The CII Foundation announced the Woman Exemplar Award 2023, which recognizes grassroots women leaders from rural and resource-poor backgrounds who are driving social change in their communities. The Award was presented by Smt Smriti Irani, Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, at a ceremony attended by senior leaders from the Government, Indian Industry, social development sector, and media.
The Awards were given to Pushpa Shukla from Raipur, Chhattisgarh in the Education category, Zohmangaihi from Aizawl, Mizoram in the Health category, and Archana Gokul Mane from Osmanabad, Maharashtra in the Micro-enterprise category. Each winner received a trophy, certificate, and cash award of Rs 3 lakh. Zohmangaihi from Aizawl, Mizoram, winner in the Health Category, battled depression and suicidal thoughts after being diagnosed with HIV and found a new life with counselling and ART therapy.
Smt. Smriti Irani emphasized the significance of celebrating the indomitable human spirit to triumph over sorrow, adversity, and obstacles, she said that CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Awards highlight the need to do much more to inspire women at the grassroots level to bring about social change.
