CII Foundation

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

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

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

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