Padma Awardees 2021 – Leading Edge Women (Part 2)

The first part of this series covered a brief history of the Padma awards as well as 5 of this year's awardees. Let's end by discovering 5 more. Here are the inspiring stories of trailblazing women who make us proud in so many ways.

1. Dr. Niru Kumar

Source: theprint.in

Dr. Niru Kumar began her work on gender inclusion 15 years ago when there were no formal discussions about gender diversity in the public and private spheres. Kumar was diagnosed with polio at a young age when society had not yet recognized accessibility as a necessity. She was only six years old when she began to comprehend the necessity of fair treatment.

Dr. Niru Kumar is a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, a Medical Doctor, an Executive Coach, a CHI Certified Teacher, and Hypnosis Practitioner. She is also a National Icon and a board member of the Election Commission of India. She is a pioneer in the field of D&I in India, and her unique blend of knowledge in the above fields has impacted and transformed individuals and organizations.

She has consulted with over 50 prominent corporations and trained over 30,000 people in plants in the most distant places, ranging from global leaders to frontline workers. Unilever, Google, PepsiCo, Amazon, TATA, Aditya Birla, Flipkart, etc. are among her clients.   She also conducts one-on-one coaching sessions with top global leaders on the topic of inclusive leadership. Dr. Niru's work is filled with passion and inspiration, as she has surmounted the hurdles of serious physical impairment.

2. Pappamal

Source: Rediffmail

The 105-year-old one of the most efficient organic farmers of India is unbelievably steady and energetic for her age. She comes from a family of farmers. In her village, she owned a 2.5-acre farm where she used to grow lentils like horse gram and green gram. She now largely crops bananas. She has worked closely with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University over the years. She would go to their many farmers' markets on her own and put everything she learned into practice.

Pappammal first heard the term "organic farming" at one of these meetings. She took it home and put it to the test. Her approaches quickly garnered attention, and the university began sending students to her village on field trips to learn from her. Pappammal, too, paid a visit to farms recommended by the university. Pappammal was able to learn from the greatest in the profession while also sharing what she knew. She was probably the only woman farmer at most, if not all, of the events.

Her undying spirit at an age like 105 after a life with many difficulties is inspiring. She had the courage to pursue her interests in a field that was and still is male-dominated to a great extent is outstanding.

3. Oinam Bembem Devi

Source: ANI News.com

Popularly known as the Durga of Indian Football, Bembem received a Padma Shri award for her 20 years of phenomenal service to the national team. She is India's first female footballer to be awarded the Padma Shri.  Devi is also the second Indian woman to receive the Arjuna Award for football.

Devi, who used to change her name to play football with boys so they wouldn't discard her because she was a female as a child, has come a long way to become India's torchbearer for women's football. She noted in an interview after receiving the Padma Shri that seeing her pains, sacrifices, and hard work come together was a moment of enormous happiness for her and that the acknowledgment will encourage her for future tasks and endeavors.

4. Jaswantiben Popat

Source: Herzindagi.com

There can't be many Indians who haven't tried her product! Her papad's flavor has been known to the last two generations in particular. This wonderful papad company began with an INR 80 loan and has now evolved into a massive business empire with a turnover of over Rs 800 crore and hundreds of needy women employed.

Jaswanti Ben owns the majority of the multibillion-dollar business she co-founded with six of her friends. Despite having no prior business experience, Jaswantiben transformed her home business into a cottage industry solely through her determination and hard work. Along the way, she mentored and empowered hundreds of women, providing them with the necessary support to attain financial independence.

Their company was originally known as Shri Mahila Gruha Udyog Lijjat Papad, but it was renamed Lijjat Papad in 1962. Lijjat is a Gujarati word that means 'delicious.' The small papad business, which started with just Rs 80 in a loan, now employs 42000 women and has over 60 branches. This papad is sold all across the country and exported to England, the United States, Singapore, Thailand, and the Netherlands, among many other places.

5. Sangkhumi Bualchhuak

Source: United News of India

After 40 years of relentless contribution to women empowerment and protection of women's rights, Sangkhumi has earned the Padma award with her glorious and daring acts. She encountered severe atrocities and injustices against women while growing up in her home state of Mizoram. It was mostly due to antiquated laws, backward norms, and low levels of literacy and knowledge among women, she discovered.

Mizoram's State Law Commission has taken upon itself to review three bills and present them in the State Assembly following public consultation in the northeastern state, in what is considered a historic victory for the women's movement. This is the outcome of a remarkable struggle conducted by the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), an apex body comprising numerous local women's groups, that has lasted over a decade.

The work done by Sangkhumi and her team is truly commendable in every which way for the protection of Mizo women. She has been working and is still working to curb, modify, and bring in force legislature that protects Mizo women and help them grow.