12 Women Achievers Get Aarya Award

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of International Women’s Day, 12 women achievers were felicitated at the sixth edition of Aarya Award held at a city hotel here on Tuesday evening.

The award, instituted by Parichay Foundation, a philanthropic organisation engaged in bringing out social and economic uplift among underprivileged women for last 10 years, was given to Subhashree Das (women rights activist), Madhumita Pujari (educationist), Rupa Dash (entrepreneur), Bijayalaxmi Parida (writer), Sarbani Parhi (social worker),  Sirisa Kurami (volleyball player), Subhadarsini Mishra (journalist), Sonali Mishra (dancer), Sabarni Das (costume designer), Madhuri Patnaik (doctor), Shelbi Mishra (pilot) and Sasmita Adhikari (academic).

Speaking on the occasion, renowned social activist and Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh said, “I am impressed with the work the foundation has been doing to empower women, particularly those belonging to the underprivileged sections of the society. I was also very happy to meet the 12 women achievers for doing exemplary work in different fields.”

Odisha’s director general of police R P Sharma, , Professor of anthropology at University of California Annapurna Pandey, social activist Namrata Chadda and senior journalist Sandeep Mishra participated in a panel discussion moderated by Parichay’s communication consultant Dikhya Tiwari.

The foundation is also organising an all-woman bike rally titled WASH (Women Against Sexual Harassment) on March 8 from Sikharchandi to Salia Sahi here. “This will be the first-ever women bike rally in Odisha. I want girls to come forward and be a part of this initiative. Besides bikers, we are encouraging participants to come with their two-wheeler and support the cause,” said founder, Parichay Foundation, Rosalin Patsani Mishra. The organisation will soon start self-defense classes at its Salia Sahi centre for girls and women, she added.