Winners of the Sandvik India Gender Awards
The Sandvik India Gender Awards are divided into eight categories. The jury selects one individual per category to be awarded for his or her contributions to gender equality, diversity and inclusion.
Award winners 2019
1. Independent
Mana Mandlekar, Alampur, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Project ‘Kavach’ addresses issues to bring about social change within the community, working towards creating a society with equal opportunities for both the genders. Mana Mandlekar, who leads the project team, primarily works with girls and uses sports as a medium of approach. The girls learn martial arts and self-defense practices. Alongside this, they undergo a series of training for enhancing their leadership skills and increase their knowledge about child rights, gender violence, and sexual and reproductive health.
2. Community-based organization
Dulari Khatoom, Swayam, Kolkata, West Bengal
The Swayam organization works actively with women to implement a rights-based approach that includes advocating rights and entitlements for the education of their children and the financial security of their family members. It helps motivating women in the community to form groups to facilitate access to their own rights and stand up against gender-based violence and discrimination, helping women to transform their families and neighborhoods.
3. Not for profit
Pooja O Murada, Sehgal Foundation, Gurugram, Haryana
Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahen (‘let’s share something’) is a radio program at community radio Alfaz-e-Mewat FM 107.8. The initiator Pooja O Murada strategically utilizes storytelling on radio and digital platforms to create spaces for dialogue and provide a platform for adolescents to share their journeys which include physical, emotional, and psychological changes. The program strategically questions and challenges the hegemonic patriarchal discourses, gender-based violence, how to eliminate gender discrimination and promote gender equality.
4. Social enterprise
Dr. Archana Shukla Mukherjee, Change Alliance, New Delhi
The Change Alliance project facilitates gender equality and a safe working environment for female workers at the factory-floor in eleven garment factories located in Gurugram, Bengaluru and Chennai. Dr. Archana’s area of focus is to increase understanding at the factory about gender equality, safe and gender-sensitive workplaces as well as legal mechanism to address issues related to sexual harassment.
5. Government
Sarojini Brahma, Smart City Bhubaneshwar, Orissa
The Smart City project focuses on creating a model for sustainable urbanization based on new urbanism principles, to provide people with prosperity, safety and equity. Sarojini Brahma aims at impacting the above areas through a collaborative initiative of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited and United Nations Population Fund. The project was piloted in eight slums and in the third year it expanded to cover 100 slums of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.
6. Academia
Dr. Abha Rishi, Bimtech, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Dr. Abha Rishi has been focusing on educating and skilling girls under the project ‘Chiraiya’, carried out in a village adopted by Bimtech called Neemka, located in Jewar Block, Uttar Pradesh. To reduce the possibility of a re-offense, Dr. Rishi and her team have provided the necessary skills and education to prison inmates, especially females, who have no recourse to a dignified life of labor.
7. Corporate organization (Policy)
Debdatta Baxi, McCain, New Delhi
To deliver on the company's commitment to a diverse and inclusive culture, McCain has implemented strategic programs designed to connect with diverse communities. They promote diversity through leadership, training, mentoring and networking; train and develop employees to seek, respect, value and leverage diversity of thought and ideas.
8. Corporate organization (CSR)
Vinayak Kelkar, Praj, Pune, Maharashtra
The Praj Foundation is a trust which steers Praj Industries' social responsibility engagements and aligns its projects/programs to SDG 5*, reflecting the company policies as well. Through Praj, Vinayak Kelkar and his team focus on environment sustainability, preventive healthcare, promotion of education, capacity building, besides empowerment and gender equality.
* SDG 5 = Sustainable Development Goal 5.
Award winners 2018
1. Independent
Sophia Khan, SAFAR, Gujarat
SAFAR is a public charitable trust that works to eliminate violence against women, promote gender equality, human rights education and empowerment of women and minorities.
2. Community-based organization
Motiben Chavada, SMVSM
SMVSM (ShSorath Mahila Vikas Sahakari Mandali) has taken up an internet project to empower women and shatter the gender stereotypes and belief systems. The project aims to empower rural women to drive the agenda of digitization.
3. Not for profit
Video Volunteers
Video Volunteers is a media and human rights non-profit organization that runs India's largest network of community correspondents. Through the campaign ‘Khel Badal: Dismantle Patriarchy’, community correspondents document stories of everyday patriarchy and normalized sexism.
4. Social enterprise
Swapnil Chaturvedi, Samagra Empowerment Foundation
The LooRewards project has established a breakthrough model to build smart communities which are managed by local women entrepreneurs, who generate revenue by selling additional value added products like soaps, toothbrushes and sanitary pads; thus not only doubling or tripling their income, but also making toilets self-sustainable.
5. Government
Ashok Hanamanth Chavan, MAVIM, Nashik
MAVIM (Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal) ensures joint-ownership of property or land in the name of women of the household. It also organizes women in self-help groups to provide them entrepreneurial skills training and enable them financially.
6. Academia
Dr. Kirti Dubey, Sevadal Mahila Mahavidyalaya
This academic institution strives to impart education to girls from economically backward communities of sub-urban and rural regions in Nagpur. The institute provides comprehensive education in one location, from kindergarten right up to a PhD doctorate.
7. Corporate organization (Policy)
Sanjam Gupta, Sitara Shipping Ltd
Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) provides a platform for women in maritime and allied industries. It aims to overcome bias by creating awareness and influencing decision makers to empower women in maritime industry.
8. Corporate organization (CSR)
Atul Karwatkar, Tata Power Community Development Trust
The Tata Power Community Development trust has promoted the first women dairy producer company in Maharashtra with the objective to improve livelihoods and provide sustainable income for more than 3,000 women dairy farmers.
Award winners 2017
1. Independent
Leena Kejriwal, Missing Link Trust
The Missing Public Art and Awareness campaign addresses the issue of child sex trafficking.
2. Community-based organization
Vaishali Rane, Onkaar Creation
Onkaar Creation works for differently abled candidates with all kinds of disabilities to find equal opportunities in employment. They are trained in, for example, tailoring and block printing, enabling them to lead a life of dignity.
3 Not for profit
Harish Sadani, MAVA
MAVA ('Men against violence and abuse') focuses on building gender perspectives among youth. The project aims to reach out to 20,000 readers and students through their annual magazine and seminars.
4. Social enterprise
Susieben Shah, PTS
PTS motivates women to be skillful and efficient drivers and take up driving as an option to earn a dignified livelihood.
5. Government
Manish D Joshi, AWAAZ-NISWAAN, Thane
AWAAZ-NISWAAN (‘Voice of women’) is an organization committed to working for women’s rights. 50 young girls are being sponsored through this initiative to play football and participate at local, state and national football matches.
6. Academia
Dr. Ratna Paluri, SPANDAN
The SPANDAN project aims to reach out to the tribal girls of Nashik and educate them on menstrual hygiene and safe menstrual practices.
7. Corporate organization (Policy)
Trupti Govvekar, Godrej and Boyce
Godrej and Boyce aims for a women-friendly work environment that encourages more women to work for the company.
8. Corporate organization (CSR)
Bina Joshi, Forbes Marshall
Forbes Marshall focusses on, for example, financial inclusion, enhancement in livelihood, social awareness, individual development and improved quality of life to women residing in neighboring slum communities.