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News18
2 hours ago
- Business
- News18
From Talks To Transformation: How News18 SheShakti 2025-Mumbai Outlined India's Next Leap
Last Updated: At the Mumbai edition of News18 SheShakti 2025, women from politics, governance, business, and social change shared not just stories, but blueprints for action The energy at News18 SheShakti 2025 – Mumbai edition, presented by Lions International, was electric. It began with a celebration but quickly moved into a sharper mood of determination. The theme, 'From Breaking Barriers to Building Bharat', played out in full as women from politics, governance, business, and social change shared not just stories, but blueprints for action. Women are no longer asking for permission to participate in India's growth story. Now, they are actively writing it. On the topic of governance, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis set a strong goal: to increase the number of women participating in local government bodies from 33% to 50%. Ashwini Bhide, Additional Municipal Commissioner (City), BMC, showed that this change is already happening, with women leading important infrastructure projects in Mumbai. Making Real-Time Impact Sunaina Tomar, Additional Chief Secretary Higher and Technical Education, Government of Gujarat, and Vinita Vaid Singhal, Principal Secretary of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, Government of Maharashtra, reminded everyone that real progress often begins with fixing small issues, like school transportation, which in reality are big obstacles to involvement. The discussion on the economy became crucial when Priti Rathi Gupta, founder of LXME, shared a shocking fact: women lose Rs 5 crore over their lifetime because of bad financial planning. The funding gap is also a big problem, with women-led start-ups only getting 1-2% of the total required fund they need. However, Laxmi Iyer, Group President – Investments, Bajaj Finserv Ltd and Roshi Jain, Fund Manager at HDFC MF, highlighted that women investors can do better than men, highlighting the need for women to start managing money earlier and feel more confident in their financial choices. Just as financial independence gives women the power to take control of their futures, social change gives them the freedom to live those futures fully. That's where mental health came into focus. Dr. Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of Aditya Birla Education Trust, who has been advocating for the cause for years, once faced almost empty press conferences. Today, with the country more open to these conversations, her journey proves that persistence can shift how an entire society thinks about critical issues. By the end of the evening, one thing was clear: SheShakti is no longer just about asking for a place at the table. It's about redesigning the table itself. The conversations in Mumbai didn't just show what needs to be fixed, they also gave clear steps forward: pass laws to increase women's representation, remove everyday access barriers, close the gap in financial knowledge and funding, and make it easier to talk about mental health. If these steps are taken, they could help create a progressive India led by women, not in the future, but right now. Know more here. First Published: August 13, 2025, 08:58 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
News18 SheShakti 2025 Celebrates Maharashtra's Legacy Of Women Leadership Building New Bharat
The SheShakti edition in Mumbai celebrated Maharashtra's spirit with women leading from the front and driving the vision of a new India, powered by women and anchored in Bharat News18 successfully inaugurated the powerful third season of SheShakti, in partnership with Lions International, celebrating women who've shattered barriers and are shaping the future of India. For the first time ever, SheShakti expanded regionally with a much-anticipated Mumbai Edition. The SheShakti edition in Mumbai marked more than just a milestone, it celebrated Maharashtra's spirit with women leading from the front and driving the vision of a new India, powered by women and anchored in Bharat. Over its two impactful previous editions, News18 SheShakti has evolved from a platform to a powerful initiative that has spotlighted pathbreakers in governance, security, industry, entertainment, science, arts, social justice and much more. This year's theme, 'From Breaking Barriers to Building Bharat', is especially significant as the campaign shifted its focus to regional India, bringing grassroots leadership to the forefront alongside metropolitan voices. The celebration highlighted how real leadership transcends boundaries, urban and rural, grassroots and global and emphasised that a stronger Bharat will be built when women lead across sectors. As stories from grassroots activists, scientists, entrepreneurs, media personalities, policymakers and frontline changemakers took centre stage, SheShakti 2025 reinforced the transformative power of storytelling in shaping India's leadership narrative. Ashwini Bhide, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and widely known as the 'Metro woman" of Mumbai for handling complex, multi-crore projects, said, 'Working on mega projects in Mumbai is a big challenge but also a massive opportunity, and you need to be a problem solver at all times. Unless we create a robust and strong global standard of public transport in Mumbai, it'll be very difficult for Mumbaikars to commute the way they deserve." Shifting from the Metro to the film industry of Maharashtra, and opening up about how films and OTT shows are evolving for the better, actor Shriya Pilgaonkar said, 'You have to be stubborn about your dreams and flexible about your plan. Today, the work opportunities, especially with the kind of women I have been able to play on screen, are exciting. However, it's important to maintain balance. The industry is quick to box you." 