care to excluded and marginalized communities.
Kamal Kumbhar
Kamal Kumbhar is the recipient of the CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award in the Micro-Enterprise category for her leadership in launching grassroots women entrepreneurs in the drought-hit region of Osmanabad in Maharashtra.
Kamal walked out of poverty and a failed marriage to set up Kamal Poultry and Ekta Sakhi Producer Company. Once a daily wage labourer, Kamal today owns six different busine
Micro Enterprise
Kamal walked out of poverty and a failed marriage to set up Kamal Poultry and Ekta Sakhi Producer Company. Once a daily wage labourer, Kamal today owns six different businesses and is a leading business coach to rural women entrepreneurs. A leader in the local poultry business, Kamal has enabled 3000 women to run successful poultry farms, doubling their household incomes. She has also mentored more than 5000 women in Osmanabad to set up their micro-businesses.
Kamal was trained in grassroots entrepreneurship by Swayam Shikshan Prayog, an NGO based in Maharashtra. Today, she views entrepreneurship as a vehicle for building disaster- resilient societies. Driven by her own experience, Kamal believes that grassroots women entrepreneurs can play a key role in revitalizing rural markets and economies.
Kamal has enabled women from across 40 villages to build supply chains for each of the businesses that she runs. This has created a vibrant village enterprise network of women producers, transporters, suppliers and distributors. She is also building bridges between grassroots women entrepreneurs on one hand; and city markets, IAS officers and global companies on the other. As a business mentor, Kamal promotes government schemes, business partnership opportunities and funding linkages for village business women.
CII Foundation salutes her efforts at building the rural entrepreneurship eco-system for women from resource-poor disaster-affected communities of India.
Akila Sayyed
Akila Sayyed is the recipient of the Woman Exemplar Award 2016 in the field of Health, for her yeomen efforts in providing basic healthcare services and ensuring the well being of the marginalized in Pimperkhed village of Maharashtra.
Akila, fondly known as the doctor who treats everyone for free, among the villagers, was nominated by Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP).
Financial co
Health
Akila, fondly known as the doctor who treats everyone for free, among the villagers, was nominated by Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP).
Financial conditions made it difficult for Akila to study after 10th grade, and at the age of 16 she was married off. While she was pregnant with her second child, she began experiencing hallucinations and delusions. Her family and community members thought she was possessed by an evil spirit and sought refuge in quack healers and magicians. She was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and received proper treatment in a psychiatric hospital.
On recovery, she joined CRHP and undertook training to become the only health worker in her village. Being a victim of superstitious beliefs herself, she understood the importance of medical treatment for everyone. This was a major motivation for her to start working as a village health worker.
With basic knowledge on diabetes, tuberculosis, common fever and cold, heart diseases, malnutrition, pregnancy issues, prenatal and antenatal care, child care etc, Akila provides basic treatment to more than 4500 people for free. Thats the largest number of beneficiaries reached out to among other health workers of CRHP.
Akila also attended to many deliveries and took them to the nearest hospital, which is almost 25 kms away from the village. She was instrumental in soliciting government funds to pave the road to hospital, and in providing electricity to every household in the village. She selflessly uses her knowledge to ensure the well-being of the villagers.
Kalpana Mistry
Kalpana Mistry was presented with the CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award 2016 under the category of Education, for her outstanding work in the field of education in the slums of Wadala, Mumbai. Her commendable efforts have created a conducive environment for education in slums and have prevented many children from harassment, trafficking and sexual abuse at the hands of the mafia.
Raised in an
Education
Raised in an orphanage, Kalpana fought against all financial odds and managed to complete her post graduation. She became a child protection specialist with Aangan in 2012, and has impacted lives of more than 6000 women and children.
Kalpna worked hard to build trust and convince families to enroll children, especially girls in school, stop child labor and report cases of sexual abuse to the authorities. She has been training women, with little or no education, by helping them understand and access government schemes. She is also empowering and enabling the young girls to stand up for their own rights, fight against child marriage and ensure education. Under her guidance and supervision, Community Help Desks have been organized, where community members interact with government authorities to access services and social protection schemes.
Over the years, Kalpana has been instrumental in rehabilitating more than 6000 trafficked women and children by connecting them with different shelters and training institutes where they could receive skill training for financial independence. While working with Prerna, an NGO, she provided counseling and legal guidance to trafficked children and reunited them with their families. She also educates children on safety, safe touch and self protection.
CII Foundation salutes her tremendous contribution in the field of education and for enabling a safe environment for children and getting them back to school.
Dalimi Rabha
Dalimi Rabha is the recipient of CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award 2016 under the category of Micro Enterprise, for her transformational leadership in enabling better livelihood, independence and financial security for marginalized women in Goalpara district of Assam.
Dalimi was nominated for this award by the Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST) for her perseverance and dynamism to transform h
Micro Enterprise
Dalimi was nominated for this award by the Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST) for her perseverance and dynamism to transform her life and those of others in the community.
Born in the Rabha tribe of Assam, Damili and her family had limited means and scare luxuries. Though farming was the main source of income for her family, Dalimi was keen on learning embroidery. She went to Bagmara to acquire formal training in embroidery. Though it was difficult for her to pay the nominal fees of Rs. 20 per month, she persevered and did well in the course.
On completion of the course she started training young women at a training center, but the remuneration for her services was not sufficient to meet the basic living cost of Dalimi and her family.
Later with BYSTs support, she got a micro-credit loan of Rs. 25000, which helped her purchase second hand tailoring and weaving machines, and a board towards setting up her own tailoring and embroidery training School in Goalpara.
Dalimi engages in the retail trade of traditional moga, paat, kuleh shawls and blouse pieces. In addition, she also executes bulk order from large business clients. She has been very successful in retaining her clients and rarely puts down a business order.
As her reputation enhanced, women began to flock to her training school. Dalimi estimates that among many women who received training from her school, over 800 are employed with various establishments. Today, the strong and single 37 year old, is the sole business women in the Boko Market and is earns upto Rs. 15000 per month.
CII Foundation recognizes her tremendous contribution towards financial empowerment of the community.
Pravasini Bangari
Ms. Pravasini Bangari is being presented the Women Exemplar Award 2015 for her contributions in making health care and nutrition services accessible to the most vulnerable persons in her community, including children with disability, malnourished children and pregnant women in the Jamut village of Balangir District, Odisha.
Pravasini was nominated by Gramyajyoti, an NGO in Odisha, where she wor
Health
Pravasini was nominated by Gramyajyoti, an NGO in Odisha, where she works on maternal and child health & nutrition, HIV/AIDS, village sanitation, malaria eradication and family planning. Poor access to health services, high incidence of maternal & child mortality and morbidity in her village, drove her to relentlessly work on child and women welfare.
Jamut, being a very small interior village located near forest area, made things extremely challenging for Pravasini. The difficult terrain, extensive travel by foot, coupled with the fact that the nearest health facility was 70-80 kilometres away did not scare her away from doing what she set out to do. Pravasini started off by visiting nearby villages in order to identify women and children suffering from malnutrition in 1994. This could only be possible through doorto-door visits where seeking cooperation from the community especially male members was a challenge. Another major hindrance in running this program was lack of financial support which she overcame by disposing off her personal assets.
With her passion and commitment for the cause, she slowly overcame most of the hurdles and won the support of the community. She organized health camps along with the Primary Health Centre to ensure all women and children in her village get access to immunization and nutrition services. Through her relentless efforts, more than 200 children and 1000 women have received various health and nutrition services and aids under the government programs.
Pravasini also spearheaded campaigns to generate awareness and adapt healthy sanitation practices in four neighbouring villages. This has led to more than 500 families availing subsidy for the construction of toilets in their homes, leading to reduction of open defecation practices.
Pravasini is very passionate towards her work and her efforts are well recognized by the community and government stakeholders.
She aspires to build a hospital that will provide free health treatment to people in her village so that they dont have to travel long distances to avail health care facilities.
We congratulate her as a worthy Woman Exemplar in the field of Health.
P Thayammal
Ms P Thayammal is being presented with the Women Exemplar Award 2015 for her contributions in the field of education in her village Esavankulam, in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.
