Latest news with #RohiniNilekaniPhilanthropies
Mint
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
A wild harmony: Nilgiris documentary captures nature's quiet resilience
In an era of digitally manufactured visuals and AI-generated nature scenes, Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness stands out as a real, patient, and visually arresting documentary. Directed by Sandesh Kadur and produced by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, it is India's first feature-length wildlife documentary to get a theatrical release—and one that deserves to be seen on the big screen. The film camera can be a magical thing. The Sony RED delivers unforgettable visual callisthenics, capturing the shifting moods of the Nilgiris with stunning clarity. The cinematography—by Kadur, Nakul Raj, Robin Conz, Sameer Jain and Parinith Gowda—effortlessly traverses gorges and waterfalls, clouds, and mist, and the drama of animals in their natural habitat. Yet, what matches its visual grandeur is the quiet message the film unspools: modern wildlife, and the wildlife of our futures, is not hidden or distant. We co-exist with it. Among the standout moments: a Salea lizard, found only in the Nilgiris, weaving through garden undergrowth in a private Ooty bungalow; a tiger resting atop a hill, human habitation twinkling below. Moments like these took several months to capture, Kadur says. Shot over three years and edited from 400 hours of footage—from CCTV, trap cams, and handheld cameras—the film is relentless and patient in its observation of the often-overlooked dramas in the blue mountains. Rohini Nilekani, chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and executive producer, calls it one of her passion projects. She joined the crew on a few shooting trips herself. The highlight for her: 'It was magical to watch the cubs play out in the open, surrounded by tea, so trusting of the humans around them. I was in awe," Nilekani says, recalling the sight of a mother leopard and her four cubs—two of them melanistic black leopards. For Kadur, who has previously directed a documentary on the Western Ghats, the shoot had its own serendipitous moments. One of the most powerful scenes features a Great Hornbill chick struggling out of its nest and emerging into the world for the first time. Nilekani and her family bought a second home in the Nilgiris 20 years ago. Realising that there was no substantial documentation of the region's human-wildlife co-existence, she, her husband Nandan Nilekani, and Kadur—a long-time friend—decided to begin work on the film. 'Maybe with so much wildlife now outside protected areas, we need to create a new culture of protection. For that, we have to understand how beautiful and critical our biodiversity is, we have to fall in love with it. Human thriving is dependent on the enhancement of our forests, our flora and our fauna. Our water, future medicines, and future technologies are hidden in our natural heritage, waiting to be discovered," Nilekani says. 'Where else in the world can you have black leopards, gaur, sloth bear, living in a tea garden? Although it's in a constant state of change, it also shows nature's resilience; adaptability to survive the odds if we allow them the space to do so," Kadur says, about their shared worldview. The environment and climate are among the largest focus areas in the Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies portfolio, with the organisation supporting several institutions across India—including in the Nilgiris. 'This is my first time as an executive producer. I really enjoyed the experience and learnt a lot. I hope young children, who are the future trustees of our biodiversity, will watch this film," says Nilekani. Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness is currently screening in select theatres in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mysore, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Ooty, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Kochi and other cities. Student tickets are available at a discount. Most nature documentaries in recent decades have focused on the damage caused by human expansion and the looming extinction of wild species. This film offers something different: a story of hope, fragility, and interconnectedness. In the Nilgiris, wildlife spills beyond forests into tea gardens and private homes. Leopards and gaur are seen cohabiting with humans. While global wildlife numbers are in decline, the Nilgiris present what Kadur calls a 'reverse story." In scope, sentiment, and execution, Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness is a magnificent outlier—one to be savoured on the big screen. The documentary released in theatres on Friday. Sanjukta Sharma is a Mumbai-based journalist.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Does India Have the Infrastructure to Support Its Elderly?
