Shy to Strong: The Art of Living Transforms Girls' Lives in Karnataka & Maharashtra
Soft skills, strong squad
From 2024 to 2025, this transformative initiative has trained 375 women across Karnataka and Maharashtra – reaching those from underserved communities with little to no access to such opportunities.
What makes this initiative remarkable isn't just the curriculum – it's the confidence it instills.
At the core of the initiative is the Youth Leadership Training Program (YLTP) – a game changing blend of ancient wisdom and modern tools. Through Sudarshan Kriya, yoga, and meditation, participants develop inner resilience and emotional strength. These practices are complemented by interactive sessions on leadership, communication, and confidence-building, nurturing both personal growth and community awareness.
Jayashree Koppad finds independence through a telecalling job
In addition to inner transformation, the programme offers practical, job-oriented training in spoken English, basic computer literacy, Tally accounting software, and customer service. This integrated approach equips women with the mindset and competencies needed to step into roles such as office assistants, front desk executives, and customer service representatives, setting them firmly on the path to economic independence.
Stories of Change: Voices from the Ground
Vidyashree Nyamati
A diploma holder and mother of two, Vidyashree once set aside her career dreams for family responsibilities. Yet her determination never faded. Walking 15 kilometres daily to attend the centre, she embraced every opportunity the programme offered. Today, she leads as the Centre Coordinator in Haveri, a role she earned through grit and grace.
'I still remember buying myself a new dress with my first salary, just in time for Eid,' she shared with a smile. 'It was a proud moment for me and my family.'
Jayashree Koppad
After completing the programme, Jayashree began working part-time as a Telecaller at BMS Electronics. With her income, she now supports her education while easing the financial burden on her parents, marking her first step toward independence.
Salma Bidari
Salma, once held back by family restrictions, is now a Computer Operator and Receptionist. Her first salary brought tears of joy to her mother and shifted her family's perspective – from hesitation to pride and respect.
Saniya Hosmani
Now working at a Dish TV office, Saniya serves customers with grace and confidence. 'I am living a dream right now,' Saniya says. For the first time, she bought Eid gifts for her family – a moment of joy she described as 'beyond words.'
Meenakshi
At Mahaveer Automobiles, Meenakshi handles the front desk with quiet efficiency and reliability. Her role has not only brought financial stability to her home but also made her a pillar of strength for her family.
Behind the scenes, facilitators like Savitri Amma nurtured the womens journeys. 'These girls arrive shy and hesitant. Within months, they're speaking up, leading groups, and dreaming bigger,' she says. 'It's been a joy to witness.'
To ensure long-term success, the women received prestigious certifications from the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Ashirvad Pipes, and Sri Sri Rural Development Programme Trust (SSRDP) – an NSDC approved training partner. The results have been heartening: 202 women have received job offers, and all 375 have received dedicated placement assistance.
Project Coordinator Ketki Vaidya captures the spirit of the mission: 'We're not just teaching skills here. We're building a generation of women who believe in themselves. They're no longer just students – they're leaders.'
This initiative exemplifies what's possible through holistic training, community engagement, and a deep belief in human potential. It also reflects the strength of corporate collaboration in delivering measurable social impact. Equally essential has been local support. Community leaders like Bharathi Jambigi have helped ensure participant safety and encouragement throughout the journey.
With more centres planned across India, this movement is not just transforming individual lives – it's setting in motion a ripple of change that uplifts families and transforms communities
And this is just the beginning.
About The Art of Living Social Projects – SSRDP
Sri Sri Rural Development Program (SSRDP) is dedicated to uplifting rural communities across India. Inspired by the teachings of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, initiatives leverage sustainable technologies, value-based education, and strategic partnerships to empower farmers, enhance livelihoods, and foster a balanced, prosperous environment.