She has been nominated for the award by TVS Srinivasan Service Trust for her commendable efforts, in not only creating conducive environment for education in her village, but also preventing many children from becom
Education
She has been nominated for the award by TVS Srinivasan Service Trust for her commendable efforts, in not only creating conducive environment for education in her village, but also preventing many children from becoming child laborers.
Thayammal hails from a poor scheduled caste family from a backward village, where education, especially of a girl child, was neglected. She was forced by her family to drop out of school and work in fields. She overcame many impediments and completed her post-graduation in Commerce.
Thayammal believed in the importance of education in alleviating poverty and assumed the responsibility for ensuring that children in her village receive education. She began her work by starting an Anganwadi centre in front of her house in 2008. She identified out-of-school children in her village and enrolled them in the nearby government school. She built a good reputation in the community and persuaded parents to send their children to school rather than to work. Through her persistent efforts she facilitated the admission of 250 children. Besides, she has enabled more than 40 high school students to avail government schemes for continuing their education in college.
Thayammal realized that the children, being first generation learners, would need support in their studies and started providing them with free coaching in the evenings. Over the last seven years, nearly 400 students have benefitted from her coaching. Children who were destined to work as child labourers are now participating in district level competitions and are aiming for higher education. Thayammal is truly a change agent in her village.
Thayammal also generates awareness on public welfare schemes and programmes in the community. She is highly respected and trusted by the community members and admired by the District Education Officer for her work and dedication.
Thayammal aspires to create coaching centers for competitive exams, establish more schools and engage in finding jobs for the villagers.
We congratulate her as a worthy Woman Exemplar in the field of Education.
Lata Mane
Lata Mane is the recipient of the CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award 2014 in the field of Health for her catalytic efforts in bringing hope, inspiration, confidence and dignity to Female Sex Workers by fighting social stigma, creating awareness and spreading education in one of the slum area in Ghatkopar Area of Mumbai city of Maharashtra State.
Nominated for the Award by Santosh Kasle, Chairm
Health
Nominated for the Award by Santosh Kasle, Chairman, VIJAY KRIDA MANDAL where Lata Mane serves as an Out Reach Worker, she is working on project for Prevention of HIV-AIDS in brothel based Female Sex Workers that encompass health education, stigma reduction, sexual and reproductive health, psychological support to the FSWs suffering from HIV/ AIDS. Through her relentless efforts, she has been able to reach more than 500 Female Sex Workers in mobilizing community for collective action against stigma and discrimination.
Ms. Lata Mane was brought from her native place i.e. Karga (Karnataka) to Mumbai by her husband in the year 1998 when she was having nothing except two pairs of clothes. He sold Ms. Lata Mane to one of the brothel owners. The brothel owners compelled her to enter in the sex trade. When she was in this trade, she got married with one of her regular partners who brought her to brothels of Ghatkopar & gave birth to two children viz. Shruti Mane, Arti Mane. When the AIDS Prevention Project of Vijay Krida Mandal viz. DISHA was initiated in the June 2002, Ms. Lata Mane was assigned the job of Peer Educator with the responsibility of giving information to the Female sex workers about HIV-AIDS, motivating them for safer sexual practices by providing condoms Free of cost as well as for availing clinical facilities regularly. She could not work as Peer Educator after 3 months due to small amount of honorarium since she had taken loan from the brothel owner & there was no alternative to prefer sex trade with a view to pay amount borrowed from brothel owner. She again decided to resume the duties as Peer Educator. She was advised to register the name of her children in boarding school for education. So, she went to Bal Kalyan Nagari, Mankhurd, Mumbai for admission of her kids. But her children were not allowed to take admission since she was in prostitution. When the letter addressed to Bal Kalyan Nagari was prepared by the NGO viz. Vijay Krida Mandal with the request to give admission to the elder daughter of Lata Mane & given to her, she was succeeded in getting admission of her daughter. She admitted her younger daughter at her own in Bal Kalyan Nagari, Mankhurd without any letter. She applied these techniques while getting admission to other children in brothel area.
Ms. Lata Mane was not having much knowledge about reading & writing. But when he resumed as Peer Educator in DISHA Project, she started reading & writing with the help of other Project staff. She took initiative to motivate these FSWs to come together for solving their problems & to form Self Help Group. In turn, the women from the brothels of Rothakwadi came forward to form a Self Help Group & DISHA Mahila Bachat Gat was formed in the year 2006. She approached many banks. But all the banks denied to open account of these women on the plea that they are in prostitution. Ms. Lata Mane proceeded further to Bank of India & made arrangement of visit of officer of Suvarn Jayanti Shari Rojgar Yojana & compelled the Bank Manager to open Bank Account of this group. She had also undergone training of preparing imitation jewellery, perfumes. The income generation activities such as preparation of imitation jewellery, perfumes and eatables are being undertaken by this SHG.
Ms. Lata Mane always takes initiative to search opportunities to undertake new activities with view to provide financial support to the women in the Rothakwadi area. In principle, the application was sent on behalf of DISHA Mahila Bachat Gat to o/o Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai for obtaining work of Clean Mumbai. In turn, DISHA Mahila Bachat Gat has been given responsibility by Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai to work for this project from April 2013 for 18 units with monthly grant of Rs. 108000/-. The workers are assigned the work of collecting garbage, cleaning small gutters, toilets, creating awareness among the public for maintaining clean surrounding in the specified area. Some of the Women in this area who were facing financial problems due to ban of sex trade in brothel area of Ghatkopar, preferred to work in this project. Under the circumstances, the DISHA Mahila Bachat Gat could give source of Income to 18 unskilled workers which include some of the women who were previously in sex trade. Ms. Lata Mane takes the lead in supervision of this work, co-ordination with authorities of Municipal Corporation, making arrangement for payment of salaries to the workers, resolving complaints from the public as well as local Corporators.
Ms. Lata Mane took initiative to leave the prostitution & resumed as Out Reach Worker in Septemebr 2008. She also made up her mind to form various such groups of commercial sex workers in brothel area of Ghatkopar. Accordingly, she could form total 20 Self Help Groups with the help of other staff. Her vision is to give good education to her children & to bring all the commercial sex workers under small Self Help Groups. The group DISHA MAHILA BACHAT GAT had paid entire loan amount of Rs. 125000/- & will receive subsidy Rs. 125000/- from Govt.
Since all the members of DISHA Mahila Bachat Gat were originally Female Sex Workers, they have to face various problems to due to illiteracy, discrimination from the general public, pressure from the local community, harassment from the people in the area while working for Clean Mumbai Project, demand for bribe from Authorities of Municipal Corporation as well as Local Cooperator, threatening & unusual language from the public during telephonic conversation for the work of Clean Mumbai. Ms. Lata Mane has adopted the quality to face these challenges by seeking advice & sometimes even by getting into the gutters for cleaning with a view to satisfy the complainant in case of absence of some of the workers nominated for this work. She had strongly refused to give bribe to Authorities of Municipal Corporation as well as Local Municipal Councilor even after lot of pressure.
Ms. Lata Mane has put forward the Ideal example in front of the community (Female Sex workers) that if there is will, there is way since she had started the work of Health care with AIDS Prevention Project taking into consideration the need of the specific community by coming out from the profession of sex trade, controlling epidemics of HIV-AIDS by offering various services such as Free Condom distribution, Medical Services, HIV testing, linkages of HIV positive patients for Anti Retroviral Treatment, providing source of income to similar women who were having desire to come out from that trade & further expanded the volume of work of Health care by undertaking the most essential but neglected & disrespected work of handling garbage & cleaning gutters as well as toilets.
The group DISHA MAHILA BACHAT GAT could repay loan due to initiative of Lata Mane for preparing eatables for sale. She used to come in the office at 7.00 a.m. & prepare eatables from 7 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. & now she gives her time to work for Clean Mumbai Project. Then she used to perform her duty as Out Reach Worker from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.. The efforts taken by Ms. Lata Mane for changing her life resulted in determination of two more commercial sex workers viz. Sita Tamang & Sunanda Shinde to leave the prostitution & resume the duties of Out Reach Worker in DISHA Project. This project is being undertaken for prevention of HIV-AIDS among commercial sex workers & to replicate the model of Ms. Lata Mane.
