New Delhi (NVI): Women, time and again have proven their mettle, with their grit and resilience, to shine and prosper in every field. Every year International Women’s Day in marked on March 8 worldwide.
To celebrate women’s day this year and to honour Indian women for their valorous and extraordinary acts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier this week, announced that he would hand over his social media accounts “to women whose life and work inspire us”. PM Modi also asked his followers to share stories of such inspiring women using the hashtag #SheInspiresUs.
Since his appeal, Twitter has been flooded with tales of extraordinary women who are challenging gender stereotypes with their work.
Here are some of the amazing women who are shattering glass ceilings with their work:
– Sqn Ldr Minty Aggarwal
Fighter controller Minty was the eyes & ears of Wg Cdr Abhinandan during successful Balakot operation. She’s the 1st woman IAF officer to be awarded Yudh Seva Medal for her effort.
– Captain Tanya Shergill
The first Indian Woman Parade Adjutant to lead an all-man contingent at an Army Day Parade.
– Sreeja Debnath
Overcame domestic violence, family abandonment and rejection by her family after she was rescued from a red light area. She went on to transform the lives of 5000 at-risk girls and women through Dance Movement Therapy.
– Disha Shah
A 19-year-old budding entrepreneur from Chennai is working towards improving the financial literacy rate among women.
– Vanlalruati
HIV Positive woman from Mizoram, has counselled over 1,000 young women and girls living with HIV, reached over 10,000 drug users to increase awareness and campaigned to bring India’s free antiretroviral therapy programme to Mizoram.
– Sushma Bhadu
Sarpanch of Dhani Miyan Khan village, Haryana, is a model when it comes to women’s rights. She’s also built a training centre for women and ensured that every village child went to school. Under her guidance, her village has won many awards.
– Amla Ruia
Also called ‘Water Mother’, is one reason why the driest villages of Rajasthan now have their open wells, bore wells, hand pumps replete with water. Her Trust builds traditional check dams (Khadin) for drought ridden villages.
– Tajamul Islam
Coming from Bandipora district, Kashmir, created history by winning a gold medal in the Under-8 category of the World Kickboxing Championship in Italy. Young Tajamul stole the show when she knocked down her rival from the US, to become the world champion.
– Sarita Devi
Transformed a vast tract of a barren, hilly region in Maoist-infested Lakhisarai district of Bihar into a “green zone” by planting over one lakh trees on her own. She has also opened her own nursery to donate plants to the local villagers.
– Chetna Gala Sinha
A social activist working to empower women in drought-prone areas of rural India by teaching them entrepreneurial skills. She also set up the Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank – India’s first bank for and by rural women.
