International Women’s Day: Kisan Trust organises ‘Aparajita Samman Samaroh 2026’

Kisan Trust organised the 2026 edition of its ‘Aparajita Samman Samaroh’ on Sunday, March 8, the day the country celebrated International Women’s Day. The event -- a special programme dedicated to recognising the courage, resilience and achievements of women while fostering meaningful dialogue on women’s empowerment -- witnessed enthusiastic participation from hundreds of women representing diverse walks of life, from Delhi to Muzaffarnagar.

“The Aparajita Samman Samaroh is not merely an event, but an effort to honour the courage, struggles and achievements of countless women who, despite facing challenges every day, continue to carve new paths for their dreams and for society,” said Charu Chaudhary, Trustee of Kisan Trust and the organiser of the programme.

“Kisan Trust firmly believes that when women are given respect, opportunities and resources, it strengthens not only their future but also the future of society and the nation as a whole. Guided by this belief, we will continue to work towards the economic and social empowerment of women,” she added.

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She emphasised that true empowerment comes when women are provided with opportunities, recognition and the confidence to rebuild their lives with dignity, noting that the courage shown by many women, particularly acid attack survivors, is deeply inspiring.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi was the Chief Guest at the event.

Appreciating the efforts of the Trust, the minister noted that initiatives such as these play an important role in encouraging women from diverse backgrounds, particularly acid attack survivors, by offering them both recognition and support.

She also highlighted various Government of India initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s welfare, safety and economic participation.

What is Kisan Trust and what does it do?

A non-government organisation, Kisan Trust was founded by Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh, then Prime Minister.

Kisan Trust has long been committed to empowering rural and underserved communities, with a special focus on farmers and women. As part of its social commitment, Kisan Trust has extended support for the rehabilitation of acid attack survivors by providing financial assistance and encouragement to help them rebuild their lives.

A key highlight of the event was a panel discussion on ‘Empowerment through Employment’. The session brought together prominent voices to deliberate on women’s economic participation, employment opportunities and the role of policy support in strengthening women’s agency.

Anna Roy, Principal Economic Adviser at NITI Aayog; Kanta Singh, Country Representative of UN Women India; Shinjini Kumar, an expert in the banking and fintech sector, and Salma Sultan, former Doordarshan news anchor, participated in the discussion. The session was moderated by Manisha Ahlawat, social and political activist and Member of the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Women.

During the discussion, Roy emphasised the importance of having a dedicated day to celebrate women and reflect on their contributions to society. Singh paid tribute to the strength of acid attack survivors, noting that the struggles they endure are far greater than many of the challenges faced by others. Kumar underlined the importance of education as a foundation for empowerment, while Sultan highlighted the role of families in nurturing confident and empowered women from the very beginning of their lives.

The programme also featured a fireside conversation with entrepreneur Pooja Sharma, popularly known as the ‘Millet Mom’. Sharing her journey in millet-based nutrition and women’s entrepreneurship, she spoke about how she began her professional journey with a modest Rs 2,500 job at an NGO and later started dairy farming in her ancestral house.