ITV

Tag: Aditya Birla Education Trust

  • Shakti in the City as Sheshakti Mumbai puts women at the wheel of change

    Shakti in the City as Sheshakti Mumbai puts women at the wheel of change

    MUMBAI: Mumbai got a power surge and this time, it wasn’t from the grid. News18’s Sheshakti returned with its third and most dynamic edition yet, lighting up Mumbai with stories of women who are not just breaking barriers but blueprinting Bharat’s future. Organised in partnership with Lions International, the 2025 edition marked a first the regional debut of the flagship women’s leadership platform turning the spotlight on Maharashtra’s changemakers.

    Titled “From Breaking Barriers to Building Bharat”, the theme underscored a pivotal shift: from metro corridors to grassroots campaigns, from boardrooms to classrooms, the narrative of power is now as plural as it is personal. With over two impactful editions behind it, Sheshakti has evolved into more than a platform, it’s a movement.

    The Mumbai edition celebrated a formidable lineup of trailblazers from bureaucrats and bankers to  actors and entrepreneurs. Each speaker brought to the stage her truth, grit, and roadmap for India 2.0.

    Ashwini Bhide, principal secretary to the Maharashtra chief minister and the woman behind Mumbai’s mega metro projects, reflected on the complexity and scale of city infrastructure: “Working on mega projects in Mumbai is a challenge and an opportunity. Unless we create global-standard public transport, Mumbaikars will continue to struggle,” she said, reinforcing the urgent need for inclusive urban solutions.

    Actor Shriya Pilgaonkar gave the inside track on evolving female roles in Indian cinema: “You’ve got to be stubborn about your dreams and flexible about your plan. The industry is quick to box you. Stay in your power and don’t hand it over to others.”

    Bajaj Finserv group president designate (investments) Lakshmi Iyer brought finance into focus: “Financial freedom should feel like oxygen for women unseen, constant, and essential.” Her session, titled ‘The ROI of Being She’, highlighted the non-negotiable value of economic independence.

    Aditya Birla Education Trust founder Neerja Birla spoke candidly about India’s silent mental health crisis: “We’re conditioned to put ourselves last. But if your own cup is half full, how can you pour into others’ lives?” Her message was clear self-care is the starting point of leadership.

    Closing the edition was Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who made a compelling economic argument for gender parity: “Globally, the nations that recognised the value of women accelerated their growth. If Maharashtra wants to move ahead, we must put women in the front seat.”

    Fadnavis reflected on the era of “sarpanch-patis” and “corporator-patis”, when men unofficially held the power behind elected women leaders in local bodies. “That began to change in 1997,” he noted, “and by 2029, when it becomes compulsory to allocate tickets to women, we won’t stop at 33 per cent, we’ll reach 50 per cent.”

    From mental health to metro lines, movie roles to money goals, Sheshakti’s Mumbai edition was a full-spectrum showcase of women who aren’t just participating, they’re pioneering.

    Because when women lead from every postcode and every profession, the question is no longer if Bharat will change. It’s how soon.

  • She power surge as Sheshakti makes its maiden move to Mumbai

    She power surge as Sheshakti makes its maiden move to Mumbai

     MUMBAI: Bharat’s builders wear bangles and they mean business. News18’s flagship platform Sheshakti, in partnership with Lions Clubs International, is back with its third edition and this time, it’s taking a regional route. The first-ever Mumbai chapter of News18 SheShakti 2025 rolls out on 31 July, spotlighting Maharashtra’s women trailblazers who are breaking barriers and building Bharat.

    Titled “From Breaking Barriers to Building Bharat,” this year’s theme shifts the focus from token celebration to structural transformation. The summit will culminate in a grand finale in Delhi on 21 August, but the Mumbai edition is poised to set the tone with a power-packed line-up of policymakers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and change-makers.

    Leading the charge are dignitaries like Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Ashwini Bhide, and Sujata Saunik, alongside global voices such as Ambassadors Chavanart Thangsumphant (Thailand) and Mateja Vodeb Ghosh (Slovenia), offering an Indo-global dialogue on leadership and inclusion.

