New Delhi, Mar 9: Social entrepreneur Prachi Kaushik, Founder and Director of Vyomini Social Enterprise, has emphasized that women’s empowerment must begin with health, safety and dignity, especially for women living in rural and underserved communities across India.
Speaking on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Kaushik highlighted the importance of ensuring access to quality healthcare, menstrual hygiene and mental well-being support as essential pillars for empowering women. She noted that strong policy frameworks, trained community health workers, financial inclusion and safe spaces are critical to ensure last-mile delivery of these services in rural India.
“Women’s empowerment must begin with health, safety and dignity. A woman with access to quality healthcare, menstrual hygiene and mental well-being support stands stronger in every role she plays,” Kaushik said. “When women are given dignity, opportunity and protection, the nation gains lasting strength and balance.”
Kaushik also pointed to the transformative impact of education in improving the lives of women in India. She noted that female youth literacy has reached nearly 96%, supported by initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. This progress has contributed to growing economic participation, with female labour force participation rising to around 41–42% in 2023–24 and self-employment among women increasing significantly in recent years.
However, she stressed that the rise in crimes against women underscores the urgent need for deeper gender sensitisation and social awareness. According to Kaushik, India’s cultural heritage, including its Vedic traditions that honoured women as equals, should inspire a renewed commitment to gender dignity and equality.
Prachi Kaushik is a social entrepreneur who has empowered more than 250,000 grassroots women through initiatives focused on health awareness, livelihood creation and local sourcing of products. Her work centres on transforming women who are often perceived as vulnerable into community change-makers, particularly in climate-affected and marginalised regions.
An alumna of University of Delhi, where she earned a Master’s degree in Political Science and Human Rights, Kaushik has more than a decade of experience in the development sector. Since 2008, she has worked with both government and non-government organisations on policy execution and last-mile outreach.
In 2017, she left her government job to establish Vyomini Social Enterprise, with the goal of building an ecosystem that supports women-led entrepreneurship and leadership in high-impact sectors such as clean energy, agriculture, nutrition, health and sanitation.
Her contributions to social development have been recognised with several prestigious honours, including the Women Transforming India Awards by NITI Aayog and the Rex Karmaveer Chakra Award.
Kaushik is also actively engaged in Menstrual Health Management initiatives through the SUNDESH programme since 2018, working to raise awareness and promote better menstrual hygiene practices across multiple communities. She joined the programme as an executive member in 2022 and continues to advocate for accessible menstrual health education and support systems.
Through her work, Kaushik aims to educate, inspire and empower socially conscious women entrepreneurs who can generate sustainable livelihoods, strengthen women’s leadership and drive positive social and environmental change in marginalised communities.
