CII Foundation

13/05/2026

The first leadership training of our Women Exemplars 2026 was not about teaching women how to become leaders. It was about helping them recognise the leader they already are.
Through conversations, reflection, laughter, and honest questions, women challenged common myths around leadership - beyond stereotypes and the usual assumptions we grow up with.
One of the most powerful moments of the session was when the women wrote letters to themselves, pausing to appreciate their own strength, resilience, journeys, and impact. In a world where women are often taught to be self-critical before self-compassionate, the activity became a quiet but important reminder to acknowledge themselves with the same kindness and encouragement they so freely give to others.

The women also created mini podcasts in pairs, capturing each other’s stories, turning points, and leadership journeys. In listening to one another, they didn’t just document stories. They celebrated courage, and community leadership.

Another special moment came when the women came together to build a symbolic bridge, reflecting on how individual journeys, when connected, create the collective strength of .

Confederation of Indian Industry Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India Sunil Misra Shivani Kumar

13/05/2026

Congratulations to all the winners of the CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award 2026 and to every inspiring grassroots leader recognised at the CII Annual Business Summit 2026.
Your work across , , and
reflects the power of community-led change and the extraordinary impact of women’s leadership at the grassroots.
We look forward to working together to deepen social impact, strengthen communities, and continue building pathways for inclusive and sustainable development across India.

At the CII Annual Business Summit 2026, 20 inspiring grassroots women leaders were recognised for their contribution to social development.

Four outstanding women received the prestigious CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award for their work in the areas of Health, Education, Community Strengthening and Micro-Enterprise, presented by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon'ble Minister of Education.

The CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Program identifies, recognises and empowers grassroots women leaders who have risen above challenges to create meaningful impact through leadership, resilience, and innovation at the grassroots level.
These woman exemplars are collectively impacting the lives of over 2 million people each year through empowerment models implemented across some of the most vulnerable sections of our society.

Dharmendra Pradhan

13/05/2026

“Rural India is no more a space for intervention but a space for opportunity,” said Shri Rohit Kansal, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, during the session Future of Rural Societies: Building Resilient Local Economies.

He emphasised that rural transformation is the very foundation of Viksit Bharat, adding that the real deficit today is not of capital, but of collaboration — calling upon industry and institutions to work together in shaping resilient rural economies.

Luis Guimaraes, Chief Commercial Officer, Portugal’s Development Bank (BPF) (Portugal), brought in a global banking perspective, highlighting international evidence that the right structures and investments can drive sustained rural transformation. He spoke about the immense untapped talent in rural communities and left the audience with two key ideas — cohesion and cluster-based development — as pathways for inclusive and scalable growth.

Saloni Malhotra, Founder, Desi Crew, highlighted the transformative role of technology in rural India, reflecting on how the internet, smartphones and now AI have each reshaped the country in different ways.

Sminu Jindal, Managing Director, Jindal Saw Limited, drew attention to the importance of accessibility and infrastructure as essential pillars of rural transformation, stressing that inclusive development cannot be achieved unless spaces and systems are accessible for all.

Moderated by Shankar Vanavarayar, President, Kumaraguru Institutions & Executive Director, ABT Industries, the session also emphasised the role of education in shaping resilient rural societies — highlighting how meaningful transformation cannot happen without investing in human potential, skills, and learning ecosystems that empower communities to lead their own development journey.

The session brought together powerful perspectives on building resilient local economies where rural communities emerge not merely as participants, but as leaders in India’s development journey.

Sunil Misra Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India Sarbani Chakravarty Confederation of Indian Industry
CII Southern Region CII Western Region CII Eastern Region

07/05/2026

CII Foundation Connect – April 2026 Edition
📖 The latest issue of Connect highlights an important shift in our development approach—introducing sports as a key intervention to strengthen community engagement and wellbeing.
🏃‍♂️ Across project locations, sports such as kabaddi, football, and athletics are being integrated into village programs—bringing communities together, encouraging youth participation (especially among girls), and fostering confidence, discipline, and teamwork. The response across states reinforces the role of sport as a powerful enabler of holistic development.
Beyond this, the edition continues to trace our ongoing efforts in strengthening community healthcare systems, advancing early childhood education, restoring natural resources, and expanding skilling and livelihood opportunities—ensuring CSR initiatives reach underserved regions with greater impact.

