Nurturing Changemakers

The nine days of Navratri celebrate goddesses who embody strength in different forms; valour, compassion, creativity, austerity, devotion, justice, protection, forgiveness and wisdom. In our annual Navratri series, we celebrate the lives of nine women who strive to build happy and safe spaces for themselves and those around them.

Part - 4

Name: Sunanda Pawar | Where: Baramati, Maharashtra

In a world where progress often tends to be measured in terms of economics and infrastructure, there are leaders who redefine development through care, compassion, and human growth. One such leader is Sunanda Pawar who has spent over five decades as a driving force for rural development and women’s empowerment in Maharashtra. As Trustee of the Agricultural Development Trust (ADT), Baramati, she has combined vision, compassion, and practical action to transform the lives of women, especially those from farming communities. Her approach is rooted in nurturing—ensuring that women are not only educated and skilled, but also confident, independent, and respected.

Sunanda’s work is rooted in the understanding that women are the backbone of families and communities and, yet, their potential remains untapped due to lack of access or opportunity.

Her approach has been nurturing—ensuring that women are not merely given aid, but are encouraged to discover their own strengths. Through initiatives spanning education, skill development, health, and social awareness, she has built a quiet revolution—one that uplifts women not just economically, but emotionally and socially as well.

Sunanda’s journey began in 1971 with the ADT where she saw firsthand the lack of opportunities for rural women. Recognizing that education is the cornerstone of empowerment, she spearheaded the establishment of a women’s educational complex in Sharadanagar, Baramati, in 1989. Today, this institution educates more than 6,000 girls from 15 districts across Maharashtra, offering them a chance to dream bigger and achieve more.

In 2006, she founded Sharda Mahila Sangh, a platform to organize and empower women’s self-help groups. Through more than 100 training programs, over 3,000 rural women have received skills in agriculture, food processing, tailoring, computer literacy, driving, and more. By forging partnerships—such as an MoU with Women on Wings from the Netherlands—she ensured that women not only gained skills but also access to markets, packaging expertise, and entrepreneurial confidence.

Perhaps one of her most impactful contributions has been the creation of Bhimthadi Jatra, a national-level exhibition for women entrepreneurs and self-help groups. Over the last decade, it has showcased products from more than 3,000 groups across India, generating revenues of ₹19 crore. This initiative not only provided financial independence but also celebrated women’s creativity and enterprise on a large stage.

Her nurturing spirit extends to young women aspiring for public service. In 2006, under her guidance, ADT established a Police Training Academy for rural girls. The academy has trained nearly 900 girls, with over 540 securing placements in the Maharashtra Police and several in national services like the CRPF—an extraordinary achievement for those once denied opportunities.

Beyond education and livelihood, Sunanda has been a champion of women’s health and dignity. She has led large-scale menstrual health initiatives, training Anganwadi and ASHA workers and reaching over 15,000 girls and women in Baramati alone. With a goal of impacting one lakh women, this programme is breaking taboos, ensuring hygiene, and enabling young girls to continue education without interruption.

With a focus on education, Sunanda nurtures rural girls with guidance on education, culture, and competitive exams through the Swayamsiddha initiative. With Let’s Create Prosperous Villages, she has worked on water harvesting, sanitation, solar energy, and organic farming, helping villages build resilience against droughts and climate challenges. Medical camps, eye surgeries, and sanitation drives further underline her holistic vision of welfare.

For her tireless work spanning five decades, Sunanda has been honored with numerous awards, including the Jijamata Krushi Bhushan Award (2009), Mahila Bhushan Award (2013), and Jeevan Gaurav Award (2015). Yet, her true legacy lies in the countless women she has nurtured into confident change-makers.