Ms. Lata Mane & members of DISHA Mahila Bachat Gat also got opportunity in Hello Sakhi program for live telecast on 22.8.2013.
Lata Mane is a courageous and expressive woman, well-known in the slum of Ghatkopar beyond her own and has worked with organizations since last 12 years.
We congratulate her on this well-deserved CII Woman Exemplar Award in Health!
Kalpana Roxy Gagdekar
Kalpana Roxy Gagdekar presented with the Woman Exemplar Award 2014 in the field of Education for her outstanding accomplishment in regaining dignity and hope for the branded communities and for inspiring completely neglected sections of the society to strive, succeed and restore their human rights.
Nominated for this award by Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, Kalpana has been no less than
Education
Nominated for this award by Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, Kalpana has been no less than one of the legendary freedom fighters of our history. Married early, Kalpana found out soon that the community to which she belonged had been woefully branded as a 'criminal community' during the colonial times making any possibility of a decent livelihood an impossibility. She found that she and her family were not alone in this plight. She decided to plunge herself in the struggle for freedom from the stigma for the communities like hers, the 'denotified and nomadic tribes'. For this she chose theatre as her weapon. Kalpana has acted in heart wringing, blood raising plays depicting cases of injustice, has performed in over a thousand shows, playing roles of victimized tribal women to Kasturba Gandhi, changing the hearts of her audiences through every performance.
She took up the brave fight in Maninagar, the constituency of a powerful politician, to protect the children of the tribals settled there, and won the fight right up to the Supreme Court enabling the children to continue with their education. She taught at the Budhan Theatre School hundreds of children, entirely voluntarily, how arts can transform their lives. Despite becoming a leading threatre and TV artist in Gujarat, Kalpana continued to work with the poorest of the poor and give hope and dignity to the discriminated DNTs. All this she did without compromising with her responsibilities as mother, wife, and daughter. In Kalpana, we have the example of the great combination of Shakti and Bhakti, making her a contemporary legend. She has already been a subject for research and documentation by scholars in India and outside and a powerful icon for the new theatre movement in India.
We salute her tremendous and unique contribution to education through activating imagination and offer her this Woman Exemplar Award.
Devti Baiga
Devti Baiga presented with the Woman Exemplar Award 2014 in the field of Micro-Enterprise for her transformational leadership in enabling better livelihoods, independence and financial security for women particularly among the Baiga community, which is the tribal community in the core area of Bandhavgarh national Park.
Devti was nominated for this Award by the Indian Grameen Services for her in
Micro Enterprise
Devti was nominated for this Award by the Indian Grameen Services for her initiative, perseverance and dynamism towards community development through micro- enterprise.
She is working towards supporting tribal communities access alternative livelihoods at the peripheral villages of the Bandhavgarh National Park. She operates through Self Help Groups (SHG) but the entrepreneurial activities leading from the savings and lending activities of the groups are much more emphasized upon. The total membership in the 28 SHGs in these 6 villages is at present 481.
The project motivates beneficiaries to adopt SRI (System of Rice Intensification) method in not only Paddy cultivation but also Mustard and Wheat, Chilli cultivation as cash crop and more broadly the organic way of cultivation. In doing this the projects provides the tribal with modest financial assistance for seed etc. and focuses its energies in facilitating their access to already existing provision of public welfare schemes.
For a woman who was struggling to make ends meet for her and her family, her efforts have transformed lives of 700 households in the six villages. A majority of all the adult men and women in the villages are actively involved activities of the SHGs, the federation and the co-operative.
Her strengths are her indomitable optimism, a capacity to imagine an alternative future for herself and her people, and a spirit of leadership deeply imbued with tribal ethics of co-existence.
Devti is always been a fighter and a natural entrepreneur. She tried her hand at anything and everything just to keep her children out of hunger but for most part failed miserably because the forces she was up against were structural and she had no access to any help from outside. She was the first farmer in the area to try out the new techniques in her small farm. It cannot be over-emphasized that the risk Devti took were immense.
We salute her tremendous and unique contribution to the financial development of the nation and offer her this Woman Exemplar Award!
Mithu Jana
Mithu Jana is the recipient of the CII Woman Exemplar Award 2013 in the field of Health for her catalytic efforts in bringing hope, inspiration, confidence and dignity to people living with HIV/ AIDS by fighting social stigma, creating awareness and spreading education in one of the most backward districts of India Medinipur in West Bengal.
Nominated for the Award by SPARSHA, (Society of Posi
Health
Nominated for the Award by SPARSHA, (Society of Positive Atmosphere and Related Support to HIV/ AIDS) where Mithu Jana serves as a community worker, she has worked on programs that encompass stigma reduction, Anti-Retroviral Therapy, sexual and reproductive health, care and support for those suffering from HIV/ AIDS. Through her relentless efforts, she has been able to reach more than 190 Panchayats in mobilizing community for collective action against stigma and discrimination.
Medinipur sees migration of men in search of livelihoods, and early marriage of women leading to pregnancies and childbirth at young ages, oftentimes characterized by low levels of awareness on safe sexual behavior and practices. As a result, the district is among the highest in West Bengal in terms of the number of HIV-positive people. This socio-cultural context, coupled with Mithus personal struggles as an HIV-positive woman with an HIV-positive husband and daughter, led to a tremendous transformation in her life. From a shy housewife, she developed into a strong and confident leader, striving to change the perception of society towards HIV infected people.
Mithu is a courageous and expressive woman, well-known in the districts beyond her own and has worked with organizations from the World Bank to local artisans in spreading her story to bring about a paradigm shift at the local level.
We congratulate her on this well-deserved CII Woman Exemplar Award in Health!
Priya Chadrasekar
Priya Chandrasekar is presented with the Woman Exemplar Award 2013 in the field of Education for her indomitable spirit and outstanding service as a peer educator and trainer to bring hope, courage, self-reliance and empowerment to the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and developmental disorders.
Nominated for this award by AMBA Centres for the Economic Empowerment of the Intellec
Education
Nominated for this award by AMBA Centres for the Economic Empowerment of the Intellectually Challenged (CEEIC), Priya worked hard not only for her own personal growth but for the transformation she has brought about in the lives of the intellectually challenged through her determined and persistent training. She is an integral part of the agencys training initiatives spread across 31 centers in India. She has directly trained over 250 youngsters with intellectual disability at the core centre and through her participation in training and starting new centres pan-India where she has enabled the training of over 1200 youngsters.
Having suffered societys judgements being an intellectually and physically challenged child herself, Priya is representative of the larger 3.5 million-strong community in India, who need special education and care. The 'Learn and Earn centres where Priya serves as a senior trainer enable sustainable livelihood to this community using a visual and functional process of learning and the computer as a tool to enable data entry for various administrative jobs.
Once she was given her first opportunity to train, she rose to the challenge and blossomed in confidence and capability. She respected and understood the individual needs of every child and adult she worked with and trained them accordingly. Through her empathy, personal involvement and commitment to this community, she has opened up new opportunities for them, giving them a sense of purpose and a sense of empowerment.
We salute her contributions in the field of Education through this Woman Exemplar Award!
G Muniammal
G Muniammal is being presented with the CII Woman Exemplar Award 2013 in the field of Micro-Enterprise for her transformational leadership in enabling better livelihoods, independence and financial security for women particularly from Scheduled Castes in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, thereby empowering them to be the masters of their own destiny.
Muniammal was nominated for this Award by the Srinivasan
Micro Enterprise
Muniammal was nominated for this Award by the Srinivasan Services trust (SST) for her initiative, perseverance and dynamism towards community development through micro-enterprise. For a woman who was struggling to make ends meet for her and her family, her transformation resulted from a banana fiber craftsmanship training in Bangalore, which she volunteered to attend when no one else did. Today, she is a master trainer in the craft and travels to nearby villages for skills training in making banana fiber products. Several other women have also found inspiration and developed into trainers in the craft as well.