Follow: www.instagram.com/artofliving.sp
Like: www.facebook.com/artoflivingsocialprojects
Post: x.com/artofliving_sp
Message: www.linkedin.com/showcase/artofliving-sp
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
India's forgotten billionaire king who sold his jewels to 'light up every home'
A Golden Era for Mysore Live Events Powering Progress, Literally A King of Culture and Music Wealth Used for Good (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In an age where Indian royalty was known for gold-studded palaces, diamond collections, and fleets of Rolls-Royces, one Maharaja stood out, not just for his riches, but for how he used Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV of Mysore may not be as widely remembered today, but his story is a shining example of wisdom, kindness, and progress. While TIME Magazine called Mir Osman Ali Khan of Hyderabad the richest man in the world in 1937, with a fortune worth a jaw-dropping $236 billion (around Rs 19 lakh crore today), Wadiyar's quieter yet equally powerful legacy continues to live on through the lives he touched and the institutions he on June 4, 1884, in the grand Mysore Palace, Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV was just 11 years old when he became king. His mother, Maharani Vani Vilas Sannidhana, ruled as regent until he took full charge at many kings of his time, Wadiyar IV wasn't interested in living a life only of luxury. Trained in both Western and Indian education, he spoke English, Kannada, and Sanskrit, and had a deep love for the arts. Lord Curzon, then Governor-General of India, praised the young ruler's vision and expected Mysore to flourish under him, and he wasn't Wadiyar IV turned his kingdom into one of the most progressive regions in India. Instead of expanding his palace walls, he expanded opportunities for his people. He banned untouchability and stopped child marriages for girls under eight. Widowed women received scholarships, and he donated Rs 60 lakh every year from his personal wealth to help disabled also formed the Mysore Social Progress Association in 1915 and introduced one of the earliest reservation policies in the country. In 1918, he invited Sir Lesley Miller to assess the condition of backward classes, which led to 25% of government jobs being reserved for non-Brahmins, a bold step at that Wadiyar IV, Mysore became a pioneer in technology. In 1905, Bangalore became the first city in Asia to be fully electrified using hydroelectric power. This earned him the nickname 'Krishnaraja Bhoopa, Mane Mane Deepa,' which means 'the king who lit up every home.'He also revolutionised education. By 1915, primary education became compulsory. By 1927, the state's education budget jumped from Rs 6.9 lakh to Rs 46.8 lakh, supporting more than 5 lakh students across 8,000 wasn't just funding classrooms, he was building institutions for the future. He helped set up Mysore Sanskrit College, gave 10 acres of land to Sir CV Raman for his research institute, and donated 400 acres to Jamsetji Tata for what would later become the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Gandhi once called Wadiyar IV a "Rajarshi", a mix of king and sage. He was a gifted musician, playing instruments like the violin, veena, saxophone, and supported famous artists of the time, such as Gauhar Jan and Abdul Karim Khan, and backed yoga legend T. Krishnamacharya, helping take yoga to the global stage. He also wrote poetry in Kannada, expressing his deep connection to his people and the time of his death in 1940, his fortune was estimated at Rs 57,901 crore (adjusted for today's value). But he wasn't a king who hoarded wealth. One powerful example was his funding of the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam. When money ran out, he personally sold his own jewels in Mumbai to make sure the dam was completed, a gift to the people that still serves millions from TOI
Mint
8 hours ago
- Mint
Bulls to Blu-Smart: Mint's finest narrative journalism so far this year
Six years ago, I interviewed Isabelle Hasleder, a horse whisperer from Chennai. She helps business leaders communicate with, and understand, horses. A bit of 'horse quotient', she told me, could make people from the corporate world emotionally intelligent. We can learn immensely from other animals, too, as my colleague Sayantan Bera realized. You are certain to be endowed with 'bull quotient' if you read his profile of Anmol, a big bull that has fathered over 25,000 calves! He goes for morning walks, takes oil massages, eats cashews, almonds, apples, milk and eggs. The rich diet gives his coat an attractive shine, making him photogenic. This profile, an unusual one, is one of over 100 long reads Mint published in the first half of 2025. Our in-depth reportage mostly chronicles the rise and fall of businesses, and the people leading