Women have consistently been playing a key role in transforming India into a ‘Sashakt Aur Samarth Bharat’. In recognition of the remarkable achievements of these women across diverse sectors NITI Aayog has instituted Women Transforming India Awards.

This year, as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate 75 years of India’s independence, the WTI Awards were conferred on 75 women achievers. Of these 75 Awardees 11 women from the state of Maharashtra were honoured. Click here to know more about the other awardees.

 

1. Dipa Chaure, Nagpur, Krantijyoti Mahila Bachat Gat (Rural Mart)

 

Krantijyoti Mahila Bachat Gat, has made a name for itself in India. Dipa Chaure’s efforts have shown immense success and contributed to a Sashakt and Samarth Bharat. They provide livelihoods and engage women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) in local rural areas to produce

high quality value products. They are currently facilitating 350-500 women in Nagpur district through employment, product manufacturing, marketing, selling, financing and training services. Their vision is to reach all women in need, in Maharashtra.

Rural Mart is Empowering women to take collective decisions in their interest and providing

them a platform for financial stability.

 

2. Dr. Aparna Hegde, Mumbai, ARMMAN

 

Dr. Aparna Hegde is the founder of ARMMAN, a not for profit organisation, that leverages mHealth technology to create scalable, cost-effective, gender and equity-sensitive, non-linear, solutions to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity in 19 states of India.

Their integrated 360-degree approach uses deep mobile penetration to work with pregnant women and children aged under-5. They also support health workers and systems in early identification, referral, and treatment of risk factors, resulting in improved health outcomes. It has reached 27 million women and children, and trained 229,000 frontline health workers, with plans to scale pan-India in the coming 5 years.

Managing the largest mhealth porgram in partnership with MoHFW, ARMMAN is implementing the Kilkari and the Mobile Academy.

 

3. Sayalee Marathe, Pune, Aadyaa Originals Pvt. Ltd.

 

Aadyaa is premium, handcrafted silver jewellery brand creating collections based on history, revival, nature and abstraction. Sayalee Marathe, Founder of Aadyaa works with artisans to create authentic silver jewellery and make it available worldwide. It has been incubated at IIM Bengaluru and is part of Cornell University’s first cohort for accelerator program with Maharashtra. They aim to create well researched, authentic and handcrafted pure silver creations.

Tradition, soul and happiness are Aadyaa’s key pillars, striving to create silver products

inspired by nature and history.

 

4. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Pune, Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions

 

Sulajja set up an e-mobility venture over 5 years ago, when EV technology was nascent with more disbelievers than supporters. She showed exemplary vision and courage to enter a new field and successfully turned that dream into a reality. She invested in developing advanced EV technology, including indigenous motors, controllers and batteries. Under her leadership, Kinetic Green has reached 100% localization. She created advanced yet affordable e-three wheelers and two-wheelers for the masses - an e-auto for Rs. 1 lakh, aligned with Kinetic’s vision that its vehicles should attract customers without any subsidy. Her company has sold over 50,000 EVs and created mass employment.

Kinetic Green is a leading player in India’s EV sector. It is building a robust PAN India EV ecosystem to promote Green Mobility for the Masses.

 

5. Meha Lahiri, Mumbai, Recity Network Pvt. Ltd.

 

Meha Lahiri’s entrepreneurial journey at Recity has not only been about solving India’s systemic plastic waste challenges in 12+ cities through circular economy solutions, but also nurturing a gender-neutral and resilient culture towards building a healthy workforce. Recity has also tirelessly been working towards professionalization of formal and informal waste workers. Since inception, over 69% women waste workers have been impacted with the help of health modules and medical camps. Coupled with skill-based and entrepreneurship trainings, social recognition and government authorized benefits such as e-shram and occupational IDs.

Recity has been championing impactful outcomes to ensure standardization of green supply chains and robust tech-enabled solutions.

 

6. Kirti Poonia, Mumbai, Okhai

 

Kirti built Okhai, offering handcrafted apparel and lifestyle products created by rural artisans from across India. Okhai has become India’s largest Direct to Consumer Apparel & Lifestyle marketplace for artisans to retail directly to customers. Under her leadership and guidance, she has scaled the organization from 350 to 27,000 artisans, achieving 10X the revenue in just 6 years.

Okhai aims to create livelihood opportunities for rural women artisans and protect ancient crafts from dying.

 

7. Shaheen Mistri, Mumbai, Teach For India & The Akanksha Foundation

 

Shaheen founded Teach For India in 2008 with the audacious vision of providing an excellent education to all children across India by building a movement of leaders committed to ending educational inequity in India. Today, Teach For India impacts 32,000 children through the direct work of over 900 Fellows and 250 staff members across eight cities and has produced over 9,100 student alumni. Additionally, their Alumni community is 3,800+ members strong, impacting 1 million children directly and reaching 33 million children indirectly.

Teach For India’s work for children over three decades has mobilized thousands of

people to work together for systemic change in education

 

8. Prema Gopalan, Pune, Swayam Shikshan Prayog

 

Prema Gopalan founded Swayam Shikshan Prayog to empower grassroots women’s networks & communities across Maharashtra, Kerala, Bihar and Odisha states. Her work has empowered 300,000+ rural women as entrepreneurs and change makers. They are building resilient communities across 7 climate hit States in India, positively impacting over six million people. Under her guidance, over 150,000 rural women have been repositioned as climate adaptive farmers who are also decision makers with land rights and incomes.

Fulfilling its mission since 1998, Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) is transforming grassroots women from beneficiaries to decision makers.

 

9. Chetna Gala Sinha, Mumbai, Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank

 

Chetna is a social activist associated with the Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank. Her contribution has been instrumental in setting up the first women pension fund in partnership with the Unit Trust of India for rural women micro-entrepreneurs in India.

The bank has also set up the first cash credit product for rural women in weekly markets. They aim to reach one million women by 2024 by nurturing an ecosystem within which they can thrive.

Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank’s vision is to create a supportive environment where women micro-entrepreneurs can successfully flourish and be valued by all.

 

10. Trishla Surana, Mumbai, Colour Me Mad Pvt. Ltd.

 

Trishla, Managing Director of Your Foot Doctor addresses the really important issue of mobility and pain free life for the mass population who suffer due to Flat Feet and other foot related pain. It is a start-up that cares for your feet and is focused on providing foot care solutions using innovation, technology and human touch. It has benefited thousands of customers by delivering pain relief footwear and insoles, both off the shelf and customised as per their foot condition.

Foot is the foundation of our body and Colour Me Mad firmly believes that wearing

the right support and foot care is the key to mobility and good health!

 

11. Shanti Raghavan, Mumbai, EnAble India

 

EnAble India (EI) a non-profit organization started by Shanti Raghavan. They are working on the ground for the last 2 decades and impacting thousands of persons with disability (PwDs). Their vision is a world where persons with disability are tax payers, active citizens and nation builders. EI is on a mission to build a sustainable Livelihood Ecosystem for millions of PwDs to attain a dignified life while having a positive impact on the economy and society. This will lead to a paradigm shift where PwDs are leading to a shift in the consciousness of the society.

EnAble India is ambitious for the cause of economic independence and dignity for persons with disability.

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