As a result of this initiative, over 2000 people have been trained and included in the livelihood program, including 200 women in 29 small hamlets, who are now able to earn a decent income. Muniammal has made a remarkable contribution in developing innovative banana fiber products, exploring financing options through bank linkages, and extending the role of Self-Help Groups through this activity. The challenge now lies in garnering resources and scaling up the initiative through a concrete plan of action.
Muniammal shines as a beacon light in Vellore and beyond. From Bananas to Business, she has led by example and showed a better way of life for villagers, who recognize her leadership in bringing about progress, not only at an individual level but for the community at-large. We congratulate her on this achievement with the CII Woman Exemplar Award in Micro-Enterprise!
Babai Sathe
Babai Sathe is the recipient of the CII Woman Exemplar Award 2012 for Health for her outstanding contribution in improving the health and sanitation standards in Jawalke village, Maharashtra. In her role as a Village Health Worker (VHW), Babai provides voluntary primary healthcare to her village, and acts as a key change agent, mobilizing her community to achieve health and development objectives
Health
Born into a poor Dalit home, Babai was abandoned by her husband and had to struggle against prejudice and poverty. Despite her illiteracy, she trained as a VHW, and learned that 80% of health problems can be managed by the people themselves. To address sanitation concerns, she mobilized community groups, Farmers Club and Womens Groups, to implement soak pits in her village, helping to reduce the transmission of water-borne diseases. She worked very hard to provide appropriate health assistance to her people, delivering babies with such care and efficiency that not a single death has occurred out of the 200 deliveries that she has conducted in her twenty years as a VHW. Babais continuous engagement with both mother and child from the pre-natal stage led to the eradication of malnutrition in her village. Babai has also encouraged 344 women to undergo birth control surgeries, thus making a significant contribution to maternal health and well being.
In 2005, Babai was nominated for the Jawalke Panchayat elections. Unopposed, she won the election and became the village Sarpanch, as the villagers recognized the tremendous improvements she had single-handedly brought about in their lives.
Babai has been a very effective Sarpanch. She has carried out community projects such as building roads, installing pipelines and water tanks to ensure running water in every household, and bringing electricity to every home. She has built 30 houses for the poor under the Indira Awas Yojana in her term. She has also encouraged the men in her village to give women a share in property ownership.
We congratulate Babai as an inspirational Woman Exemplar in the field of Health!
Laxmi Dey
Laxmi Dey is the recipient of the Woman Exemplar Award 2012 for her outstanding service as a volunteer and peer educator, working on Child Protection and Education Programmes for children living in and around Rambagan area, Kolkata, Paschim Banga. Laxmi now works with almost 250 sex workers and their children in the Red Light area of Rambagan.
Laxmis story is truly inspirational, because she i
Education
Laxmis story is truly inspirational, because she is herself the daughter of a sex worker and so had to overcome the taunts and ridicule, the social ostracism and the sexual abuse that these children face because of their mothers profession. She was greatly benefited from the Child Protection and Educational Programme of CINI ASHA the urban unit of Child in Need Institute, the organization that nominated her for the Woman Exemplar Award. Laxmi recalls that attending the Coaching Classes run by CINI were the only times, when young Laxmi could experience some of the carefree joys of childhood. Laxmi resolved that when she grew up, she would work in this area, and help other children who were born to mothers who were sex workers to grow up in a safe environment.
As she could fully empathise with them and was aware of what needed to be done, to break the cycle of vulnerability and give them a fresh start, her personal involvement and commitment to these children and to the CINI Coaching programme was total. This opened up new opportunities for these children, and has given Laxmi a sense of purpose and a sense of empowerment. She has developed enviable communication and leadership skills, making her a natural leader.
Going forward, Laxmi would like to start an organisation that will focus exclusively on the challenges faced by sex workers and their children. She also wishes to start night centres and shelters for the children of sex workers. Laxmi will thus change the destinies of the most vulnerable segment of society.
We salute her as a Woman Exemplar in the field of Education!
Loukrakpam Indrani Devi
Lourakam Indrani Devi is the recipient of the CII Woman Exemplar Award 2012 in the field of Micro Enterprise for her enormous contribution in training local underprivileged women in their traditional handicrafts, thereby empowering them financially and creating livelihoods in the Tera Loukrampam Leikai area of Manipur.
Nominated for the Award by ORI, (Organisation for Rural Improvement), funded
Micro Enterprise
Nominated for the Award by ORI, (Organisation for Rural Improvement), funded and supported by NEDFi, Indrani Devi has been associated with the NGO, for the last two years, though she has provided training in handicrafts to women for over 27 years.
Born into a Meetei family where the women are the primary earners, Indrani Devi, though she was only educated up to Class 9, wished to capitalize on her interest in traditional handicrafts to earn a living for her own family, as also to encourage other women in her community to provide for their families. Initially, she had to overcome financial challenges, as also deal with the negative perceptions of handicrafts as a low class job. Indrani Devi, at present, is the coordinator of the Indrani Ideological Crafts Centre. In this capacity, Indrani Devi has shown great financial acumen, and also creative innovation which enables her to take the traditional crafts forward, while being true to the artistic tenets of the region. She specializes in creating handicrafts related to traditional cultural practices, in addition to those for day to day use.
Completely committed to her work, Indrani Devi has been successful in supporting the traditional crafts of her community, providing self employment opportunities for the local women while also reducing the income disparities in Tera Loukrampam Leikai of Manipur.
We congratulate her as a worthy CII Woman Exemplar in the field of Micro Enterprise!
KM Bhagyamma
K.M Bhagyamma has done outstanding work in the field of Health on the Chaitanya project, part of Indian Network of People living with HIV/AIDS, which addresses the concerns of people living with AIDS in the district of Chamarajnagar of Karnataka.
Bhagya, herself a HIV positive person, overcame the challenge of negative societal attitudes towards people with AIDS and began to work with single mi
Health
Bhagya, herself a HIV positive person, overcame the challenge of negative societal attitudes towards people with AIDS and began to work with single minded determination to raise financial support for medication and nutrition for members of Chaitanya and their dependents, as also to provide psycho-social support, counseling and advocacy to them.
Aware that her efforts had to be sustainable, Bhagyamma has initiated vocational training programmes in trades such as tailoring and computers, arranged for driving lessons at concessional rates and assisted many positive people to get employment in NGOs. 372 women members of the network who are widows have also been given an opportunity to run a papad making factory she has initiated.
Impact
Bhagyammas efforts have contributed to building a strong, close knit and able community of people living with HIV/AIDS in Chamarajanagar. Around 1500 members, their dependents are beneficiaries of the Chaitanya programmes. She raises funds for sponsoring education and nutritional needs of 500 affected and infected children of positive people. Her future plans include building a residential school for children affected and infected by AIDS and building a home for AIDS people who are destitute and homeless. Through these measures, Bhagyamma has empowered and inspired AIDS infected people and raised their aspirations.
Champa Devi
Champa Devi Parmar lived in Vasela village in Rajasthan where there were no opportunities for education and the attitudes towards women were antiquated. She challenged these oppressive customs and attitudes. Beginning with Voluntary education and guidance of adolescent girls in Vasela village in Kotra Tehsil, she went on to mobilize women through SHGs (Self Help Groups) and challenged the hegemony
Education
Born in a tribal family with no nearby schools in the village, Champa Devi would walk 15 Kms to fulfil her desire for education. With the support of Adivasi Vikas Samiti, she moved on to become the Community Education Instructor of Sewa mandir to run and promote Balwadi. She contested and was elected the Head Gram Panchayat and Member Zilla Panchayat, and used these positions to improve educational institutions, promote participatory grassroots democracy and promote livelihood projects for the common good. She also worked to create awareness and bring in attitudinal change against oppressive tribal customs and traditions.
Impact
Champa Devis efforts have resulted in changing the educational scenario in Mamer Panchayat. Champa Devi boasts of her team efforts to have a Government Secondary School in Mamer Panchayat wherein she started with non-formal education (NFE). Supported by SHGs, the Adivasi Vikas Samiti and Seva Mandir, Champa Devi Parmar has successfully brought in empowering change that has positively impacted the lives of villagers in an extremely backward region of the country. In the future, she plans to replicate the model of Mamer Panchayat to other Panchayats and Regions of Rajasthan.