🔗 Read the April 2026 Edition here:
https://ciifoundation.in/uploads/newsletter/CII-Foundation-Connect-April-20260502161514.pdf

of Indian Industry Misra Eastern Region Southern Region

06/05/2026

Over the past weeks, we’ve witnessed 20 powerful stories of resilience, leadership, and , women who are not just building livelihoods, enabling education, improving health and well-being, and strengthening communities, but truly 'Transforming villages, empowering communities'.

From challenging deep-rooted barriers to creating scalable, community-led solutions, each Woman Exemplar Award finalist represents the strength and spirit of change across India.

Now, it’s time for the next big moment. The begins to celebrate these extraordinary changemakers, the women who are driving real, lasting where it matters the most.

Stay tuned as we gear up to announce the winners of the CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award 2026—honouring leaders who are redefining possibilities for and communities across the country.
Confederation of Indian Industry Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India Sunil Misra Shivani Kumar Chetna Gala Sinha Gazala Shaikh khan

04/05/2026

From intent to measurable impact—empowering NGOs to lead the future of CSR.
📍 Pune | 🗓️ 27, 29–30 April 2026

The 1st CII NGO Capacity Building Program 2026 was successfully launched in Pune, bringing together 23 NGOs from the western region. Organized under the aegis of the CII National CSR Committee and curated by CSR Heads and ISDM, the 3-day program combined online and classroom sessions.

It focused on strengthening NGOs in CSR compliance, result-based project design, implementation & monitoring, budgeting, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.

The program featured engaging interactions with industry leaders, including Ms. Smita Vaish Agarwal and Mr. Rajan Navani, who highlighted the critical role of NGOs as partners in India’s development journey.

A key highlight was the Mock Pitch Session, where NGOs presented their projects and received practical feedback from CSR leaders.

Special thanks to Bharat Forge and JetSynthesys for supporting this pilot, and to all participants for enabling us to scale this initiative across the country.

Sunil Misra Confederation of Indian Industry Sarbani Chakravarty

02/05/2026

Meet Jasmeen | Woman Exemplar Award 2026 Finalist - Education
Raised in a village in Nuh, Haryana, in a family of 17, Jasmeen grew up in a community where girls’ education was rarely prioritised. To fund her education, she borrowed money, sold old books, and began tutoring children at just 15.
Against the odds, she became one of the few girls in her village to complete her M.A. but Jasmeen’s journey didn’t stop at her own success.
Determined that no girl should have to rely on personal courage alone to access education, she began building support systems across villages in Nuh. Since 2021, her work has focused on re-enrolling dropout children, strengthening school retention, and integrating formal education into Madrasas, creating pathways for girls to transition into mainstream schooling.
With a direct impact of over 7000 individuals and outreach to 15,000 more, Jasmeen is steadily transforming access to education in one of Haryana’s most underserved and conservative regions.
As a CII Woman Exemplar Award 2026 finalist, she envisions universal girls’ education in Mewat - where every girl is in school, supported by her community.
Support Jasmeen in integrating formal education into religious learning centres and scaling this model so more girls can access quality education. Write to us at [email protected] or [email protected].
Confederation of Indian Industry Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India Sunil Misra Shivani Kumar Sarbani Chakravarty Chetna Gala Sinha Gazala Shaikh khan

01/05/2026

Meet Nirmala | Woman Exemplar Award 2026 Finalist – Micro-Enterprise

At 19, Nirmala was navigating early marriage with an undernourished infant in her arms under circumstances that questioned her right to even bring her child into the world. SInce then, Nirmala is ensuring no woman’s survival depends on someone else’s permission.

In Uttar Pradesh’s deeply rural landscape, where women’s labour rarely translates into income or agency, Nirmala stepped in as a Block Resource Person with National Rural Livelihood Mission and for 8 years now, she's building pathways for women to earn, save, and lead.

From forming 500+ SHGs across 15 blocks to training over 15,000 women in financial literacy and governance, Nirmala's work has transformed the lives of around 7,000 women, who are earning steady incomes through micro-enterprises such as tailoring and livestock.