Published : Jul 18, 2025 15:49 IST - 13 MINS READ Nalini (name changed), 82, who lives alone in Bengaluru, suffers from asthma, eczema, and mobility issues. For each ailment, she visits a different specialist. But often, it takes her weeks to get an appointment. When she does get one, she has to wait for hours to see the doctor because the hospitals are crowded. For her fragile body, the experience is stressful. Her story is not unique—it is the stark reality for millions of India's older adults. India is on the cusp of a demographic revolution, projected to have the world's largest population of older adults by 2067, according to a recent report by Dalberg, Ashoka and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. The life expectancy of Indians is expected to increase from 72 in 2023 to 77 by 2045 and 83 by 2080. Alarmingly, the report says the country's older adults rank poorly on several critical health indicators—52 per cent suffer from at least one non-communicable disease (NCD) such as diabetes or cardiovascular ailments. Is our healthcare system prepared for this ageing population and the immense burden of chronic diseases? 'Our current healthcare system is designed for challenges like acute illnesses and infectious diseases that we as a country faced in the last century,' said Dr Gopukrishna Pillai, public health director at Palliative and Old Age Care at One Billion Lives Foundation, an NGO based in Bengaluru and the US. He added that the incidence of NCDs is rising because both government- and private-sector healthcare is overly focussed on hospital-based care, neglecting health promotion and disease prevention, and not addressing the risk factors for conditions like diabetes and hypertension. 'We need a fundamental shift towards population-level NCD management, integrating early surveillance with stronger, more accessible primary healthcare.' Sumit Tayal, CEO of Give Grants, a platform that helps organisations raise funds, said, 'The reality is that our current public health infrastructure is already struggling. With a rapidly ageing population, particularly a growing number of elderly women living alone with little economic agency, the strain will become critical.' Give Grants released a report titled 'India's Ageing Society: The Landscape Today' in March 2025, which had [DP1] health statistics that were similar to those of the Dalberg report. Also Read | Seventy and surviving The Give report states that there are only 270 geriatricians for a population of 140 million senior citizens. While private home care and assisted living communities exist, they remain financially out of reach for most. This leaves a gaping hole in accessible care for older adults. Tayal added, 'The preparedness, or even the acknowledgement that we are headed in that direction, is currently missing. It's not that the technology is missing or the solutions are missing, but funding and deployment are far short of the requirement. The sheer gap in healthcare infrastructure for specialised geriatric and palliative care and what is needed is a big concern.' One way to address this gap is to 'reframe the global megatrend of an ageing population as an opportunity for development', opined Vijeth Iyengar, a contributor to the Dalberg report and global ageing director at AARP, US, a non-profit organisation that focusses on the priorities of older adults. He said there were four broad areas ripe for further growth and development—boosting infrastructure, better data collection and standardisation, strengthening research, and increasing the size of the medical workforce including geriatricians specialised in treatment and care of older populations. 'Additionally, there is also a need to analyse the geographic status and population trends, including urbanisation and fertility rates, understand the global ageing landscape, and investigate the role of research, impact, quality, and funding in addressing ageing-related challenges.' Funding and policy challenges India aims to be a $10-trillion economy by the mid-2030s. But this aspiration faces a significant demographic challenge. By 2045, the number of older adults is projected to reach 300 million, double the current figure, states the Dalberg report. Tayal added, 'In less than a decade we will have a large number of people above 60. If you compare the sheer size of these numbers with any government or philanthropic initiative in India, there are hardly any initiatives that is targeting older adults.' The investment in healthcare industry is largely focussed on women, maternal health, young adults, and children, observed Asha Banu Soletti, professor at the Centre for Health and Mental Health, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. 'For age-related vulnerability, we have to really look in terms of how much we are investing, and evolve context-specific interventions.' Iyengar added that ageism is a pervasive issue that prevents society from adequately addressing the needs of our ageing populations. This widespread bias leads to a critical lack of policy development, causing health and social issues faced by older adults, including elder abuse, to be largely ignored. 'Here at AARP, we have a huge nationwide network of volunteers who help create advocacy, and raise awareness about the lived experiences of older adults and their family/caregivers. Creating advocacy is essential for policy to move.' Tayal added that lack of sensitisation kept the subject of ageing largely out of public discourse. 