'You have to stay in your power, confidence, and value, and your drive needs to come from within… So, if you want to stay relevant and keep working, you can't always be giving the power to other people," said Mandala Murders actor. Further, adding to the importance of financial freedom for women, Lakshmi Iyer, Group President Designate (Investments), Bajaj Finserv, in her session 'The ROI of Being She', said, 'Financial freedom is like oxygen. For women, it should be like Independence Day. The goal is to be in so much control of your finances that you can say it feels like oxygen to you." Building on the momentum, Dr. Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, spoke candidly about India's long-neglected mental health crisis and the cultural shift now underway. She also addressed the silent mental burden carried by women. 'We're conditioned to be caregivers, to put ourselves last. But I say this from experience, if my own cup is half full, how can I give anyone else? It has to be brimming before I can share," she said. The Lions International presents News18 SheShakti 2025- Mumbai edition, concluded with a powerful session by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who championed the need for women's empowerment and gender equality in driving the state's development. He emphasized, 'As I matured in my political journey, I came to realize that Maharashtra's vision for growth can only be fulfilled if we truly embrace gender equality. Being a student of economics, I've read global economic trends and noticed one consistent pattern: only those countries have accelerated their growth where they recognized the value of the other 50% of their population: women. If we want to fast-track our own growth, we must bring our women workforce to the front seat. And as we give them more opportunities, we are clearly seeing the results; there is no field today where women are not excelling." During his conversation, he also recalled how, in the early days of women's reservations in local bodies, their male relatives often functioned as the real decision-makers behind the curtain, and how the shift began to take place. 'At that time, women had 33% of the seats. But many were stand-ins. The terms 'sarpanch-pati' and 'corporator-pati' came into existence because men felt it was their role," the Chief Minister said, noting that a gradual shift began around 1997, when women actually began performing in those roles. 'In 2029, when it becomes compulsory to give tickets to women, I don't think we will stop at 33%. Within ten years, it will be 50%," he said. top videos View all The Mumbai edition of News18 SheShakti 2025 brought together trailblazing women who are not just leading in their fields; they're reshaping them. From governance and business to sports, media, and the arts, the conversations were bold, urgent, and unapologetically forward-looking. This wasn't just a celebration of women's power, it was a clear message: the future of Bharat is being built by women who lead, disrupt, and redefine what's possible. Click here to know more. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : She Shakti 2025 view comments Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published: August 05, 2025, 16:18 IST News india News18 SheShakti 2025 Celebrates Maharashtra's Legacy Of Women Leadership Building New Bharat Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
05-08-2025
- Business
- News18
The Women Powering A New Bharat: Highlights From Mumbai Edition Of News18 SheShakti 2025
Last Updated: News18 SheShakti 2025: Voices from across India's most influential sectors came together to spotlight how women are reshaping the country's future every day What happens when leaders from governance, business, sports, media, and diplomacy come together with one shared purpose? You witness change, not as a slogan, but in action. That was the spirit of Lions International presents News18 SheShakti 2025, held in Mumbai on July 31. Now in its third edition, this marked the first-ever regional chapter of the initiative, a powerful expansion of a national movement into the heart of India's cities. Themed 'From Breaking Barriers to Building Bharat', the initiative didn't just talk about women's empowerment, it embodied it. Voices from across India's most influential sectors came together to spotlight how women are reshaping the country's future every day. At the centre of this potent conversation was Ashwini Bhide, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and MD of the Mumbai Metro Corporation. She spoke of strategy not as theory, but as a daily practice, one that impacts millions of lives by improving how they live and move through the city. Adding a global and diplomatic lens were Chavanart Thangsumphant, Ambassador of Thailand to India, and Mateja Vodeb Ghosh, Ambassador of Slovenia to India. Both shared insights on the power of representation in diplomacy, the need for women to assert themselves at the decision-making tables, and the shared responsibility of the nation to create space for such women in leadership roles. In the financial arena, leading voices like Lakshmi Iyer, Group President Designate, Bajaj Finserv, Roshi Jain, Senior Fund Manager, Equities, HDFC MF, and Harsha Mundhada, Partner, Inflexor Ventures, shared insights on managing capital, navigating market volatility, and challenging old structures in a still male-dominated sector. Their conversations showed that finance, when reimagined by women, becomes a tool for wider inclusion. The entrepreneurial energy came in strong with Priyanka Salot from The Sleep Company, Priti Rathi Gupta from LXME, and Naiyya Saggi from Edition. Each brought a story of innovation, disruption, and building businesses that solve real problems; not just scale metrics. Their journeys reflected grit, market intelligence, and the ability to lead with empathy and sharp execution. Along with the stories of empowerment, grit and success, the importance of focusing on oneself was brought to attention by Dr. Neerja Birla, Founder & Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust. She drew attention to the often