Ramrati Devi
The CII Woman Exemplar 2011 award for Micro-finance was conferred on Ramrati Devi for her exemplary contribution to Livelihood Creation and Poverty Reduction through the practice of Sustainable Agriculture in Sarpataha Village, District Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Ramarati Devi had to overcome many challenges to achieve this feat. A marginal farmer who could produce only one crop from her flood a
Micro Enterprise
Ramarati Devi had to overcome many challenges to achieve this feat. A marginal farmer who could produce only one crop from her flood affected field to support a family of seven members, Ramarati Devi was able to improve her own prospects and that of her community by joining an NGO, CEAG, the Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group which works to encourage and assist small farmers through five committees: Samuh Dekhbhal Samiti for the maintenance of SHG (self Help Groups) , Agro Service Centre Committee, Kisan Vidyalaya Samiti, Laghu Simant Krishak Morcha and Compost Samiti. The work is spread over 20 villages of Campiergunj block. In Sarpatha village, the project, based on the model of empowerment through information, has been running for the past ten years.
A Master Trainer who provides training to farmers on issues related to sustainable livelihood through agriculture and animal husbandry, Ramrati Devi is the coordinator of Kisan Vidyalaya(farmers school), she also looks after the activities of the Krishi Sewa Kendra, and is the treasurer of the Kendra. She has been instrumental in forming 14 SHG in the village each consisting of 10-12 members.
Ramrati Devi is self-motivated, hard working and innovative. Her excellent communication skills and leadership qualities suggest that she is likely to accomplish her mission of ushering in an integrated socio-economic approach for the development of her village. We salute her as a true Woman Exemplar!
Impact
Given the limitation of less land, powerlessness and feudalism, Ramrati has given the village a model of mixed and rotation cropping before other farmers as how they can enhance the yield from the land with low input, without disturbing the productivity of land and maintaining the sustainability of their source of livelihood.
She has gained immense popularity in media as Exemplary Woman Farmer. She is popular not only for practically implementing the agricultural techniques but also for utilization of her own creativity in following the techniques. Significantly, she is most popular among the poor women farmer families who regard her as Role Model Woman Farmer.
Pano Hembram
Pano Hembram has raised awareness in the area of reproductive and child health, under the Youth Access to Reproductive and Sexual Health (YARS) Project promoted by TATA Steel Family Initiative Foundation (TSFIF) and also worked with the health initiative of Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra (KGVK). Currently she is associated with the National Rural Health Mission and Integrated Child Development Services
Health
Pano Hembram belongs to Santhal tribe, identified as the most socio-economically backward tribe in Jharkhand. The community she belongs to traditionally followed cultural practices which prohibit modern health practices, allopathic drug use and assisted child-births. Pano herself is a physically challenged person suffering from a deformity of spine. Due to her disability she had to face ostracism in her social and familial circle and was treated as a burden. For a girl child who suffered disability and personal hardships, was orphaned at an early age, it is indeed a transformation which no one could have imagined for her. Pano Hembram is the epitome of sheer grit and determination.
She has effected major transformations in terms of reduced incidences of unsafe abortions, increased use of contraception, and the induction of adolescent girls as peer educators has had a positive impact on her community, and the neighbouring 17 villages.
Pano Hembram has become a household name not only in her own village or the surrounding areas rather in the vicinity of 50 kilometers. She has received the Bhanumati Neelkanth award for contribution in social development, by DBMS trust, Jamshedpur.
Impact of Award
Pano Hembrams believes her stature as a community leader has grown as a result of her being honoured as a CII Woman Exemplar. Pano used the award money to train women and girls in reproductive and sexual health. Her work now attracts a large number of volunteers, and therefore has a greater impact.
Kamlesh Sherawat
Kamlesh Sherawat has done outstanding work in the field of Education. Kamlesh revived the dysfunctional Village Education Committees (VEC) and has been successful in motivating the education department to take action on many counts.
Kamlesh works in Mewat District of Haryana. The district has been one of the with worst performers in the country on most socio-economic indices with large family s
Education
Kamlesh works in Mewat District of Haryana. The district has been one of the with worst performers in the country on most socio-economic indices with large family size, low average income, entrenched gender bias, low literacy rate among women and abysmal reproductive and child health. Kamlesh has been closely working with Muslim population in the villages whose girls never stepped out of their houses. This particular landscape provided a challenge to any person and more so to a woman who herself represented the most discriminated groups in this area.
Realising the cultural context of Haryana where girls are not allowed to get education, Kamlesh worked with great dedication to address parents concerns and persuade them to get their daughters educated. Her efforts include construction of boundary walls around schools, appointment of lady teachers, counselling parents of drop-outs, running awareness campaigns in the community.
Her involvement extends to educating farmers on good farming practices and forming village committees of women to monitor quality food in mid-day meal scheme and at aanganwadis. She has run awareness campaigns on issues related to public welfare such as immunisation, maternal and child health, electrification of streets, laying down pucca roads and fighting corruption in primary health care and public distribution systems. She has been training community members in using the RTI Act in these cases. Kamlesh Sherawat has been instrumental in getting Valmiki families living in the Goela village subsidy for installing private latrines.
Impact of the award
After receiving the award, Kamlesh has expanded her target group. She now works with a larger group of women and children who need her help and support. She hopes that in the future, they too, will be inspired to change for the better, the lives of the less privileged.
Dipali Pramanik
Ms Dipali Pramanik was awarded the CII Woman Exemplar Award 2010 for her exceptional contribution to her community in the field of Micro Enterprise.Dipali worked with the Kolaghat Socio-Economic Welfare Society (KSEWS) on the issues of health and education and raising general awareness of the people in the area.
Realising that there was a need to provide some income generating activities for th
Micro Enterprise
Realising that there was a need to provide some income generating activities for the youth, the KSEWS began tailoring training for women in the area. The training began with five women, one of them being the nominee, Ms Pramanik and has now increased to 38 women. The enterprise has also grown from a turnover of Rs 300 to a turnover of Rs 26, 00,000 benefiting scores of women who were associated with it. It has made a mark for itself in international textile markets with buyers from UK, USA, and Italy becoming aware of the project.
The group began their first production in the form of gloves and potholders, aprons and bags in the year 1984. These products were sold through Sarba Shanti Ayog (SASHA), an organisation to promote crafts as livelihoods. The group has built a formidable reputation and is well-respected by buyers worldwide who are associated with SASHA exports.
To achieve these results, Ms Pramanik transformed herself from a diffident young woman to an entrepreneur, who could provide sustenance and support to marginalised women. She rose to handle responsibilities that came her way as the Executive Director of the textile artisan association promoted by SASHA Her grit and determination were instrumental in overcoming the barriers of womens low status in the society. Thus, she was able to not only survive but thrive in the socio-cultural environment where women had to face challenges such as low levels of education, early marriage and domestic violence.
Ms Pramanik has made the enterprise stand out among similar initiatives supported by SASHA. The group is able to provide for the welfare of the 38 members in terms of health insurance and other benefits. They are able to plough back their efforts into the enterprise to make it successful. They are now able to explore newer products and newer markets with confidence.
Impact
Dipalis initiative has helped women challenge the traditional systems. Many parents have started educating their daughters and send them to the socio-economic welfare society to enable them to learn skills. Ms Pramanik stands out as a beacon of light for the people of her community.
Manorama Ben Jaiswal
Manorama Ben Jaiswal is a truly deserving Woman Exemplar. She started as an outreach worker and went on to champion the cause of Health Worker Training and extended this service to achieve a substantial lowering of natal, maternal and child mortality. She systematically developed training modules for every stage of pregnancy; upgraded the dai or traditional health worker through education in moder
Health
Manorma Ben was born in a family where educating a girl child especially higher education was almost a taboo. She had to struggle a lot to reach where she is today.
Her concept of Jan Sunvayi (Public hearing) in the rural areas in which public and government officials came at a common platform to resolve common peoples problems made it possible for the administration to come closer to masses.