'Schools, colleges, healthcare professionals, and most importantly, policymakers need to be sensitised about ageing. It is not just about putting in the dollars and hoping that will build up the infrastructure. Without sensitisation, it will be very difficult to attract investment or attention.' Social isolation and mental health Perhaps because of ageist attitudes and lack of sensitisation, India lacks sufficient avenues for older adults to lead meaningful lives, unlike the numerous options available for children, said Soletti. 'As traditional roles and livelihood opportunities diminish, many older individuals experience a profound loss of productivity and purpose.' Age-related limitations can further isolate them, even from customary social engagements like religious activities. This social isolation contributes significantly to loneliness and mental health issues among seniors. The Dalberg report found that 8 per cent of older adults display symptoms of depression, with the number expected to double in the next two decades. Soletti added, 'To my knowledge, very few older adults are referred to a counsellor. Even if they are referred, it is debatable if the counsellor is an expert in geriatric counselling. We need to urgently develop and strengthen this discipline to address the mental well-being of our ageing population.' For those who are housebound or disabled, the situation is even worse. 'We need some models where a trained professional such as physiotherapist can visit and also handle some of the mental healthcare aspects,' she said. Additionally, in rural areas, where access to public health centres (PHC) is already a challenge, people struggle as many become immobile as they deal with arthritis or find themselves becoming hunchbacked after a lifetime of carrying heavy loads. According to Ranjana Vishe, who works on a TISS field action project in Maharashtra's Waghivali village, accessing the nearest PHC, which is five kilometres away, is difficult as there are no convenient public transport options. She said: 'While ASHA workers visit periodically, they mainly attend to the needs of pregnant women and children. The older adults, many of whom are frail, have to walk 5 km to the PHC, and to do this they have to depend on someone to help them and also take periodic rests on the way.' Soletti added, 'Even when older adults access a hospital or clinic, the full scope of the problem is not captured. For example, if there is anuresis [inability to urinate] or bedwetting, it is normally diagnosed from a point of medical sciences, whereas it could be a psychological issue. The illness may also be a sign of emotional abuse.' The healthcare system should be equipped and trained to handle these issues. Need for multidisciplinary approach 'Ageing cannot be looked at through the lens of health alone. It's an infrastructure issue, demographics issue, housing issue, and transportation issue. We need to determine social determinants of health and look at it holistically,' said Iyengar. Dr Pillai added, 'Geriatric care should combine medical management of diseases with evidence-based risk-reduction strategies as appropriate to each individual's life stage and goals of care. There is also a need for substantive advocacy component and forging of interdisciplinary collaborations.' For example, fall risk mitigation is extremely important in an older adult because their bones are weak and a fall leads to a drastic downturn in overall health. 'A conventional solution would be to set up a hospital-based fall prevention unit with a physician and a physiotherapist. This is all essential. However, there is a difference between what is sufficient and what is necessary,' Dr Pillai said. He explained that while a patient is being treated for fall risk, their neighbourhood has to be checked for better street lighting or better pavements to prevent fall. 'We need to look at each of our systems—from public services such as transportation to policies—to assess how fit they are for an older person at risk of fall. That is the degree of intentionality and seriousness that needs to come into this.' Also Read | State of the elderly 'We need more trained professionals, more structured systems. But most of all, we need to start with empathy,' said Dr Jonita Furtado, senior consultant at St. John's Geriatric Centre, Bengaluru. Providing quality healthcare to older adults involves understanding their lives, their limitations, and their often-unspoken needs. In crowded hospital settings, this is easier said than done. 'Every patient that comes to us undergoes a holistic screening: from fall risk, cognition, mood and sleep patterns, to vision and hearing. Strength and balance are assessed by physiotherapists. Their social context is also evaluated—whether they live alone, if they have a support system, and how engaged they remain in community life,' Dr Furtado said. This ensures that the underlying problems do not go unnoticed. Home and community-based services The St. John's Geriatric Centre was started based on learning from the Senior Citizen Health Service initiative launched in 2003 by St. John's Medical College. The Senior Citizen Health Service has set up clinics for elderly people in rural and urban areas, and visits by doctors and nurses to old age homes are organised; elderly patients who live in their own homes are also visited. 