Winners of the Sandvik India Gender Awards

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.

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.

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.