In Mumbai: CEOs discuss women empowerment at Powai’s Durga Puja pandal on Ashtami

Fourteen chief executive officers (CEOs) of top companies addressed thousands on women empowerment at the CEO Power Walk event, an

Fourteen chief executive officers (CEOs) of top companies addressed thousands on women empowerment at the CEO Power Walk event, an initiative of Powai Sarvajanin Durgotsav that is organised by the Powai Bengali Welfare Association (PBWA) and powered by Hindustan Times on Sunday evening.

Students from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Churchgate, present their business ideas at Ground Zero. (HT Photo)

“The aim is to make women self-reliant. Our NGO’s name says that as well. The CEOs made an effort to share their expertise and experiences and reach out to them (women) as much as possible,” said Debashish Bhattacharya, general secretary, PBWA.

The PBWA has been running an NGO called Mission Swayam Siddha (MSS) for the past 10 years. It works towards empowering underprivileged women.

Meenakshi Patil, a beneficiary from the NGO, has been self-sufficient for almost three years. “I do needle work for just three hours every day and that’s enough to keep me going and becoming self-sufficient. I can now buy a saree once in a while, unhesitantly, because I make extra money,” she said, adding, “School mein sikha tha silaay kaam. Aise kaam ayega pata nahi tha (I learnt needle work in school. I didn’t know it could be of such use).

Sandip Tarkas, the CEO of Sports, Media and Special Projects, Future Group, coined a new mantra for women empowerment. “All you need in life is LSD. Without the blessings of goddesses Laxmi, Saraswati and Durga, no project can ever succeed. This is a great platform to reach out to the grassroots as well,” he said.

People were seen praying to the goddess at the venue, enjoying live music and enjoying Bengali delicacies at the food stalls.