'The same set of doctors and nurses undertake these visits once a month to check their health—these also serve as social visits as the doctors have built familiarity in the community,' said Dr Pretesh Kiran, associate professor in the Department of Community Medicine as St. John's Medical College, who coordinates the service. 'We need to ensure healthy ageing so that older adults can live a healthy productive life in their own homes, and this service is one way of ensuring realisation of this goal.' But the public healthcare system is not equipped to provide this kind of homecare for older adults. Dr Pillai said: 'In geriatrics and palliative care, the sickest and the most vulnerable patient you are meant to support is not a patient who can walk into a hospital. It is a patient who probably cannot even walk to their own toilet. But currently, if at all there is any home care, it is left to the least experienced, least trained person in the public healthcare system.' He added that while there is investment on building expertise, it is only serving the ones who can access healthcare services. Those with severe needs often cannot access the experienced physicians they urgently require. For instance, Lakshmi, a domestic worker in Bengaluru, bears the heavy burden of caring for her 95-year-old mother-in-law who has been bedridden since she had a fall six months ago. Lakshmi said: 'Local doctors refused treatment due to her old age, saying nothing can be done.' Hospitals are expensive for Lakshmi and her husband, who works for daily wages. Unable to afford care or adult diapers, her mother-in-law is forced to sleep on the ground without a bed, and it is left to Lakshmi to clean her soiled clothes. Soletti pointed out that solutions available for the problems of elderly patients are mostly piecemeal and stressed the need for holistic care. 'In one of my visits to a rural area, I found people with redness in their eyes after cataract surgery that was conducted by some charitable organisations; it happened because of inadequate post-surgery care. We need to have periodic outreach camps for older adults in urban slums and rural areas.' Some organisations, such as Pillai's One Billion Lives Foundation (OBLF), have come up with some solutions. In Anekal, OBLF has implemented a grassroots, decentralisedcare model serving approximately 75,000 people of all ages across five gram panchayats since August 2024. Dr Pillai said: 'We provide clinical services tailored to their care goals at various locations, including our centre, through home care, and at community clinics within government hospitals or partner NGOs such as destitute homes.' Training and government initiatives Dr Pillai acknowledges that every hospital or organisation cannot conduct home care visits. 'But within the constraints we have, we need to make sure that every person is supported to the extent possible. A lot of the work done by doctors can be and should be picked up by other professionals augmented by training and technology. And it needs to be done in a focussed manner.' He explained that while the overall accountability for patient care needs to remain with doctors, responsibility for specific tasks could be transferred to others in a responsible manner. That is where training, culture, and technology come in. By leveraging these additional resources, it can be ensured that each patient encounter is matched to the person most well-suited to their current need—be it a community volunteer, nurse or a senior physician, he added. Modules to train master trainers in geriatrics were developed by the National Health Skills Resource Center in 2019-20. Dr Pretesh Kiran of St. John's Medical College underwent this training and is now a master trainer. 'We train State level trainers who are then supposed to train different cadres of workers such as medical officers, nurses, ASHA workers, and so on, in geriatric care. Unfortunately, it has not trickled down to the last level. The knowledge is there, but willingness to implement this is lacking.' He added that several government health programmes exist in silos such as National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), and the National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE). 'They all need to talk to each other in order to provide comprehensive care for older adults.' Also Read | Hospitals to healers: India's healthcare crisis The NPHCE, launched in 2011, envisaged providing holistic care and geriatric centres for older adults at all levels—from PHCs, community health centres, taluk hospitals, district and tertiary centres. 'However, it requires complete and robust implementation at all levels, especially primary and secondary care,' said Kiran. The Central government's Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) is intended to provide health coverage for all adults over 70. However, many seniors struggle to access these benefits due to eligibility criteria and a lack of necessary documents. One doctor said that many hospitals had stopped accepting the scheme as the government had not cleared past dues. Dr Pillai said: 'There is a lot of well-intentioned work going on, but that work does not have the depth of understanding that is needed to handle the complexity of the field and produce outcomes. Geriatric care is much more than just medical management of diseases.' Deepa Padmanaban is an author and independent journalist writing on public health, environment, science, wildlife conservation and climate change. Her articles have been published in The Guardian, Scientific American, Discover Magazine, The Hindu, Mint and other publications.