She has worked tirelessly with those running HIV -AIDS risk using behavior change counselling. She has played key role in the formation of Village Health and Sanitation Committees under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
Impact of the award
Consequent to receiving the CII Woman Exemplar Award, Manorama Ben Jaiswal has been promoted as Associate Project Coordinator of her organisation, Deepak Foundation. The Award has led to strong motivation and aspiration among her colleagues and field workers to become the next Manorama Ben.
The Award helped Manorama in getting a greater degree of understanding and support from the community. This has given a fillip to her efforts to reach out to a larger segment of people who need her intervention. With a synergy that the Exemplar Award has provided, Manorama Ben is striving successfully for her mission on developing the community level federation -Jan Vikas Parishad which will fight for the cause of socially and economically backward masses.
P Madhavi
P. Madhavi has been a champion of child rights in over 32 communities. She has expertly set up Employment Training Centres for the young to combine life skills, formal education and career opportunities and has enabled women to speak out against sexual harassment through their local clubs.
P. Madhavi has also been involved in training and mobilizing over 1200 students to successfully get Micros
Education
P. Madhavi has also been involved in training and mobilizing over 1200 students to successfully get Microsoft Certification for relevant education in this field and for conducting Hyderabad's largest slum children and youth club programmes to change the lives of more than 700 members and participants.
Madhvi spent most of her childhood in the urban area at one of biggest slums of Hyderabad. Her father works as a carpenter. Born and brought up by an alcoholic father she had to drop out of the school because of lack of financial support.
Madhavi followed her dreams despite being a school drop out. She later passed her intermediate while she was working and pursued her graduation through distance mode of learning.
Madhvi not only leads a strong team of more than 700 members but also is a big support for her family. Madhvi proudly shares I am presently the highest earning member in the family. Madhvi is among one of those women who dream and who are determined to follow their dreams. She is an inspiration for many women who are waiting to break open the oppressive walls of exile and start afresh anytime there is even a smallest of the opportunity available. P. Madhavi is a true CII Woman Exemplar who defied tremendous odds and took on challenges that enable women to be more competitive in a fast-changing and shrinking job market, thereby being an inspiration to all those with a desire to follow their dream.
Impact of the Award
To a great extent, Madhvi has become the poster girl of the initiative. After the award was conferred, Madhvi was entrusted with the responsibilities of several other additional areas and localities where her organisation, CAP Foundation has been working. From the responsibilities of managing clusters, she is gradually being given assignments of the entire programme component in several localities.
There was a sudden perceptible change in the approach of neighbours who so far had either remained indifferent or were being critical of the work she initiated. Meri Kahani ghar ghar mein sunayi janne lagi (My story was being told and retold in each and every home in all the localities I was working with) was what Madhavi said later.
Madhavi aspires to run her own organisation committed to the livelihood issues and education of the most disadvantaged population.
Minakhsi Swain
Minakshi Swain is a young woman who has shown courage and commitment in changing the lives of 6000 people of her village.She was a young girl paying a fee of Rupees 2 a week when she first got involved with a self-help group after a massive cyclone devastated her village in Odisha. Today, she is a secretary of Self Help Group Federation of the local Pancahayat with membership of 44 active Self Hel
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As Secretary of her own SHG Marontorhi meaning indigenous/ rooted, and also Secretary of the Federation of SHGs, Minakshi Swain has made a difference to the entire village of 6000 people, and beyond. She has mobilised women's groups on LIC memberships, on an awareness drive for AIDS, immunization, quality control of mid-day meals at schools, on the use of RTI for local issues, initiation of Night Schools for adults and a first of its kind adolescent Self Help Group. They have also addressed Alcoholism and Domestic Violence as these were felt by the group as posing the biggest hurdles for women in the area.
Minakshi belongs to the most marginalized communities of Odisha, designated as scheduled caste. The women from her community are largely engaged in subsistence farming that includes selling dry fish and pottery. She has travelled a long way from being a simple shy village girl to a dynamic SHG Federation secretary who is now being invited by different local non-governmental organizations as a resource person for their initiatives and also participates in various programmes arranged by the government officials at district level.
Impact of the Award
After receiving the Woman Exemplar award, Minakshi Swain is working more intensively for her community. Minakshi dedicated the grant to her group members. Consequent to the Award and through advocacy, her group has taken the rein of PDS which has contributed in the regularity in the distribution and of quality rice, sugar, kerosene oil etc. It was also because of the award money that her group has taken the agricultural land on lease and they have started vegetable cultivation which has resulted in a sound profitable venture. Village women describe her as the star of the village and our heroine.
Meenakshi is now a household name in the entire village; she is now being taken more seriously by the administration. Nowadays when I approach district level authorities on the problems of the village they show respect and take me seriously opined Meenakshi. She feels that the award has changed her life in many ways, she is now being identified as the lady who got the award in Delhi.
In the future, she looks forward to introducing a Tobacco free Panchayat and Nirmal Gram: to ensure total sanitation in the village; and also a district level store for all local produce.
N Nanda Devi
The CII Woman Exemplar award 2008 for Health was awarded to N. Nandadevi for spearheading integrated Health Development Programmes with significant initiatives such as Child Line; Safe Motherhood camps; HIV/AIDS awareness through Rapid Intervention and Care.
Nanda Devi learnt the art of struggling with the times and circumstances from her childhood days itself. The eldest among seven siblings and
Health
Nanda Devi learnt the art of struggling with the times and circumstances from her childhood days itself. The eldest among seven siblings and having lost her father at a young age she lived a life full of responsibility, hardships and sacrifices with much resolve and cheer.
She also worked in Targeted Intervention Projects for Truckers in Manipur, where HIV/AIDS as well as child and infant mortality were growing at an alarming rate. N. Nandadevi displayed exemplary courage in battling societal disapproval to be involved with training camps that benefited 7000 people of the community. She was also able to win all round support to set up Self Help Groups that were self sustaining and thus emerging as a role model for others.
Nanda Devi deserves all the more credit for working in a difficult terrain of rural Manipur where continued dearth of basic infrastructure and health services remains the norm and where people, especially women struggle for daily subsistence. Her work with rural Manipuri women on micro-finance and community health was and continues to be very difficult and risky owing to ethnic and tribal clashes. She, however, refuses to get perturbed and through her work and working style cuts across ethnic identities.
As Director, Manipur Voluntary Health Association, Nandadevi will be in a position to significantly impact the volunteer community. Going forward, she wishes to work in the area of counseling for poor and destitute women.
Impact
After receiving the CII Woman Exemplar Award, Nandadevi has been able to upscale the quantum and scope of her work. She now addresses a wider set of issues for a greater number of beneficiaries.
The Award, she feels, has proved that innovative and challenging efforts never go waste. With the Exemplar Award, her age of struggle has given way to the age of excellence and celebrations. The response from all quarters-colleagues, community, local NGOs and State departments has been overwhelming. Nanda Devi has become a name which stands for hard work, perseverance and challenging zeal. She was facilitated by the number of local NGOs and her biography became a news item for many weeks.
Nanda Devi feels that the constraints confronting her work at the moment are not as large as they were when she began. But, she continues, that she is aware of increased expectations from her and to be to true to these is, according to her, the biggest challenge.
Shahana K T
Shahana K.T was awarded the CII Woman Exemplar award for Education for her outstanding contribution in implementing e-literacy to bring about transformational social change through Akshaya.
Shahana dreamt of her venture staying in a remote village on the outskirts of Malappuram district, Kerala. Mannarkad- a predominantly traditional Muslim village where farming is the main occupation of male-fol
Education
Shahana dreamt of her venture staying in a remote village on the outskirts of Malappuram district, Kerala. Mannarkad- a predominantly traditional Muslim village where farming is the main occupation of male-folk and women remain within the four walls of house.
However, Shahana stood against all odds. Along with fulfilling her family responsibilities, she was able to establish a small business venture- a computer centre which later snowballed into the becoming the glimmer of hope for thousands of women in the area.
Overcoming all obstacles, Shahana, used information technology to improve the lives of various community groups, through the Bhumi Club, farmers were able to use technology to circumvent middlemen; through Shradha, children became net savvy, while women were empowered to reduce poverty through Shakti.
