SOCIALIMPACT Archives - Woman Endangered

From Dreams to Reality: How SSMI Inspire Students & Women Towards Leadership

Suparnaa Chadda — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 06:16:26 +0000

I recently had the privilege of visiting SSMI, an MCD-aided school, where I was invited to address the bright minds of class 10 on the paths they envision for their future careers. What struck me immediately was the determination and ambition in the eyes of these students, many of whom were first-generation learners hailing from challenging backgrounds. When asked about their aspirations, a common theme emerged: they sought security and respect in their chosen professions.

In response, I opened a window to explore the myriad career paths available to them, emphasizing three fundamental conditions: interest, the ability to work hard, and a commitment to continuous learning. I made it clear that as long as these three aspects are in alignment, no dream is out of reach. It was heartening to see their faces light up as they realized the vast array of opportunities awaiting them.

But beyond individual success, I also planted a seed of thought about the importance of spreading goodness and contributing to the welfare of a larger community. I emphasized that true fulfillment in life comes not just from personal achievements but from making a positive impact on society.

However, new challenges have arisen, such as the mounting expenditures of rebuilding the school as directed by disaster management authorities. Despite efforts to keep up with financial obligations, including the 7th pay commission fees, SSMI faces a lack of support from the local corporation. Sunita Ji highlighted the disparity between cities like Mumbai, where NGO-run schools enjoy greater autonomy in managing expenses, and Delhi, where MCD-aided schools struggle to meet their needs.

SSMI itself is a testament to the power of resilience and innovation in the face of challenges. Recognized by the SABERA awards, the institution, under the leadership of Sunita Ji, has thrived despite numerous obstacles. Sunita Ji’s visionary leadership has kept the school financially stable through innovative solutions, such as empowering local women to revive indigenous crafts and create products. One notable success story is the case study of Hindbags, a project initiated by an intern from France, aimed at making SSMI financially stable by utilizing indigenous crafts. What started as an idea on paper has blossomed into a successful venture, with Hindbags now importing up to 80,000 bags monthly. Sunita Ji further empowered self-help groups to directly import these bags, ensuring sustainable income for the community employing over 100 women.

Moreover, the limitations of CSR mandates pose further hurdles. Construction projects, crucial for the school’s infrastructure, are not covered under CSR, creating additional financial strain. This disjunction between well-meaning policies and on-the-ground realities underscores the need for reforms in education and CSR frameworks to better support institutions like SSMI.

My visit to SSMI left me inspired by the resilience of its students and staff and reminded me of the transformative power of education. It reinforced the importance of not only nurturing individual dreams but also fostering a spirit of community and service. Sunita Ji and her team exemplify the spirit of innovation and determination, demonstrating that with perseverance and ingenuity, even the toughest challenges can be overcome.

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Empowering Women: Insights from IPS Chhaya Sharma at SABERA

Suparnaa Chadda — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 05:16:31 +0000

IPS Chhaya Sharma’s words resonate powerfully, echoing the depths of her experiences, as the guest of Honour at the 6th edition of SABERA. Sharma, known for cracking the infamous Nirbhaya case, shed light on crucial issues often overlooked in society while acknowledging SABERA, as a platform that amplifies the voices of the silent workers including and celebrates those often overlooked, and the remarkable efforts in forging collaborations.

During her address, Sharma underscored the essence of empowerment, with economic enablement. Yet, she stressed that mere job opportunities are insufficient. For women, acceptance within male-dominated forces remains a significant challenge, compounded by issues like access to basic facilities and balancing familial responsibilities.

The discussion extended to gender mainstreaming, where Sharma passionately advocated for decision-making power for women. She highlighted the stark reality of unsafe spaces, citing alarming statistics where 95% of rapes occur at the hands of known perpetrators. The perpetrators, often shielded by familial ties, evade justice, perpetuating a cycle of impunity.

Sharma’s insights challenge prevailing narratives, offering a nuanced perspective on women’s safety and inclusion. She commended SABERA’s efforts to confront uncomfortable truths and foster dialogue beyond sensationalized media portrayals.

Moreover, Sharma emphasized the pivotal role of supportive men, advocating for inclusivity. She urged for a societal shift towards creating environments where women can thrive without fear, or men being endangered with their empowerment, thereby truly enabling the nation.

IPS Chhaya Sharma’s address at SABERA’s 6th edition stands as a testament to her distinguished career and unwavering commitment to justice and empowerment. As the proud recipient of two Special Duty Medals for her services in remote and insurgency-affected areas in the northeast of India, and the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service. Her recent accolades, include the Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation by the Government of India.

IPS Chhaya Sharma’s insights at SABERA’s event serve as a reminder of the transformative power of individuals dedicated to creating positive change in society. Her remarkable achievements inspire us to strive for a world where justice, empowerment, and inclusivity prevail.

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सबेरा SABERA 2021 Awards Participants & Partners unveiled

Suparnaa Chadda — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 08:47:20 +0000

The jury of the fourth edition of सबेरा SABERA 2021 Awards commences the process of selecting the final winners to be announced at a grand virtual summit on December 9th. The prestigious awards recognize the social impact to promote Sustainable Development Goals (Including Gender Diversity) and ESG principles besides acknowledging CSR outreach.