    From boardrooms to Bollywood, Sheshakti’s guest list reads like a who’s who of women who’ve redefined the game:

    .  Naiyya Saggi (founder & CEO, Edition)

    .  Laxmi Iyer (group president, Bajaj Finserv)

    . Dr Neerja Birla (chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust)

    .  Priti Rathi Gupta (founder, Lxme)

    . Harsha Mundhada (partner, Inflexor Ventures)

    . Roshi Jain (sr. fund manager, HDFC Mutual Fund)

    .  Chitralekha Patil (director, PNP Group)

    .  Olympian Anjali Bhagwat and para-badminton star Manasi Joshi

    . Actors Nimrat Kaur, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Renuka Shahane

    Also joining are popular radio voices RJ Malishka, RJ Archana, and RJ Stutee, and Sarita Sonawale, recipient of the Savitri Bai Phule Award, for her grassroots advocacy.

    The event will not just echo inspiration, but also actionable impact. With over two chapters across two months, SheShakti 2025 seeks to mobilise ideas, incubate collaborations, and inspire the next generation of women leaders. It also positions Maharashtra as a microcosm of India’s inclusive growth, celebrating how women are influencing sectors from urban infrastructure to wellness startups.

    Network18 Group chief strategy officer, Puneet Singhvi summed it up: “Sheshakti is not just an event. It’s a movement. And we’re thrilled to bring it to Mumbai for the first time.”

    Network18 (Broadcast) CEO Avinash Kaul added, “This regional expansion is a testament to the influence women wield in shaping India’s social, economic and cultural blueprint.”

    As the country prepares to celebrate Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day, Sheshakti offers a timely reminder that true progress is built on the shoulders of those who don’t just smash glass ceilings, but raise the roof for everyone else.
     

  • 1700 Mumbaikars cycle to raise awareness for mental health

    1700 Mumbaikars cycle to raise awareness for mental health

    MUMBAI: Mpower, a pioneer in Indian mental healthcare from The Aditya Birla Education Trust, today returned with its fourth edition of Aditya Birla Health Insurance Ride to Mpower, a cycle ride to create awareness and stamp out the stigma associated with mental health illnesses. In this edition, Mpower aims to bring the #StampOutStigma in our society today by bringing together Mumbaikars and encourage them to increase conversations around mental health.

    The cycle ride saw more than 1700 cyclists and fitness champions lend their support towards this critical cause as they cycled through the streets of Mumbai on 17th March 2019. These Mumbaikars pledged to become champions of mental health. Aditya Birla Health Insurance Ride to Mpower marks Mpower's most successful awareness initiatives. Over the last four editions, it strived to educate individuals on the correlation between physical and mental health toward an individual’s overall well-being.

    Flagged off by Mrs. Neerja Birla, popular Cyclist and RTM Ride Director Firoza Suresh and Mr Mayank Bathwal, CEO Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited, the 27km ride began from Dome@NSCI to Asian Heart Institute, 15km ride began from Dome@NSCI to Shivaji Park and 7km rides began from Dome@NSCI to JK Kapur Chowk. The Movement saw avid participation of people from all walks of life including social and mental health activists, business leaders, inspirational youth icons and school children.

    One in six people in India suffer from a serious mental disorder, and yet mental health remains a taboo in most Indian households, schools, colleges and offices. This taboo is what prevents real progress on the mental health front, primarily by attaching stigma to any and all mental health related concerns. The uncaring attitude, the ignorant labels, the tone-deaf conversations, the endless stigma and the lack of mental healthcare need to change. These #StampOutStigma through Aditya Birla Health Insurance Ride to Mpower will bring awareness and encourage conversation around mental health, as well as engage people to support, diagnose, prevent and seek help for mental health concerns.

