Pratibha Ukey Project Coordinator – Prakriti Nagpur, Maharashtra – India Pratibha’s work is centered in the Gandhian ideology of rural development which believes in the equality of men and women and that each individual has the potential for growth and if given opportunities. Since 1998, she has worked in the rural areas of Central India’s underdeveloped and underprivileged villages and … Read More

Nanda Gaikwad District Coordinator – Janawadi Rural Development Parbaani, Maharashtra – India Nanda believes in collective leadership and empowering women through building collectives. She was elected village chief from 2005 – 2010 and wants to continue fighting the elections and be an example to other people in her community. Nanda has worked with women’s groups, elected representatives, child labor organizations, … Read More

Naseem Shaikh Associate Director of Programs – Swayam Shikshan Prayog Osmanabad, Maharashtra – India Born and raised in Solapur, Naseem started working with Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) in 1996. She started her work as a program coordinator and has focused on implementing different approaches and initiatives to women’s economic empowerment in SSP. Naseem began addressing issues of health, hygiene, and … Read More

Minakshi Birajdar President – Integrated Agricultural Rural Development Organization Aurangabad District, Maharashtra – India Minakshi’s role is to gather and share information about government schemes to women. She works with self-help groups and the local government on economic and social empowerment and access to information. As President, she conducts staff reviews, and monitors and designs new training programs. Her community … Read More

Manisha Tokale President – Jagan Pratishtan Beed District, Maharashtra – India Manisha has been an activist since she earned her BA in human rights and has worked on farmers’ access to seeds and water rights, on sex workers rights, and in caste-based advocacy on issues of child marriage, education and land rights, and bonded labor. She has worked with Dalit … Read More

Malti Sagane State Covener, Mahila Rajsatta Andolan – RSCD Maharashtra – India Malti Sagane is passionate about women’s leadership and political influence and trains elected women officials to understand their roles. Many elected women don’t know their duties, rights, and responsibilities despite the requirement that 50% of seats in Parliament and legislative assemblies are reserved for women. With the right … Read More

Mahananda Chauhan Program Coordinator – Kamdhenu Saamajik Tuljapur, Maharashtra – India Mahananda has worked with women, men and children advocating for women’s rights in her community since 2008. For the past three years, she has been working with single (divorced/ separated/ widowed) women to facilitate their access to government schemes and for children to access education. To date, 150 individuals … Read More

Madhuri Deshkar Regional Coordinator – Om Ganeshaal Institute Bhandara District, Maharashtra – India Madhuri is an environmental activist, trainer, and current member of the Gram Panchayat. There is a fifty percent reservation for women in GPs, and she plans to serve out her term and seek re-election. She sees the potential to create opportunities for women’s economic empowerment from her … Read More

Laila Garda Director – KEM Hospital Research Center Pune, Maharashtra – India Laila received a medical degree from Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences Sevagram Wardha and a masters degree in Preventive and Social Medicine from the Armed Forces Medical College Pune. She was always interested in community health and social issues from the start of her medical career, with … Read More

Kushaverta Bele President – GMVS, Doni Deoni, Maharashtra – India Kushaverta works with women’s self-help groups for loans and savings generation so that women can be economically independent. She has facilitated the creation of lower caste women’s groups and linked them with larger networks so that marginalized women can associate with other women, increase their bargaining power, and negotiate their … Read More