overlooked crisis of mental health, especially among women and children. Her advocacy for holistic well-being, combined with education reform, is changing the narrative around what support systems should look like in today's India. This very idea of inner strength resonated further through the lens of sports with Anjali Bhagwat, Three-time Olympian, former world no.1 shooter, Khel Ratna and Arjuna awardee, and Trupti Murgunde, Indian Badminton champion. Both added a layer of inspiration drawn from years of dedication and excellence. They spoke not just of medals and rankings, but of resilience, built through discipline, failure, and getting back up again. Their stories resonated beyond sport, touching on consistency, focus, and confidence under pressure; qualities essential to any leadership journey. The conversations further flowed into the world of storytelling with actors such as Renuka Shahane, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Nimrat Kaur exploring how cinema is increasingly reflecting empowered female narratives. Adding to the potential of storytelling and transformation were the vibrant voices of RJ Malishka, Actor and Radio Host at RED FM, RJ Stutee, Head Of Programming, Fever FM, Mumbai, and RJ Prerna, Radio Mirchi, Mumbai, on how radio remains a powerful, intimate tool for shifting public narratives and celebrating everyday wins. Bringing the event to a close, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, acknowledged the transformative potential of women's leadership. He emphasised the government's role in building environments where women don't just participate, but lead, inspire, and thrive. News18 SheShakti 2025-Mumbai edition, in partnership with Lions International, left behind not just memories, but a blueprint for generations to come. The message was clear: When women lead, Bharat rises. Click here to know more. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Mumbai Metro's Line 3 now on Open Network for Digital Commerce; QR-based tickets to be available across apps
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) announced on Wednesday that Metro Line 3 will be connected to the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), enabling passengers to book QR-based tickets through multiple consumer apps to travel on the fully underground Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ corridor. This move eliminates the need for separate metro ticketing apps or standing in long queues at ticket counters. Passengers can now use widely available platforms such as EaseMyTrip, RedBus, OneTicket, Tummoc, Yatri-City Travel Guide, Highway Delite, and even Telegram-based Miles & Kilometres to purchase tickets. The OneTicket app also allows seamless travel across Metro Lines 1, 2A, 7 and now 3, enabling end-to-end metro journeys within Mumbai through a single digital interface. 'Integration of Metro Line 3 with the ONDC platform is a landmark step toward building a truly interoperable and inclusive urban mobility ecosystem. By enabling QR-based ticketing through multiple trusted apps, we are not only enhancing commuter convenience but also contributing to the broader vision of a digitally connected India,' said Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, MMRCL, in a statement. Officials said this is part of a broader effort to make Mumbai's metro system more accessible and technology-friendly as it scales up to handle millions of daily commuters across the city. 'The ONDC network, backed by the Government of India, is designed to facilitate open and inclusive digital commerce by allowing various service providers to operate on a shared infrastructure. By joining this network, Metro Line-3 becomes the first fully underground metro corridor in the country to embrace this interoperable ticketing model,' said an MMRCL spokesperson. The line is expected to see partial commissioning soon with full operations anticipated in phases.
NDTV
11-06-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
What Recent Mumbai Flooding Should Teach Us About Climate
'Unprecedented' and 'overwhelming' - those two words came up repeatedly in Mumbai Metro chief Ashwini Bhide's statement as she described how the railway utility's brand new Acharya Atre station on Line 3 was flooded after a downpour on May 27. The station had to be shut down for a while. Bhide called the rain - 90 mm in 90 minutes - an extreme weather event, for which the company was underprepared. The station had become functional with about 45,000-50,000 passengers using the line, even though work was incomplete. Three of the six entry-exits were still under construction, and one of those close to a storm water system took the brunt of it as the downpour combined with high tide flooded the massive drains. About 1.1 million litres of water filled up in a pit, which overflowed to the concourse and tracks. A bund wall meant to keep water out was not designed for this kind of surge and was overwhelmed in no time. While Mumbai was dealing with a deluge, a glacier collapsed in Switzerland, dumping mud and ice into a valley and burying the village of Blatten. Such was the quantity of rock, mud and ice that the slide caused a minor earthquake. Why Current Forecasting Models Are Inadequate Extreme weather events have become more frequent across the world and barely anyone is spared. Human decision-making is predicated largely on forecasting, even if it is merely a hunch. Otherwise it is driven by data, modelling and sundry other tools made available by modern science and technology. But already it is proving to be inadequate, and two and two are not adding up to four any more. Climate events are increasingly intense and whimsical than ever before, which is throwing calculations out of whack. It has unprecedented ramifications for businesses and the economy. People in the north Indian plains were bracing for heat waves typical of the month of May when rains and thunderstorms struck repeatedly. Seas warming on both sides of peninsular India are causing freak weather