    Mazhar Nadiadwala, Managing Director, Dome Entertainment Pvt Ltd, said, “We, at Dome, truly believe that being healthy is beyond just having a fit body. It is about keeping the mind healthy as well. Dome Entertainment hosted Ride to Mpower 2019, a cycling marathon to spread awareness about mental health. This initiative was our effort at trying to reach out to the society to highlight that simple fact. It was truly heartening to see eminent personalities like Firoza Suresh, Mumbai’s first bicycle mayor and Dr. Ambrish Dharmadhikari, Psychiatrist & Head, Medical Services, Mpower – The Foundation be a part of this venture and participate in the cause. As a cycling enthusiast myself, I am thrilled to see cycling gain such a popularity as a sport. I have always believed that cycling is a unique sport which keeps both mind and body healthy. It was truly great to show people the benefits of cycling and the importance of mental health. This was the best way for us to do combine the two. It was a great experience collaborating with Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder & Chairperson of Mpower for this event and we truly believe that what she is trying to do is a much needed aspect in today’s society. The events team of Mpower, headed by Anita Lobo were extremely cooperative to work with and it is great to align with a team that understands our values and perceptions so well. We saw great support from the Aditya Birla Group with Mayant Batwal, CEO of Aditya Birla Health; Darshana Shah, Head of Marketing, Aditya Birla Health Insurance and Amit Bajaj – President, Corporate Affairs, Aditya Birla Group all present at the event and helping us flag off different marathons. The presence and support of Bhushan Gaghrani – Principal Secretary, Chief Minister’s Office and Mr. Sanjay Barve – Commissioner of Police, Mumbai showed us the intensity of how important this cause was.”

    Being a fitness aficionado herself, through this event, Mrs. Neerja Birla aims to bring together all fitness aficionados to pledge their support towards mental health. Commenting on this initiative – Ride to Mpower, Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson, Mpower, said, “Mpower – The Movement is all about creating a paradigm shift in the way people think of mental health. Everyone knows that it's important and normal to take care of one's physical health and Mpower endeavours to make people aware that it is just as important and normal to take care of one's mental health. The cycle ride is our way of reaching out to the community, in order to highlight that a healthy mind is as important as a healthy body. This is the fourth cycle ride we've done and as participation increases, I hope that it will encourage more people to embrace a more holistic approach to wellness and self-care.”

    Mumbai’s first bicycle mayor and a prominent figure in the cyclist community herself, RTM Ride Director Firoza Suresh said “I am happy to be part of the Aditya Birla Health Insurance Ride to Mpower initiative and see Mumbai come together and support this cause. We hope to have created awareness about the positive impact of cycling on mental health and how is very important in building physical endurance, connecting with nature, socializing & skill development, all invigorate the learning process”

    Mr. Mayank Bathwal, CEO Aditya Birla Health said, “Mental health and awareness is crucial today and it must be welcomed without any stereotypes and preconceived notions in the society. Having seen Mumbaikars ride towards stamping out stigma and supporting our cause makes us believe that we have achieved a milestone towards promoting philosophy of health first in health insurance. With such a large participation, Aditya Birla Health Ride to Mpower has made a strong and impactful step forward in spreading awareness on the mental health menace that is slowly crippling our society.”

    Anita Lobo, Head – Events, Mpower said, “I am happy to play a small part in creating awareness about this cause and delighted to see Mumbaikars extending their support. Ride to Mpower is in its 4th year now and encourages everyone to stay physically and mentally fit. People are now becoming more open about the subject and slowly, but steadily the taboo is being lifted. Through Mpower – The Movement, we aim to stamp out the stigma around mental health and sensitize people to be alert and speak up whenever necessary”

    The brainchild of Mrs. Neerja Birla, Mpower was launched three years ago, and has been at the forefront to affect change and proactively champion the cause of mental health, create awareness, advocate prevention and provide services with a professional, holistic and multi-disciplinary approach in the country.

    Stamp Out the Stigma around mental illnesses with Mpower – The Foundation

    A World Health Organisation study reports that over 6% of the Indian population suffers from a serious mental disorder and do not have the right kind of help to facilitate recovery, which may lead to extreme situations like suicide.   In India, it is difficult to change perceptions related to mental health. The challenge lies in repairing the inborn conditioning which perceives mental illnesses as evil. We do not talk about mental health.