Odia woman's efforts to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene in rural areas lauded at Bengaluru event
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Bhubaneswar: The inspiring works of Barsha Rani Maharana from Odisha and Dwishojoyee Banerjee from Bihar were prominently featured at an event titled 'Shaping the Future with India's Youth,' co-hosted by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and UNICEF YuWaah in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including civil society organisations, climate sector experts, and youth leaders, all united in their commitment to advancing climate solutions and civic action. It showcased the stories of young climate leaders and volunteers from across India, highlighting their significant contributions to local communities.
Barsha (25), a dedicated volunteer and youth leader from Berhampur in Odisha, was lauded for her commitment to community development, women's empowerment and education.
Her initiatives, such as free pad distribution campaigns and raising awareness on menstrual hygiene in rural areas, made a significant impact.
Similarly, Dwishojoyee Banerjee (19), a young climate advocate and social entrepreneur from Patna, was recognised for her innovative efforts through the soft movement. Her paper bag project mobilised over 15,000 volunteers across 51 cities in India, replacing more than 2,00,000 single-use plastic bags.
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Speaking at the event, Uma Mahadevan, additional chief secretary of Karnataka, emphasised the power of individual action in driving lasting change. "When every citizen has skin in the game; engaged, invested, and involved, we witness powerful transformation. It becomes a collective force that reshapes communities and redefines what's possible," Mahadevan said.
Rohini Nilekani, chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, praised the Green Guardians programme, stating, "This will inspire many more young people to become a force for positive change.
Young people today face so many unprecedented challenges, climate change being a major concern. It is important that they are empowered with the skills needed for active citizenship."
The event underscored the significant role of youth-led climate actions, which account for 20.6 million of the 50 million pro-planet actions reported on the national Meri LiFE portal. This initiative, developed in partnership with the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, documents and encourages sustainable lifestyle actions across India under the Mission LiFE.
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