patterns, bringing storms, hail and rains across the country. The monsoon arrived a full week in advance, a first in 35 years. The result is the third wettest May in 125 years, according to one report. What was expected to be a bumper season for the cooling industry turned out to be a damp squib, with inventories piling up and air conditioner manufacturers forced to scale back production. Soft drink and ice cream makers have also been hit by early rains. Planetary Boundaries Climate risks are well known even if there are skeptics in high offices such as the White House. It is also quite clear that we are unlikely to do enough to stop pushing the planetary boundaries (PB), a concept introduced in 2009 by Johan Rockström and a group of 28 well known scientists. Rockström was director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The group proposed that there are nine PBs or critical processes that need to stay within safe limits to maintain a stable and resilient Earth. The collaboration, known as PBScience, created a framework to monitor the nine processes to provide an annual health check of the planet. Their first report in 2024 found that six of the nine boundaries - which include fresh water, biodiversity, land systems change and climate - had already been crossed and were rapidly advancing towards the no-return zone. Climate Insurance The inability to accurately forecast weather events and the global political powershift in the developed world in favour of climate change deniers means developing countries will have to hunt for innovative solutions. For India, it could be insurance. At a recent New Delhi event on rising atmospheric temperatures, a veteran of the insurance industry said that general insurers are finding it increasingly tough to underwrite climate risk as forecasting progressively becomes inaccurate. Yet, large-scale insurance cover is essential to address climate risks at a granular level. Indians are by nature averse to paying for insurance as they see it as an unnecessary burden. Low per capita income and rising inflation act as a dampener too. In fact, insurance penetration in India fell in fiscal year 2023-24 to 3.7% compared to 4% the previous year and a global average of 7%. Given the circumstances, it is unlikely there will be takers for expensive climate risk insurance. Climate insurance could, however, be a public good, with the government sharing a big chunk of the burden, with the condition that beneficiaries will undertake measures that will help apply brakes on pushing PBs. For instance, an entire village along with its crops could be insured for flooding provided it agrees to shun single-use plastics and keep water bodies clean and unobstructed. A Countrywide Policy India already has a climate risk insurance for farmers in the form of the Fasal Bima Yojana to protect against loss of crops. Several companies offer parametric insurance, but these are largely restricted to farming and related sectors. There is a need to design a countrywide scheme for businesses, beginning with MSMEs. The Kerala government introduced a general insurance scheme two years ago for MSMEs where the government pays half the premium. But it is an industrial sop with no nudge to act to build climate consciousness and sustainability. Less than 15% of MSMEs in India have any sort of insurance. A publicly funded insurance scheme with in-built incentives for adoption of auditable climate friendly policies could perhaps help move the needle a wee bit. For instance, property developers in flood prone areas could get covers at steep discounts if they help protect natural water channels in and around their sites. Same for manufacturing units and industrial parks that help restore and maintain local ecological balance or improve water tables. Those which come up with innovations could be rewarded with free insurance. With smart innovations, such giant group insurance schemes will also bring down the cost of cover. For context, the 15th Finance Commission had allocated Rs 1.28 lakh crore - Rs 98,000 for the centre and the rest for states - for five years ending 2026. States spent Rs 18,322 crore and the centre gave Rs 4,371 crore as relief in the wake of floods, landslides and storms in 2024-25, the Parliament was informed in March 2025. Yet, these sums are inadequate as projections are conservative and do not appear to account for the intensifying nature and higher frequency of calamities. CAT Bonds To reduce the burden on the taxpayer, laws could be amended to allow reinsurers to issue catastrophe bonds, a financial innovation introduced after large claims in the wake of Hurricane Andrew in the US in 1992 bankrupted eight insurers. Known as CAT bonds, reinsurers sell them through special purpose vehicles (SPV), offering high interest rates and a typical maturity of three to four years. They can be linked to the likely occurrence of specific events or regions and are usually offered to highly sophisticated investors, such as pension and sovereign funds. The SPV invests the money raised in government bonds and earnings are passed on to investors. If the tenure of the bond passes without incident, the investors stand to earn very good returns as well as get the principal back. However, if calamity strikes and claims have to be settled, investors could lose some or all of the principal. CAT bonds help reinsurers spread the risk and reduce the burden on taxpayers. CAT bonds' popularity is rising with the increasing frequency of extreme climate events and investors' search for higher returns. The global CAT bonds market was valued at $50 billion in 2024 and returned 17% that year. The first CAT Bond exchange-traded fund, Brookmont Catastrophic Bond ETF, started trading in April 2025 although it got caught in the US President Donald Trump's tariff storm. A well designed public insurance scheme for businesses could not only compensate for sudden losses but also act as an effective nudge to enforce sensible behavioural changes in public spaces and businesses - even homes.
