Policy Meets Capital: Forging the Next Decade of Women-Led Sustainable Development at DDSEA 2026
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- July 18, 2026
- DDSEA 2026
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Mumbai (Maharashtra): A remarkable evening dedicated to sustainability, women’s leadership, and nation-building unfolded as the inaugural DesiDhaakad™ Sustainability Excellence Awards 2026 (DDSEA 2026) concluded successfully at the NSE Atrium, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai. Presented by Etherwire.ai in collaboration with NSE Sustainability Ratings & Analytics Limited, the event honoured outstanding women leaders and organisations that are making meaningful contributions to environmental conservation, sustainable development, and social transformation.
The awards were inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, recognising changemakers whose work reflects India’s cultural ethos while addressing contemporary sustainability challenges.
Fireside Chat Highlights: CSR, Women Empowerment and Sustainable Growth
One of the key highlights of the evening was an insightful fireside conversation between Sanjeev Rohilla, Chief General Manager, NABARD, and Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, widely regarded as the father of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India. Their discussion revolved around strengthening CSR frameworks, empowering women entrepreneurs, and building sustainable financial ecosystems.
Women at the Centre of CSR
Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee emphasised that women’s empowerment was intentionally positioned at the heart of Schedule VII of the Companies Act when India’s CSR framework was established. He noted the remarkable growth in CSR investments dedicated to women’s empowerment—from approximately ₹265 crore to ₹460 crore within just three years.
According to him, these initiatives have supported more than 10 crore women organised into nearly 91 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs), demonstrating how CSR has become a powerful tool for promoting inclusive economic development across rural India.
Proposal for a ₹100 Crore Zero-Cost Credit Fund
Addressing one of the biggest challenges faced by women-led enterprises—high borrowing costs—Sanjeev Rohilla proposed the creation of a ₹100 crore blended finance fund aimed at providing zero-cost credit to women entrepreneurs.
He suggested that NABARD could contribute approximately ₹7–8 crore as a returnable zero-cost grant while encouraging 10–12 corporate CSR partners to jointly provide the remaining capital. Such a model, he explained, would reduce financial barriers and enable women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses without the burden of expensive commercial loans carrying interest rates of 10–12 percent.
The Emerging Role of the Social Stock Exchange
Dr. Chatterjee also highlighted the growing significance of the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) and the Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) instrument as transformative financing mechanisms for the social sector.
He explained that the framework enables non-profit organisations—many of them led by women—to raise up to ₹50 lakh for project-specific initiatives. The model promotes greater transparency for corporate donors while reducing the need for extensive third-party assessments, making funding more accessible and efficient.
Learning from India’s Environmental Heritage
Reflecting on India’s environmental history, Dr. Chatterjee recalled his conversations with noted environmentalist Vandana Shiva regarding the historic Chipko Movement of the 1980s.
He observed that although men often received public recognition as leaders, the movement’s true strength came from rural women who protected forests by embracing trees and tying rakhis around them, symbolically treating the trees as members of their families. He described this grassroots movement as one of India’s earliest and most powerful examples of women-led environmental stewardship.
Honouring Women Changemakers
The inaugural awards celebrated exceptional women leaders across multiple sustainability and social impact categories.
DesiDhaakad Samman
- Marcella D’Souza (W-CReS)
Jury Top Choice Awards
- Madhura DasGupta Sinha (Aspire For Her) – Jury Top Choice
- Pratima Joshi (Shelter Associates) – Jal Rakshak (Jury Top Choice)
Notable Individual Awardees
- Dr. Ruby Makhija (Why Waste Wednesdays Foundation) – Apashisht Rakshak Women Changemaker
- Bhavini Nishith Parikh (Bunko Junko) – Chakra Rakshak
Ecology & Environment Awardees
Several distinguished individuals were recognised for their contributions toward environmental conservation and sustainable development:
- Akanksha Priyadarshini (Aurassure Pvt. Ltd.) – Environmental Stewardship
- Arundhati Patil – Dharti Rakshak
- Gitasree Das (Rupantaran Foundation) – Asamanya Parichit
- Laxmipriya Parida (Indian Grameen Services) – Sustainable Livelihoods
- Swati Singh Sambyal (GRID-Arendal) – Gyaan Yodha Vichar Veer
- Mrs. Minali N. Thakkar – Mentors’ Choice Award
Organisation Awardees & Special Mentions
The awards also acknowledged organisations and leaders making exceptional contributions to sustainability and community development:
- Dr. Saloni Satish Wagh (Supriya Lifescience Ltd.) – Dharti Rakshak
- Bharti Singh Chauhan (PraveenLata Sansthan Foundation) – Asamanya Parichit
- Shraddha Jadon (Shaktishali Mahila Sangathan Samiti – SMSS) – Urja Veer
- Dr. Lata Ghanshamnani (RNisarg Foundation) – Prakriti Rakshak
- Natasha Raj (Credila Financial Services) – Asamanya Parichit
Editorial Perspective
The editorial accompanying the event was authored by Sarita Bahl, a member of the Board of Management at Etherwire.ai. She noted that the platform is committed to highlighting stories that create lasting impact rather than simply reporting events. According to her, the conversations and recognitions at the DesiDhaakad Sustainability Excellence Awards represent the collective efforts of visionary leaders, sustainability champions, and women changemakers who are laying the foundation for India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
A Celebration of Purpose and Progress
The inaugural DesiDhaakad Sustainability Excellence Awards 2026 showcased how sustainability, women’s leadership, CSR, and innovative financing can work together to accelerate inclusive development. By honouring individuals and organisations dedicated to environmental stewardship and social impact, the event reinforced the message that empowering women is essential to building a resilient and sustainable India.
As India advances towards its long-term development goals, initiatives like DDSEA 2026 serve as important platforms that recognise leadership, encourage collaboration, and inspire a new generation of changemakers committed to creating a greener, more equitable future.