From Sheroes to Isro scientists, women achievers earn top honours

NEW DELHI : An Agra café run by acid attack survivors, three scientists involved with Isro’s record breaking satellite launches, Asia’s first woman diesel train driver and a Chhattisgarh constable who crowd funds medical treatment for the poor – this year’s Nari Shakti awardees are a disparate group of achievers. Instituted by the Union women and child development ministry, the awards will be given away to 31 recipients by President Pranab Mukherjee on March 8, the International Women’s Day.

Sheroes, the world’s first café run by all acid attack survivors is an example.

“My stepmother threw acid on my face when I was just 14 years old. Since then I have been holed inside my uncle’s house, embarrassed and afraid of the outside world. Sheroes changed my outlook towards life. I no longer cover my face and confidently serve my customers,” said Roopa Saa, 24, who works as an assistant manager at the café run by the Chhanv Foundation.

Initially, survivors were reluctant to join the café but now they walk in looking for an opening, Saa added.

The popularity of the Agra café that opened in 2014 led to the opening of two more branches in Udaipur and Lucknow with 21 staff, all acid attack survivors.

For Anatta Sonney, a scientist at Flight Dynamics Group, Isro’s satellite centre at Bangalore, the news came as a pleasant surprise. “Very rarely do you see women scientists getting such awards,” she said.