The special video titled ‘Main Bhi Shakti’ celebrated women who have made a name for themselves in their respective fields. The anthem featured seven unstoppable women from various arenas. These include Ms. Sagrika Rai — Founder and creative director, Warp ‘N Weft; Ms. Puja Garg — Chairperson, FICCI FLO; Dr. Sharda Dubey — Champion of traditional Bhojpuri songs; Ms. Pankhuri Gidwani — Femina Miss Grand India 2016, actor, model, and UP khadi ambassador; Chef Pankaj Bhadouria — India’s first MasterChef, and an entrepreneur, TV host and author; Ms. Neera Rawat — IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Women & Child Security Organization, Uttar Pradesh; and Ms. Prashanti Singh — Indian national basketball team player, who is also a Padma Shri awardee, Arjuna awardee, and Rani Lakshmi Bai Bravery awardee. The inspiring lyrics of the anthem highlight how women are the embodiment of Shakti (power).

With the launch of the anthem on Women’s Day, Femina, via the initiative and with the state government of Uttar Pradesh, sent out a strong message to the masses that it stands with women. Dr. Kiran Bedi, IPS (Retd), Former Lieutenant Governor, Puducherry gave a special virtual address on the topic  Making Women Safety a Human Issue and not a Gender Issue. Neera Rawat — IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Women & Child Security Organization, spoke of the government’s ongoing Mission Shakti campaign. This was followed by a conversation on empowerment with Prashanti Singh, and a panel discussion on a new dawn for women in Uttar Pradesh; panellists included Ms. Renuka Mishra —  IPS, Additional Director General of Police with the UP Police Recruitment and Promotion Board; Ms. Sagrika Rai, Dr. Laxmi Gautam, Ms. Malini Awasthi, Ms. Aditi Singh, MLA, and Chef Pankaj Bhadouria, who spoke about women’s issues and the various measures being undertaken by the state government to address them. 22 women achievers were honoured at the event and it ended with a special performance by Meri Zindagi, a three-girl band that enthused the audience with rousing songs on empowerment.

Ahead of Women’s Day, Femina Spark took this very thought forward and collaborated with Grameen Foundation India and Abhishek Yadav — Special Commando Trainer and World Record Holder to curate special workshops for the lesser privileged women in Varanasi on March 4 followed by the same in Gorakhpur on the next day. The two workshops, on the topics of Financial Literacy and Self Defence garnered a resounding participation of women from these two cities. The workshop centered towards making these women independent, secure and empowered in every way possible.

Mr. Deepak Lamba, CEO, Worldwide Media, said, “A purpose-driven campaign requires like-minded partners and we are glad to amplify the underlying thought of Femina Spark with the UP Government. Through its efforts, we are starting to see the change that we want to see, and we are privileged to have played a role in building a better and safer future for women. We have always looked to make a difference, and we aim to reach out to as many women across the state with inspiring stories that will lead to a positive change in society. The anthem and event are a token of appreciation to those women who continue to shine amid all adversity and will surely encourage and empower every single woman out there to be a shining light.”

Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, said ‘’Femina Spark is an initiative to ‘Light Up Her Spirit’. Under this initiative, we have been doing many workshops to make women recognize their own honour, make them financially self-reliant, and to empower them. We believe joining hands with Femina will give  Mission Shakti Abhiyan an added dimension. We all know Femina has been  empowering the  women of India for over 61 years now by mentoring them at various stages. With this association, we look forward to keeping that tradition going for the women of Uttar Pradesh.’’

The Femina Spark campaign identifies and celebrates achievers from every walk of life. The initiative aims at spreading awareness on women’s safety and dignity, which dovetails with the Mission Shakti campaign driven by the state government.  The core idea of #MainBhiShakti will be explored through thought-provoking stories, spirited anthems, and testimonies from the female leaders of Uttar Pradesh, along with awareness workshops. Femina has also curated a series of videos featuring celebrities and achievers.

Link to the main video

– https://www.facebook.com/191478637535798/videos/866349250576562

The post Femina Spark celebrates the spirit of women with ‘Main Bhi Shakti’! first appeared on Latest News, Breaking News, National News, World News, India News, Bollywood News, Business News, Politics News, Sports News, Entertainment News - CineBuster.

The campaign broadly focuses on spreading awareness about women’s safety and dignity, which aligns with the Mission Shakti campaign driven by Uttar Pradesh Government.  Through the hashtag #MainBhiShakti, Femina Spark will feature some of the most empowering stories from Uttar Pradesh. Here are some of the ladies who have been inspiring women across borders.

With over 30 years of experience in policing, human resource management, recruitment and training, criminal investigation, maintenance of law and order, community policing and trans-national crime control, Renuka Mishra, Additional Director General of Police with the UP Police Recruitment and Promotion Board, has been an inspiration to many. “I believe that all of us are products of our own socialisation processes and, when we wear a uniform or hold positions of responsibility, we need to rise above our socialisation to ensure a non-judgemental response based on trust that the victim is speaking the truth,” avers Ms Mishra.

Puja Garg, Chairperson of the FICCI FLO Lucknow chapter and co-Founder & CEO of Amara Exhibitions, has been empowering lives in the state of Uttar Pradesh through FLO and creating various opportunities for women in the state. “I have been empowered through my education and my work as an entrepreneur, which has given me a sense of accomplishment,” reveals Ms Garg, adding, “For me, empowerment comes from taking responsibility to bring a positive change in my surroundings.”

Athlete Priyanka Goswami recently created a national record in women’s 20km race walking and was felicitated with  the Rani Lakshmi Bai Award. She has also qualified for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and is now prepping for them. “I feel proud to have been able to represent Uttar Pradesh on a national level and, soon, I will be representing India in the Olympics,” Ms Goswami enthuses.

Dr. Sharda Dubey is a well-known Bhojpuri singer, an English teacher and a cancer survivor. Upset that people don’t play traditional music at weddings any more, she is currently working towards bringing these traditions back. “I’m empowered by my self-confidence and dedication towards my work, irrespective of my age and health issues,” says Dr Dubey. “Being a cancer survivor, I often motivate girls and women by telling them ‘where there is a will, there is a way’. If society educates girls and trusts women, they can do the impossible.”

Sagrika Rai, founder and creative director of Warp ‘n Weft, has been working with the handloom industry and some of the most skilled craftsmen across the country for over two decades. Her clothing company has been delivering some of the finest Benarasi saris across India. “Being a woman is empowering, but perhaps the most uplifting thing for me is sharing the artisanal craftsmanship of Banaras and its incredible cultural legacy with the world,” says Ms Rai. “It’s a responsibility to safeguard, promote and re-establish love for our own Indian handmade textiles.”

Pankhuri Gidwani was the second runner-up at the Femina Miss India contest in 2016. She went on to score 92.7% in the ISC examination 2017, and is currently the brand ambassador for khadi in Uttar Pradesh. “I feel empowered every day because of the rock-solid support that my family has provided me to pursue the career of my choice,” says Ms Gidwani. “UP has been a land of opportunities and culture for me, and I have always received so much love and encouragement from my people that it keeps me connected to my roots and makes me feel empowered every day.”

The post Empowering woman achievers of Uttar Pradesh with ‘Femina Spark’! first appeared on Latest News, Breaking News, National News, World News, India News, Bollywood News, Business News, Politics News, Sports News, Entertainment News - CineBuster.