The focus on education benefited over 2000 children, and was particularly significant in its impact on the girl child. Shahana built linkages between communities and the state health system and has excelled in every venture she has undertaken.
Impact of the Award
There has been a remarkable increase in number of women enrolling for the computer course and leadership programme in her organisation. Various self help groups, functioning in Shahana’s neighbourhood, have been inviting her for the meetings regularly. Among a long list of invites that she has been getting since the day she received the Exemplar award includes, invitation from SHG working on the Kudumba Shree Project and invitations from different Schools and colleges to share her work with their students. They also invited her as a resource person for career guidance and leadership training programme.
‘People suddenly started noticing me .....’ says Shahana.
The exemplar award not only recognized her efforts but also gave her a space and image in the society where parents started seeing her as a successful woman from their own community and could relate to hardships faced by girls in the area. Shahana is emerging as a role model for the women in and around her district. Taking a cue from the Shahana’s initiative many young educated women are nurturing dreams of becoming economically self-reliant.
S Dhanalakshmi
S. Dhanalakshmi was awarded the CII Woman Exemplar award 2008 for substantially improving family incomes among the destitute and dalit families in Tuticorin in the state of Tamil Nadu through mushroom cultivation, an innovative idea in that environment.
The sailing in her initial days of struggle was not smooth having born into an underprivileged, Dalit home and in her suffering Dhanalakshmi wa
Micro Enterprise
The sailing in her initial days of struggle was not smooth having born into an underprivileged, Dalit home and in her suffering Dhanalakshmi was alone. Her choices, in terms of her education and marriage alienated her from her community because she did what her people and community were not accustomed to.However, she decided to struggle for her own destiny and actually nurtured the idea of women making greater stakes in the family by contributing to the family income.
This spirited pioneer, was able to overcome the many challenges and going on to not only mastering the techniques of mushroom cultivation but also inspiring other growers with her enthusiasm. S. Dhanalakshmi was able to introduce mushroom consumption amongst all castes and classes, overcoming age old prejudices and eating patterns. Dhanlakshmi, now an entrepreneur par excellence, trained teams and mobilized women belonging to different communities to set up self sustaining enterprises.
For this, she has deservedly earned the community’s knighthood of Kalan Dhan or 'wealth of the mushroom'.
A large number of women have been able to cross the rigid boundaries of home, hearth and habitat for greater and meaningful things in life. This helped build pride and self confidence amongst these women. Hundreds of them are now earning decent livelihood and they can look beyond the desiccated salt-panes in the locality. Thanks to her good leadership quality, the communities around witness her as a change agent.
In the future, S. Dhanalakshmi aspires to become a mushroom exporter, an ambition that will help not just herself, but also lead to greater prosperity for her community.
Impact of the Award
Dr. Derose, who nominated Dhanam shares that since the CII award she has become the most sought after ‘mascot’ for Sterlite Industries who supported her initiative.
The award has also immensely supported Dhanam in strengthening and expansion of market for the mushrooms in Tuticorin as also outside. The award has created an impressive impact in the community as well as in the recipient. The award supported the recipient in strengthening and in the expansion of existing mushroom cultivation.
During the subsequent months since the award has been conferred to Dhanam, she and her team has increased production of mushrooms substantially. She has also been able to get a specific place for the cultivation of mushroom on a large scale.
Dhanam is today, serving as a key resource person in the district not only on Mushroom. Cultivation but has started taking up more development based tasks in her community especially on other issues and concerns impacting the lives of women.
An important member of the local administration summed up saying while there are many who keep on complaining about glass ceiling for women and particularly for women from the Dalit community, it is women like Dhanlakshmi who gather the courage and conviction to crack the glass ceiling and become the true EXEMPLAR.
Vidya Thapa
Vidya Thapa, of Seemapuri, nominated by Action India is a living symbol of a woman’s ability to overcome all odds to achieve her goal. Vidya’s goal was to better serve the health needs of her community. She promoted holistic health, gender equality and self-esteem at an individual and collective level.
Vidya displayed perseverance and dedication in pursuing an education despite tremendous o
Health
Vidya displayed perseverance and dedication in pursuing an education despite tremendous odds, and went on to become a trained medical examiner (Allopathic) and medical practitioner (Ayurvedic). She proved to be an inspirational and imaginative trainer. As most of the women who participate in Thapa’s collectives are illiterate, information is communicated through songs, theatre, role-playing and metaphor to reach out.
Vidya displayed rare leadership ability during the 1984 Communal Riots, and later during the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
Vidya's unstoppable drive to better the lot of less fortunate women on all health issues and on specific local problems such nutritional care of TB patients and expectant mothers will serve as an inspiration to other women. Also the youth in her community work very closely with her, developing newsletters on social issues of the community.
Asked how it feels to be recognized with her recent award, Thapa says, “My 23 years of hard work and struggle have finally borne fruit. When we started in 1984, we didn’t think whether night or day, hail or storm, just thought of it as our task... We came as a wave and swept the entire area.” Vidya is indeed a worthy Woman Exemplar!
Impact of the Award
After receiving the Woman Exemplar award, Vidya Thapa has substantially improved the scale of her work. A part of her Award money was devoted towards helping Tuberculosis patients and the development work she is associated with. She has taken up more development issues in more target areas, and is now associated with a host of new programmes.
Noorti Devi
Noorti Devi made a dramatic difference in the lives of the women of rural Rajasthan by introducing them to Information Technology. She trained herself and others in this, empowering women and raising their awareness and self confidence. Noorti Devi has also been a tireless campaigner for women’s rights. She has been in the forefront of the movement for wage increase for women in the 1980s and ha
Education
The contribution of this remarkable woman is visible even in the area of water conservation through efficient mapping of rural water resources.
Noorti Devi is the embodiment of a true exemplar. A lady who have worked in women groups and have talked about women rights and their empowerment at various international summits including the UN summit and the Beijing Women’s conference. She is illiterate yet has been able to educate herself enough to work on the computer and impart computer training to several other women.
Impact
Noort Devi’s most important contribution would certainly be fact that she has been instrumental in enabling women from the most underprivileged background to better their lives by introducing them to Information Technology. She worked tirelessly to do this, and we congratulate her on this praiseworthy achievement!
Lalithabai
Lalithabai, nominated by TIDE, Karnataka, helped women in her community to lead healthier lives, while also improving their economic status.Smoke from domestic stoves is major environmental pollutant and adversely affects the lives of the women and children who are exposed to this smoke on a daily basis.
Lalithabai, a humble quarry labourer and agricultural labour in rural Karnataka, saw an opp
Micro Enterprise
Lalithabai, a humble quarry labourer and agricultural labour in rural Karnataka, saw an opportunity for changing the lives of rural women through the smokeless choolah and was instrumental in setting up an enterprise that constructed more than 10,000 smokeless stoves in 3 years at an affordable price. She thus began a new revenue stream for the women of her community.
Lalitha signed up to be a stove builder because she wanted to earn the money to send her daughter to Teachers Training School. Lalitha went from village to village, built up such a successful business that not only did she get her daughter educated but she now manages her own stove installation business.
Her community in rural Karnataka has recognized her contribution by calling her Volli Amma (Stove Mother)!
We congratulate Lalithabai for being seen as an expert trainer, problem-solver and role model of a successful entrepreneur. Lalitha Bai’s unique contribution makes her eminently suitable to be called a Woman Exemplar
Impact
Winning the CII Woman Exemplar Award has added value to Lalitha Bai’s institution and work. She devoted a large part of the Award for the welfare of the village. The Award has also enabled her village people to understand her work and has become an icon of the village.
Raj Rani
Raj Rani, a resident of Daulatabad and a mother of four children, began her foray into community service after a brief stint with the state District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) where she underwent training for a Self Help Group foundation. This was an eye –opener to Raj as regards the immense potential a woman possesses to bring in empowering change.