सबेरा SABERA, which stands for Social And Business Enterprise Responsible Awards, endeavours to acknowledge Purpose beyond Profit. Launched by the UN Women awardee Simply Suparnaa © Media network, the event has become synonymous with GOOD. A wide spectrum of entries has been received from India’s largest businesses, impactful nonprofits and passionate individuals.

The participants from India’s largest Organizations & most Impactful NGO’s include Anugraha Drishtidaan , Auspice Social , Birlasoft Ltd, , BansiVidya Memorial Trust, Bhaktivedanta Hospital & Research Institute, Bharat Aluminium Company, Bharat Petroleum Company Limited, Bharti Foundation, Cancer Awareness Prevention and Early Detection Trust, Children’s LoveCastles Trust, Dabur India Ltd, DGTRA Consultancy Pvt Ltd., E-Waste Social Private Limited, Ecohoy, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd., Hindustan Unilever Ltd., IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute Foundation, Ingenuity Edulabs LLP., Jyoti Bahuudesiya Sevabhavi Sanstha, Kamalnayan Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Keshav Sita Memorial Foundation Trust, Kimberly Clark, Maruti Suzuki, ONGC Foundation, Oorjan Cleantech, S M Sehgal Foundation, Samarpan Foundation, Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer, Sankalp Jyoti, Sarathi Development Foundation, Save the Children SBI General Insurance Company Limited, Sterlite Technologies Limited, Sun Pharma Community Healthcare Society, Sustainable Advancements, Swades Foundation, TIEEDI Forest Garden, Udyama, WAY2WORLD, We will still rise, WinPE Development Forum and WNS Global Services amidst others.

सबेरा SABERA 2021 has partnered with United Nations Global Compact Network India as SDG partner, ShethePeople.TV as digital-media partner, and eShe as magazine partner to amplify content on traditional and new-age media platforms. Amazon India has come on board as a Gift Partner to felicitate the eminent jury members and speakers. MG Motors India Pvt Ltd., which work diligently to promote gender diversity, will be the ESG partner this year.

सबेरा SABERA aims to be the tripartite bridge between the three sectors of corporate India, civil and nonprofit sectors. The jury has senior representatives from these sectors and has already rigorously screened the entries as part of the jury process and has arrived at a shortlist.

Jury Chair, Renu Sud Karnad, MD, HDFC Bank Ltd, shared her sentiments on chairing the jury and said, “SABERA has been doing a commendable job by bringing to the fore and recognizing achievements by individuals, corporates, and communities working towards a better sustainable future. These selfless do-gooders by virtue of their perseverance and conviction deserve to be celebrated as role models for society at large. I am honoured to be the JURY CHAIR for the 2020-21 awards and I am convinced that the awardees this year will inspire many more to follow in their footsteps.”

The jury includes noted personalities such as Dr Bhaskar Chatterjee (IAS), popularly known as the father of CSR in India; Uday Varma (IAS), Former Secretary Ministry of I&B and MSME; Suhela Khan, Country Program Manager, WeEmpower Asia UN Women; Ananta Raghuvanshi, Founder Director, NARDECO MAHI GOI; Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director, Volvo Group India; Richard Rekhy, Board, KPMG Dubai; Shaili Chopra, Founder, SheThePeople.TV; Mathew Cherian, Chair CARE India and Geeta Goel, Country Director, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.

The awards will be held virtually on December 9th, 2021. The high-impact speakers at the Summit preceding the awards will include Padma Shri Dr Prakash Amte and Dr Mandakini Amte, a couple that is the epitome of a purpose beyond profit. As professional doctors, they have dedicated their lives to healing the indigenous tribes in the remote part of our country. Dr Bibek Debroy, chair, an economic advisory council to the Prime Minister, has been a constant supporter of the event since its inception and will continue to be the Guest of Honor for the fourth consecutive year.

Since year one, the award ceremonies have been anchored by girls from marginalized sectors of society who have emancipated themselves and their communities through education. This year, too, the face of सबेरा SABERA will be a teenage girl from the remote village of Uttarakhand.

An annual event that seeks to initiate a transformative journey for the nation by highlighting ESG and SDG aligned best practices, सबेरा SABERA award categories are based on UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as environment, education, enablement, health and wellbeing, agriculture and rural development, and diversity and inclusion. The entity awards will evaluate ESG best practices of Responsible Businesses and Promising Responsible Businesses (minimum three years and maximum ten years in operation). The organizational and individual categories include Social Enterprise, Not for Profit, Social Leader, Promising Social Leader (under 30 years), Change Maker, as well as Lifetime Achievement awards. Benchmarks for the awards were set by the jury based on qualitative and quantitative measures for impact, sustainability and scalability.

About Simply Suparnaa © Media network
Simply Suparnaa © Media network is an award-winning organization that consciously works towards creating a positive narrative away from sensationalism by creating and distributing Responsible content. The founder Suparnaa Chadda uses her versatile experience of over two decades in the Indian media to curate सबेरा SABERA that Recognizes GOOD across civil, corporate and development sectors. Amidst others, the Network stands for enabling gender sensitivity and conducts menstrual hygiene sessions distributing sustainable feminine hygiene products in urban slums through the nonprofit womanendangered.org. The network also awards entities & Individuals working around ESG & SDG principles. It also provides a platform for marginalized girls or women who have taken a career break to get back into the mainstream. The network strongly believes that leadership and spirituality are interconnected and have the potential to bring about a larger change in society. It has been awarded by the UN Women WEP Awards 2021 as an SME Community Champion.

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