them. They also narrate the tale of ordinary people, those who get caught in a loop of greed because of the fear of missing out. For instance, in March, our ace market writer, Abhishek Mukherjee, and Sashind Ningthoukhongjam narrated the tale of newbie investors getting a dose of reality: Delhi-based insurance sector executive Prateek Verma, 37, says the biggest change his wife has noticed in him over the past few months is that he has become 'weirdly philosophical'. Can this be attributed to the joys of matrimony? The markets are a great leveller. Perhaps no corporation knows this better than HDFC Bank. For nearly four years, until a year ago, HDFC Bank's stock did not make any money for its investors. But things have started to change. In April, the bank's market valuation crossed ₹ 15 trillion, a landmark so far achieved only by Reliance Industries and Tata Consultancy Services. T. Surendar's in-depth analysis revolved around whether HDFC Bank can now shake up the pecking order of top global banks. Reliance Industries, meanwhile, is shaking up the business of soft drinks, and a new cola war is on the horizon. Soumya Gupta, who writes on consumer businesses, invoked nostalgia. Remember the Campa Cola ad from 1983, which featured Salman Khan? It positioned Campa Cola as the drink of choice for the cool, urban rich. They sang in English and partied at sea. Forty years later, everything has changed. Campa Cola is now just 'Campa'. The party boats in the ads have made way for traditional festivals, desi Indian sounds, and cheering cricket stadiums, with ordinary people sharing plastic bottles of Campa to the tagline 'Naye India Ka Apna Thanda'. This nationalist rebranding appears to have worked, the story tells us, with supporting data. Not all is well at Tata Consultancy Services, India's largest IT exporter. In fact, 2025-26 could be the company's most challenging year ever. N. Chandrasekaran, the Tata Sons chairman, once turbocharged the IT company as its CEO. In a move reminiscent of Nandan Nilekani returning to rescue Infosys, Chandra has now stepped in to fix things. Varun Sood, our ace investigative reporter, writes on the confusion within the company. The story ends with a billion-dollar question, just starting to do the rounds. You can't miss it. Yet another investigation by Sood focused on two companies, one public, the second one private. Blu-Smart, the private business, once emerged as the third alternative in the ride hailing business, which is dominated by Uber and Ola. It became my go-to cab service for airport trips. The electric cabs were clean, silent and the drivers very well behaved and disciplined. Even on the fast Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, they refused to drive at over 60 km an hour (scary when everyone else is going at 100 km/hr), which would violate company policy. And then, all of a sudden, the business spectacularly blew up. The problems began at the publicly listed Gensol Engineering Ltd. Sood reviewed financial statements and spoke to many executives to piece together a fascinating account of how Gensol's balance sheet was used to build Blu-Smart's business. A governance puzzle, in short. A third Mint investigation dived into the world of 'glowing' e-commerce reviews. Many of them are fake, written to manipulate you into buying. To understand the inner workings of this underground network, Shadma Shaikh, who writes on the app economy and digital culture, spent days observing messages being exchanged over nine Telegram and four WhatsApp groups. She found these groups to be hotspots, places where several key players in the network collaborated to manipulate product ratings. Samiksha Goel, who writes on startups, investigated the workings of Astrotalk, an astrology app. The company claims to have over 41,000 astrologers on its platform, consulting with more than 450,000 daily users. However, Astrotalk's relationship with astrologers has begun to fray. Mint's conversations with about 15 astrologers, five of whom have left the platform, revealed that in the last few months, Astrotalk has been pushing them to keep customers engaged longer, linking their incomes to their ability to have extended conversations. 