As a CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award 2026 finalist, she is building a future where women are recognised as independent economic contributors beyond marital status, beyond social barriers.

To support Nirmala’s vision of transforming SHGs into thriving enterprises and creating community spaces for women’s financial independence, write to us at [email protected] or [email protected].
Confederation of Indian Industry Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India Sunil Misra Shivani Kumar Sarbani Chakravarty Chetna Gala Sinha Gazala Shaikh khan

01/05/2026

Meet Laxmipriya | Woman Exemplar Award 2026 Finalist – Micro-Enterprise

Having lived the reality of getting abandoned during pregnancy and raising two children single-handedly, even as she continued her education, Laxmipriya chose to lead. She started mobilising women into self-help groups, building pathways to savings, credit, and financial independence.

From turning a bird poaching site in Odisha into a thriving eco-tourism destination, to enabling women farmers to diversify incomes through mushroom cultivation, livestock, and orchard management—her work is rooted in one powerful idea: multiple income streams create stability.

Through her multi-preneurship model, Laxmipriya has strengthened sustainable livelihoods impacting over 12,435 lives directly.

As a CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award 2026 finalist, she is building a future where women don’t just earn but lead thriving rural enterprises.

To support Laxmipriya’s vision of converting Producer groups into Centers of Excellence to train and mentor women entrepreneurs, write to us at [email protected] or [email protected].
Confederation of Indian Industry Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India Sunil Misra Shivani Kumar Sarbani Chakravarty Chetna Gala Sinha Gazala Shaikh khan

30/04/2026

Meet Gitasree | Woman Exemplar Award 2026 Finalist – Micro-Enterprise

Growing up on Mousuni Island in the Sundarbans, where cyclones and tidal floods often washed away homes, Gitasree saw her community survive on relief for years with little hope of building something sustainable.

Resistance to girls’ education and an abusive marriage only deepened her resolve to create pathways to economic independence for women like herself. Today, Gitasree is transforming livelihoods by enabling climate-resilient farming practices among women farmers.

Through her initiatives - Ankur and Sammaan, she has strengthened income security for vulnerable households, integrated livelihood support with legal assistance, and built a network of 10,000 women leaders through her Pyramid Leadership Model, ensuring that knowledge, ownership, and resilience stay within the community.

As a CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award 2026 finalist, Gitasree has directly impacted over 10,000 individuals and reached over 42,000 people, ensuring that communities move beyond cycles of relief to self-sustained, climate-resilient futures.

To help Gitasree negotiate better with institutions and scale across Sundarbans, write to us at [email protected] or [email protected].
Confederation of Indian Industry Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India Sunil Misra Shivani Kumar Sarbani Chakravarty Chetna Gala Sinha Radhika Bharat Ram Gazala Shaikh khan

30/04/2026

Meet Arundhati | Woman Exemplar Award 2026 Finalist – Micro-Enterprise

Born into a farming family, Arundhati faced a life-altering setback when her husband met with a serious accident. She found herself navigating both personal and financial challenges, while also confronting social stigma for working with cow dung and earthworms.

Starting with vermicomposting on her one-acre farm, Arundhati not only transformed her own livelihood but began mobilising farmers around her. From training farmers in organic practices to forming collectives that enable bulk buying, shared resources, and better market access—her work steadily built resilience in small farming communities.

Through her innovative sugarcane nursery model with near 100% germination, she has enabled 25 nurseries to flourish—each generating ₹5–6 lakh annually while creating local employment for women.

Arundhati has directly impacted over 46,500 individuals and reached more than 1,56,000 people, enabling livelihoods rooted in sustainability and collective strength.

As a CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award 2026 finalist, she is bridging critical gaps, connecting nearly 4,000 farmers and supporting 150 SHGs (~1,500 women) across 52 villages to step into independent income generation.

To support Arundhati in establishing a Farmer Producer Organisation for fair pricing and shared prosperity, write to us at [email protected] or [email protected].
Confederation of Indian Industry Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India Sunil Misra Shivani Kumar Sarbani Chakravarty Chetna Gala SinhaRadhika Bharat Ram Gazala Shaikh khan