Apollo Tyre and French Institute of India celebrate eight inspiring women entrepreneurs
Gurgaon, India – Apollo Tyres recognized the achievements of 8 exceptional women entrepreneurs from Project Navya, an initiative by Apollo Tyres Foundation (ATF), aimed at empowering rural women. The inspiring event was organized in collaboration with the French Institute in India (IFI), and was honored by the presence of Dr Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, and Onkar Kanwar, Chairman, Apollo Tyres Ltd.
Since 2019, #EkNaam has become a powerful symbol of hope, highlighting extraordinary Change Agents who have transformed their communities. Over the years, Apollo Tyres has celebrated more than 40 remarkable women, showcasing the strength and impact of grassroots movement. As part of the 6th edition of #EkNaam, Apollo Tyres and IFI today felicitated:
Leena Krishnakumar, Kerala: facing financial pressure initially, she has empowered 20 women in her community
Raji K K, Kerala: having insufficient income to educate her children, she supports 80 women in her community on their apiculture journey
Nilamben Rameshbhai Parmar, Gujarat: facing low family income, she leads large-scale vegetable cultivation, and has mentored 50 women on income generation
Snehalben Sanjaybhai Parmar, Gujarat: facing financial instability, she launched a pickle-making business, and has worked with 125 women to enhance their skills
Shabira Abubhai Shaikh, Maharashtra: deserted by her husband, she has empowered over 80 women to pursue milk production and poultry farming
Vaishali Pravin Shelar, Maharashtra: when her husband lost his job, she trained to become a tailor, and has trained 400 women to earn for their families
Sanchita Daphal, Maharashtra: facing financial instability, she started a dairy cooperative for herself and the community
G Devi, Tamil Nadu: facing unhygienic conditions in her village, she embraced waste management, along with 24 women, and transformed waste into valuable resources
Dr Thierry Mathou, the Ambassador of France to India, commended the remarkable partnership between Apollo Tyres and IFI for orchestrating this significant event. He also praised the Apollo Tyres Foundation for its steadfast dedication to pioneering transformative initiatives that champion diversity, equity and inclusion.
Paris 2024 Paralympian Bronze Medallist, Ms Simran Sharma and Padma Shree awardee, Ms Dulari Devi graced the occasion reinforcing the commitment to gender equity and development. They were also felicitated by Onkar Kanwar, Chairman, Apollo Tyres Ltd.
In his powerful address, Onkar Kanwar, Chairman, Apollo Tyres Ltd championed the ethos of ‘One Family,’ underscoring the company’s steadfast dedication to empowering women within the community. He lauded ATF’s unwavering commitment to fostering the entrepreneurial journeys of women, igniting personal growth and cultivating a profound sense of unity among all.
Apollo Tyres Foundation has worked towards uplifting over 24,000 rural women as of December 2024, helping them gain access to government-supported livelihood schemes and enabling them to dramatically change their economic landscapes. This initiative has positioned them as influential catalysts of change within their communities.
Beyond this celebration of women’s empowerment, the French Institute in India, with the support of Apollo Tyres, is deeply committed to fostering equality and diversity. ‘French for All, French for a Better Future’ is the flagship program, developed by French Embassy – French Institute in India, which aims to introduce French language learning in government schools, engaging 38 schools from Delhi covering approximately 4000 students. The partnership would co-create diversity awareness sessions in Schools culminating into a wall art project.