In the year 2000 when the Mobile Healt
Health
In the year 2000 when the Mobile Health Van of the SNS Foundation (the organization that nominated her for the award) started visiting the village Raj was a regular visitor, not only accessing the services for her family members but also for neighbours or friends who were in need of health services. Identified as the Voluntary Health Worker for her village, she undertook her first one-week training on Reproductive and Child Health Issues. Her confined upbringing did overwhelm her during the initial days of the training but towards the end, she shed her inhibitions and was able to discuss subjects such as Sexual Health with equanimity.
Married into a conservative Haryanvi family, Raj Rani of Gurgaon, Haryana, mustered courage to tread the path less trodden. “My in-laws considered it a waste of time and effort, but my husband and my kids were very supportive and I ended up investing majority of my time in counseling the women of Daulatabad, addressing their needs on reproductive health issues,” she says.
Raj Rani is totally committed to her work and is deeply involved with the Foundation’s refresher courses provided to the volunteers as part of the continuous value addition s training.
Impact of the Award
After receiving the CII Woman Exemplar Award, Raj Rani was able to scale up her work. She spent the major part of her cash award on the community to take forward her work in this area. Raj Rani is now involved with many more SHGs with some having more than 30 women in each group!
Sangeeta Pardhe
Sangeeta Pardhe was the recipient of the Woman Exemplar Award 2006 for her efforts as a community health worker in the Sharadnagar slum of Pune.
Sangeeta underwent 10 day induction training in health conducted by IHMP. As Sharadnagar was an unrecognized slum, it did not have an anganwadi. Therefore, Sangeeta provided a comprehensive range of services that included antenatal and post natal care,
Health
Sangeeta underwent 10 day induction training in health conducted by IHMP. As Sharadnagar was an unrecognized slum, it did not have an anganwadi. Therefore, Sangeeta provided a comprehensive range of services that included antenatal and post natal care, growth monitoring, nutrition education of children, immunization, control and management of childhood illness. In addition, she was involved with the Referral for Safe Abortion and Management of Post Abortion Complications, RTIs Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment as also Family Planning and Reproductive and Health issues for adolescents.
Sangeeta, a woman of courage, has achieved all this despite tremendous adversity in her personal life. She grew up in an orphanage as her mother was too poor to care for her. A widow with three kids, Sangeeta has been recognised for her unflagging spirit, which has turned one of the most underdeveloped slums of Pune into a progressive one.
Her commitment and dedication had a transformational impact on the health and well being of her community making her a very worthy Woman exemplar in the field of health.
Impact
When Sangeeta started working with IHMP in 1998, Sharadnagar was the most underdeveloped of its 27 slums with the lowest female literacy rate and the highest number of low income households. By 2006, it had registered the maximum impact of all 27 slums. Sangeeta Pardhe has been instrumental in reducing malnutrition in children under three years, in providing adolescent girls with Life Skills education, prevention of early marriages, acceptance of HIV positive people and. and in improving the health of the women in her slum.
Vanita Jalindar Pise
Vanita Jalindar Pise belongs to a Backward Caste, rural family in Maharashtra, and was only able to complete the 9th standard of school. Nominated by the Mann Desh Mahila Sahakari Bank, Vanita overcame these odds to become a microfinance client of the Mahila Sahakari Bank since 2004.
Since 2001 Vanita has also organized 35 Self Help Groups (SHGs). She trains new leaders for each SHG and helps t
Micro Enterprise
Since 2001 Vanita has also organized 35 Self Help Groups (SHGs). She trains new leaders for each SHG and helps them get loans to fund their small business enterprises. Vanita serves as the co-guarantor on loans that each woman takes from Mann Deshi Mahila Bank. She also assists them with the procurement of raw material and helps market their final products for sale.
Vanita’s entrepreneurship has empowered and inspired many women to take charge of their lives and start their own businesses, making her a worthy Woman Exemplar in the field of Micro Enterprise.
Impact of the award
Vanita believes the Woman Exemplar award has raised her profile in the community and is heard by the people and authority which in turn has strengthened the redressal mechanism in the community. She now feels an even greater sense of responsibility towards the other women of her community.
Kavita Shinde
Kavita Shinde, a simple woman from rural Maharashtra, brought about a significant improvement in the lives of the women of her community by becoming an inspired and inspirational Community Welfare worker who chose to work in an area of critical importance, health education.
She also trained the women of her community in agri-based activities and thus assisted them in becoming self-employed.
Health
She also trained the women of her community in agri-based activities and thus assisted them in becoming self-employed.
Nominated by the KEM Hospital and Research Centre in Gurgaon, Kavita’s work had a transformational impact on the lives of countless women making them self-confident and empowered.
Kavita, coming from a poor family, had to struggle to get educated. Once educated, she worked to improve the condition of adolescent girls in her village against considerable opposition from the richer members and some members of the gram panchayat. Using local cultural context, she succeeded in providing health education programmes and helped change her home environment. She has now become a role model.
We congratulate Kavita Shinde and recognize her as a Woman Exemplar!
Impact
Kavita used the grant to bring in drinking water and improve the hygiene standards in her community. She believes the Woman Exemplar Award led to a far greater appreciation of her work in the community. It has made her realize that she is capable of doing something worthwhile.
Poonam Sinsinbar
Poonam Sinsinwar can truly be hailed as a woman who reached out to the most vulnerable segment of all, children who were employed as workers and thus deprived not only of a childhood but also of any opportunity of betterment in their adulthood. Poonam brought them the invaluable gift of an education.
Nominated by the Charkha Development Network, Haryana, Poonam acted as an enabler for the women
Education
Nominated by the Charkha Development Network, Haryana, Poonam acted as an enabler for the women of her community in Neb Sarai by introducing them to vocational training and helping hone their entrepreneurial skills.
Poonam followed her dream of teaching young and adolescent girls and break the shackles of ignorance, deprivation that is often the reality for many girls in rural India. She began her journey as a teacher at Neb Sarai centre of Nav Shrishti, an organisation dedicated to empower economically weaker sections of society. At the same time, she also educated herself to pass the 12th standard and then graduation. After marriage she moved to Faridabad, where she looked for opportunities for continuing work and began with the slums of Azad Nagar.
The initial years were of struggle with very little support from the community and practically no financial resources for the project. However her sincerity and determination slowly paved the way ahead. She set up a school for slum children with tiny contribution from the local slum community itself. She pioneered education among the slum children, enabling children, especially girls to be earners as well as learners by inculcating skills to them and motivating many girls to come out and help the community. Today there is a centre in Azad Nagar, where 200 children attend Balwadi and girls are learning skills like tailoring and beauty culture, enabling them to generate an income and take control of their own lives. What is noteworthy is that the centre is not dependent on external sources of funding and is managed through contributions by the community.
Tejo Devi
Tejo Devi amply demonstrates the positive change that can be effected by one woman. Inspired by the work of the late Ms Viji Srinivasan, Managing Director, Adithi Women, Patna (the organization that subsequently nominated her for the award), Tejo Devi had an innate understanding of the issues that needed to be addressed for the empowerment of women, she showed energy and courage to bring in necess
Micro Enterprise
Tejo Devi, from a poor family in Dumka district of Jharkhand, made a mark as a leader of self-help group among women despite her own poor socio-economic condition and family burdens. She was able to integrate her own instinct for marketing with a production organisation to enable village self-help groups to develop products.
One of her groups' products, a colorful quilt made from old sarees with traditional designs has found markets in London and Canada. Tejo Devi did this in a way that was inspired and inspirational. She engaged in activities that ranged from weaving, cattle rearing, rope-making, bee-keeping. She initiated crafts training and developed bank linkages to expand the market.
Tejo Devi was instrumental in bridging the gap between those who needed help and those who wished to reach out to such people! Each member is now a confident entrepreneur.
She is a credit to her village of Rajasimariya and to this nation. We acclaim her as a very worthy Woman Exemplar!
Impact
Tejo, a selfless leader, the spent the Award money on SHGs she had formed. ShTejo Devi is now more motivated and confident. She felt that the Award brought in a sense of pride coupled with an unsaid responsibility towards her work. She pursues her development goals with greater dedication and intensity. Tejo Devi aspires to make her village Rajasimariya, a model environment with education for all. Her focus is on educating young girls to become more responsible and to help the women of her community to become more empowered and take independent decisions.