Business Standard
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
'Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness' Wildlife Documentary Film to Release in Theatres Nationwide
PNN Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], July 17: Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness, a feature-length wildlife documentary film on India's first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - the Nilgiris, will be released in theatres across India on July 18, 2025. Presented by Felis Films and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, and distributed nationwide by Dheeraj Films. The Nilgiris is the first feature-length wildlife documentary to receive a nationwide theatrical release. The film has already won multiple international awards and received acclaim for its cinematic excellence and storytelling. Directed by Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Sandesh Kadur, the film was shot in 8K resolution using the best of Sony Professional and RED cameras. It is a true cinematic celebration of the region's wildlife and landscapes. Speaking about the film, Rohini Nilekani, Executive Producer of the film and Chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, said, "With this film - Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness, we hope to awaken people to the incredible beauty and biodiversity of this ancient and unique biosphere - the largest protected forest area in the country, now undergoing rapid change driven by human activity. If we wish to continue to conserve it, Samaaj, Sarkaarand Bazaar will have to work in unison to nurture this ecosystem. The documentary is a call to action for everyone who feels connected to these sacred landscapes." Sandesh Kadur, Director and Cinematographer of the film, said, "This is the story of a new wilderness, a mostly human-made landscape, where wildlife continues to adapt and thrive. Where else in the world can you have black leopards, gaur, sloth bears, etc., all living in a tea garden? Although it's in a constant state of change, it also shows nature's resilience and adaptability to survive the odds - if only we allow them the space to do so." Trailer: Releasing in: Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mysore, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Ooty, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Kochi, Trivandrum, Delhi, and other cities across India. As part of a nationwide education initiative, Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness will also be screened through exclusive, discounted student shows across major cities. The initiative aligns with the NEP 2020 vision of encouraging experiential and environmental learning. "I urge school principals, teachers, and parents to bring children to the theatres for this special experience. When young minds witness the beauty of our land--its forests, animals, and landscapes--on the big screen, they are inspired to love, to learn, and to protect. Watching a wildlife film like this in a theatre is rare--and powerful. Unlike small screens, the big screen brings every detail to life. With its high-resolution imagery and immersive sound, it feels as if you're right inside the forest with the animals," says Rohini Nilekani, Executive Producer of Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness. About Felis Creations A Panda Award-winning company, Felis Creations is a Bangalore-based natural history production house founded by Sandesh Kadur, a BAFTA-winning filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer. They specialise in producing high-quality wildlife and conservation documentaries for global platforms including National Geographic, BBC, Netflix, Apple, and Discovery. About Rohini Nilekani Rohini Nilekani is the Chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and Co-founder and Director of EkStep, a non-profit education platform. She is also the Founder and Former Chairperson of Arghyam, a foundation she set up in 2001 for sustainable water and sanitation, which funds initiatives across India. From 2004 to 2014, she was Founder-Chairperson and chief funder of Pratham Books, a non-profit children's publisher that reached millions of children during her tenure. She sits on the Board of Trustees of ATREE.