'It's like a call centre now and not so much an astrology platform," said one astrologer. Despite being in an occupation involving predictions, they had all failed to foresee the unfortunate turn of events. Rich parents, meanwhile, want to cement their child's future. And they foresee an ivy league education as the starting point. But where and when do you begin preparing the kid? In January 2022, a class nine student from a school in Gurugram met a counsellor seeking guidance on how to get into a top college in the US to study medicine. After laying the groundwork in the first year, the counsellor asked the student to shadow a doctor when she was in class 10. For a reason: the student needed to get up close and personal with blood, guts, warts and faecal matter to understand if these were the sort of delights she wanted to deal with on a daily basis over her career. Devina Sengupta, who writes on workplaces and education, came up with this engrossing narrative on the rigour a student goes through to gain admission into an elite college. Don't miss an underlying commentary— on how upper-middle-class parents in India think. A well educated workforce, one that can re-skill and up-skill fast, works for Indian manufacturing, currently in the middle of a disruption because of artificial intelligence (AI). But the factory of the future isn't just built from steel, sensors, and AI—it's shaped by how thoughtfully we balance human potential and machine precision, Pankaj Mishra writes in this fascinating piece on Wipro. The company is testing a new model: 'Factories that think, workers who adapt, and automation built not to replace humans but to help them excel'. Yet another story that dived deep into the possibilities of human potential came from N. Madhavan, who writes on the macro-economy. His story, on how Tamil Nadu's government wooed Nike, Crocs, Puma and Adidas, narrates the tale of industrialization spreading to the state's hinterland. That has empowered people from districts previously ignored in India's manufacturing map, particularly women, like never before. And finally, I would like to draw your attention to the obsession with weight-loss, which is fuelling a drug market worth billions of dollars. Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk have endorsed them. And though Indian celebrities haven't yet admitted to their use, the mystery slimming of Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar and TV talk show host Kapil Sharma have drawn comparisons. T. Surendar and Jessica Jani recently wrote on the drama unfolding in 'GLP-1 drugs'—a high stakes patent battle, the rush for generic brands, coming price wars, and a long list of companies who could benefit from the weight-loss gold rush. There are other terrific long stories this compilation doesn't cover. Do check them out. They all provide what clickbait news does not and cannot—narrative journalism, in-depth reportage and data blended with analysis of top issues from the world of business and technology.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Aquarius Daily Health Horoscope Today, July 06, 2025: New connections bring valuable insights
Today is a great day to meet new people and build connections. These new relationships can offer fresh ideas and useful perspectives that will help you grow. Be open and curious in your interactions. Listening carefully will bring valuable insights. Your social skills are strong now, so use them to expand your network. These connections might bring unexpected benefits in many areas of your life. Aquarius Health Horoscope Today Your health looks good today if you stay active and eat well. Try to include some physical activity in your routine, like walking or light exercises. Avoid skipping meals and drink plenty of water. A balanced lifestyle will help you maintain energy and avoid stress. Aquarius Wellness Horoscope Today Wellness today focuses on mental clarity. Engaging with new people will stimulate your mind and refresh your emotions. Meditation or deep breathing exercises will help balance your energy. Stay positive and avoid overthinking. Emotional well-being will improve when you embrace new ideas and connections. Aquarius Love Horoscope Today In love, new interactions can bring exciting possibilities. Be open to meeting different kinds of people. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo If you are in a relationship, sharing new experiences with your partner will deepen your bond. Honest and friendly communication will strengthen your connection. Your charm and openness will attract positive attention in your love life today. Aquarius Career Horoscope Today Career wise, new contacts and ideas will help you move forward. Networking can open doors to fresh opportunities and collaborations. Stay open to learning from others and share your knowledge too. Your innovative thinking will impress colleagues and seniors. Embrace teamwork and be proactive to make the most of these connections. Aquarius Money Horoscope Today Financially, today is favorable for exploring new opportunities. You might discover helpful advice or profitable ideas through your network. Be confident to try new approaches or investments, but stay sensible. Positive thinking and openness to learning will attract financial growth. Use your connections wisely to improve your money situation. Aquarius Affirmation Today: New connections bring growth and fresh opportunities to me. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
