National Youth Day: Climate Activist To Entrepreneur, How These Young Women Leaders Are Spearheading Changes in Society | EXCLUSIVE

National Youth Day: Prachi Mishra, Annu Kumari, Prajakta Koli, and Kaushalya Dawar are among the growing list of women leaders who ardently advocate for women’s rights and climate action in the country. Read their inspiring story.

New Delhi: National Youth Day, also known as Vivekananda Jayanti, is observed on 12 January, being the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. The Centre in 1984 declared this day as National Youth Day and since 1985 the event is celebrated in India every year. This day also serves as a poignant reminder of the power of youth activism and the significance of young people committed to making a difference and shaping our future.  In this article, we spotted four remarkable young women leaders who, through their commitment to positive change, and relentless dedication, are inspiring and empowering others in society.

Prachi Mishra Empowers Women Through Online Campaign

Prachi Mishra, a 22-year-old Nguvu Change Leader from Odisha, is leading the #FreeBusForWomen online campaign, to empower women from lower economic backgrounds. She resolutely works to facilitate universal access to fundamental mobility, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.

Through her campaign, she believes that while the government has attempted to make education and healthcare more affordable, they remain inaccessible to many girls and women due to financial constraints and restricted means of commuting.

She says the lack of mobility traps them in a vicious cycle of poverty, making it difficult for them to break free. In her online petition, she has urged Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha, and Tukuni Sahu, Minister of the Commerce and Transport Department, to provide free passes for women in government buses and to expand government bus services to more districts. Currently, the services cover only four cities, and Prachi firmly believes that her campaign will help ensure equitable access to mobility.

Annu Kumari Runs Campaign Against Early Marriage

Hailing from Amawan in the Rajauli subdivision of Nawada district, Annu Kumari was expected to get married at 20, but overcame societal expectations. She joined the Bihar Police Training Academy, located 300 km from her village, and now is diligently working her way to becoming a police constable.

The journey started with her involvement in the Kishori Samooh programme, run by the national NGO Population Foundation of India, which trains girls in menstrual hygiene management, nutrition, and health.

Annu went on to become an advocate against early marriage, successfully preventing such unions in her village by alerting local authorities. Taking the advice of her mentor Sheela Devi, a block coordinator with the Population Foundation of India, Annu prioritized education over marriage.

This decision not only led to a career in the police department but also turned her into a valuable member of the Kishori Samooh, a youth platform dedicated to empowering young women facing similar challenges.

Prajakta Koli: Inpisring Story of A Climate Activist

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Natively from Thane in Maharashtra, actor, YouTuber, and social media personality Prajakta Koli, was the only Indian content creator invited by Google to speak at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023.

Throughout the summit, she actively participated in various panel discussions and engaged in high-level interactions as the UNDP India Youth Climate Champion.

She helped create awareness about the adverse impacts of climate change, global warming, and biodiversity loss.

Focusing on the impact of environmental changes, especially in poor and marginalized communities, she also addressed the need for collective action, sharing inspirational stories of how governments, communities, and individuals are taking definite steps to make a real difference.

Kaushalya Dawar’s Journey As A Youth Entrepreneur

Natively from Barwani in Madhya Pradesh, 26-year-old youth entrepreneur Kaushalya Dawar is an inspiration to her community. Kaushalya has overcome challenges such as a small profit margin from her boutique shop and limited educational opportunities. Thanks to Transform Rural India (TRI) which strives to provide underserved Indians like her with equal opportunities and synergises with multiple stakeholders to break the cycle of rural poverty,  she connected with Reena, a youth fellow.

Reena recognized Kaushalya’s potential and encouraged her to enroll in the Accelerated Entrepreneurship Development Program (AEDP). Here, she expanded her business knowledge via gender-integrated AEDP training.

With the support of Reena, she registered her business, enhanced her signage, and enabled digital payments. Securing a Mudra Scheme loan facilitated by the Canara Bank, Kaushalya’s enterprise has thrived, offering employment and basic beauty services. Looking ahead, she aims to provide more job opportunities and invest in her child’s education for a brighter future.