India Today
02-07-2025
- General
- India Today
Supporting youth climate leaders: Philanthropy and UNICEF unite for grassroots impact
UNICEF YuWaah and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies co-hosted 'Shaping the Future with India's Youth,' to spotlight stories of ten Green Guardians, youth-climate leaders and volunteers from across India driving change in their communities. The event featured keynote addresses by Uma Mahadevan, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka; Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies; and Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India Representative. It brought together leading civil society organizations, climate sector experts, and youth leaders, all committed to advancing climate solutions and civic action. advertisementUma Mahadevan, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka said "Individual action is the foundation on which lasting change is built. 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."The highlight was ten inspiring stories of grassroots youth climate champions who are bringing impact through their dedication. From Pune, Ojas Phatak, a young environmental advocate and the founder of Ecoforce, a student-led initiative dedicated to fighting pollution and protecting nature has grown Ecoforce into a movement that has removed 2.75 tons of trash from Pune's hills through 150 clean-up events. Similarly, 29-year-old Afsal Mohammed B from Kochi, founder of Captains Social Foundation, a youth-driven platform dedicated to mobilizing young people to create sustainable change has inspired thousands of youth across India, focusing on environmental conservation, community empowerment, and education. advertisement His work includes transforming 13 schools into plastic bottle-free zones through the BottlesUp campaign, developing a plastic bottle shredding machine, and leading beach cleanups that removed 30,000 kg of waste. Also, Barsha Rani Maharana , a passionate volunteer and youth leader from Berhampur, Odisha, committed to community development, women's empowerment, and education has conducted free pad distribution campaigns and raised awareness on menstrual hygiene in rural areas. She is also an advocate for climate action and has earned her recognition, including the Rajya Puraskar Award from the Governor of Odisha. Dedication of Dwishojoyee Banerjee , a young climate advocate and social entrepreneur from Patna and the founder of The Soft Movement has mobilized over 15,000 volunteers across 51 cities in India to replace 200,000+ single-use plastic bags through her innovative Paper Bag Project. The other extraordinary stories included youth from Punjab, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Chattisgarth, Gujarat , West Bengal Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies said "I congratulate Team YuWaah on the Green Guardians program. This will inspire many more young people 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. I commend the collaborative initiative by UNICEF and the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change to create a safe space, and an enabling platform, to advance youth-led solutions at scale."advertisementA practical workbook titled 'Pathways: From Leadership to Advocacy' to equip young people to take local civic and climate action was launched at the event. The workbook was co-developed by Bring Back Green Foundation and young practitioners with support from UNICEF YuWaah, designed to build youth capacity in identifying local challenges, applying problem-solving approaches and advancing their journey in climate action. Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF Representative to India and Co-chair, YuWaah Board said, "Children and youth-led climate advocacy drives UNICEF's work in climate change in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. We are committed to working in partnership for a safer cleaner healthier environment for children and young people. The partnership with Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies is a step forward in supporting action for, with and by young people for a sustainable future. Investing in youth today, helps build a better future for children and young people in India."Youth led pro-plant actions have contributed to the national citizen engagement movement in the now 50 million action-strong MeriLiFE national portal, developed two years ago in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. MeriLiFE documents and encourages sustainable lifestyle action across India under the Mission LiFE. - Ends advertisement
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Patna woman lauded for menstrual hygiene drive
1 2 3 4 5 Patna: The inspiring works of Dwishojoyee Banerjee from Patna and Barsha Rani Maharana from Odisha 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. Dwishojoyee (19), a young climate advocate and social entrepreneur, 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. Similarly, 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Patna: The inspiring works of Dwishojoyee Banerjee from Patna and Barsha Rani Maharana from Odisha 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. Dwishojoyee (19), a young climate advocate and social entrepreneur, 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. Similarly, 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. 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.
