MUMBAI: EdelGive Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Edelweiss, launched ‘The Influencers’, a platform of individuals that will influence and utilise their collective strengths towards ‘women empowerment’ efforts in India. With a shared vision of an India, where all individuals are treated equally, this platform brings together eminent personalities – with diverse expertise, experience, and interests, driven by a common passion – a gender-just India.
This group of like-minded individuals who have voluntarily come together include: CEO, EdelGive Foundation Vidya Shah; actor-director Nandita Das; one of India’s renowned corporate lawyers Zia Mody; philanthropists Archana and Amit Chandra; cine-storytellers turned social change actors Svati and Satyajit Bhatkal; ADG, Women Power Line Anju Gupta; Executive Vice-President, CDPQ India Anita George; Non-Executive Director, Allcargo Logistics Arathi Shetty; Managing Director, MegaDelta Capital Advisors Bala Despande; Research Director, IDFC Institute, Niranjan Rajadhyaksha; Founder & CEO, Scroll Inc. Samir Patil; Founder & CEO, Savannah Wisdom Shalni Arora; Managing Director, Borosil Glassworks Ltd. Shreevar Kheruka; Director, Lucky Securities Ashish and Sushmita Kacholia; Director, Prasad Agents Vrinda Rajgarhia.
The platform aims to harness their individual prowess for a collective goal. Partnering them in this effort are 15 NGOs doing critical work towards enabling social and economic empowerment of women and girls across the country. They include ANANDI, AALI, Breakthrough India, CORO, Jan Sahas, Kolkata Sanjog, KMVS, IBTADA, Milaan, IT For Change, Majlis, Nishtha, Shaheen, Vacha, Mann Deshi Foundation.
Speaking at the launch, Vidya Shah, CEO, EdelGive Foundation said, “A first of its kind idea, the Influencers are a group of influential people who care deeply about the issues of women and girls, and want to exercise their influence to bring change. EdelGive created the Influencers as a platform to inform, amplify and galvanise action! This platform presents a great opportunity for us to come together and build a powerful grassroots connect to the real world, one that will assist in bringing about a shift in power; increasing decision-making capacities, inspiring women for active societal participation.”
Satyajit, spoke on the power of communication followed by action to shape mindsets while leaders of NGOs like Ashif Shaikh of Jan Sahas that has launched a nationwide Dignity March to end sexual violence against women and children, and Sujata Khandekar of CORO for Literacy working on single women’s leadership in communities in rural Maharashtra; shared their motivation, agenda and tools of influencing at the event.
The launch meet culminated with a joint call to action by Vidya representing EdelGive’s role as an anchor of this group, the Influencers who will drive the mission, as well as the NGOs engaged in facilitating last-mile impact; to arrive at an action-oriented plan for women empowerment in India.
