World NGO Day is an international day dedicated to recognizing, celebrating and honour all non-governmental and nonprofit organizations and the people behind them that contribute to society all year round.
Back in 2014, the 27th of February became a historic day for the NGO community worldwide, as on this day “World NGO Day,” was inaugurated for the first time internationally.
Today, with a blend of social purpose and business acumen, Indian women are embarking on a journey to change perceptions and create prosperity for themselves and for the nation.
Today, on World NGO Day, 2022, we take the opportunity to bring forth some remarkable women entrepreneurs, who have made society a better place through their contributions.
- Rashi Anand was just 21 years old when she noticed the wealth disparity in urban cities. Looking at the plight of street children, she decided she had to do something to uplift their lives. Hence Lakshyam was born, driven by her vision to create a place where all living beings coexist and co-create in harmony. Today, the non-governmental organisation works towards the upliftment of underprivileged children and women in India and has touched over a million lives.
- Aditi Gupta is one of the Indian women entrepreneurs who is an author and the co-founder of the comic Menstrupedia. She is a social woman entrepreneur in India working towards raising awareness about menstruation. Tired of the myths and misinformation that surrounded Menstruation she took it upon herself to make a change. She and her husband co-founded the comic in 2012. In 2014 she was listed on the Forbes India 30 under 30 list for her work towards breaking the taboo. Although it isn’t a full-fledged NGO that Aditi runs, she has extended support to more than 6,000 schools and the comic has benefited more than 10,00,000 girls in over 14 languages.
- Vandana Luthra is the Chairperson of Beauty and Wellness Sector Skill Council (BWSSC) which is a non-profitable organization with the motto to educate women from backward communities and women with financial issues. BWSSChas helped a lot of women to become financially independent. Vandana Luthra has hence helped the financially backward communities in several ways.
Khushi NGO was set up by the well-known cricketer, Kapil Dev in 2003, and Vandana Luthra is the vice-chairman of this non-profitable charity program. Khushi NGO works for underprivileged children and helps them in numerous ways.
Khushi NGO transforms their lives through education and works at a national level. It ensures that children in need are not deprived of schooling, health, and food. Khushi NGO even helps the family of poor children economically and supports them in every possible aspect.
- Ruplekha Banerjee Sinha Roy , began Lotus Rescue with the aim of giving street children opportunities they rightly deserve. The founder, had a passion for helping the disadvantaged and the story evolved when she began bringing some order into the lives of vagrant children in her colony by getting them to study in her house. Soon, more students arrived with a desire to learn. This is how Lotus Rescue was born in 2013.Providing midday meals and co-curricular activities, apart from academic support, are endeavors of Lotus Rescue schools to bring about holistic development in children.
Along the way, destitute women with useful skills were also enabled to make a living. Today there are schools in Kolkata, Chanda Village (Nadia District), Tetulia and Panpur-Kakinara. Through education, work, and influencing violent, undernourished families, Lotus rescue works tirelessly day and night to create a more equal and compassionate society.
In the current era, the league of female social entrepreneurs are indeed charging ahead. They are innovators who are bringing about the much-needed social change. Here, it is noteworthy that a friendly policy environment can encourage more women to create social businesses and NGOs that will benefit the local economy and community alike.
Avtar Madan
Content Team
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
