MUMBAI; You have got to hand it to the PM and his core communications management team. In a pioneering move to celebrate International Women's Day, Narendra Modi handed over control of his substantial social media presence to six accomplished women (at least the ones we came across) from diverse fields, providing them a platform to share their stories and inspire millions across India.
The initiative saw Modi's accounts temporarily managed by women who have broken barriers in rural entrepreneurship, disability advocacy, space science, nuclear technology, sports, and agriculture. Each shared personal journeys and messages reflecting India's progress in women's empowerment.
Frontier Markets founder & CEO Ajaita S highlighted her organisation's work empowering rural women through financial inclusion and technology. "A financially empowered woman is a confident decision-maker, independent thinker, architect of her own future and a maker of modern India," she wrote, emphasising how their 'Meri Saheli App' harnesses AI to support women entrepreneurs in agriculture, healthcare and financial literacy.
Samarthyam, Centre for Universal Accessibility founder Anjlee Agarwal used the platform to advocate for disability rights. "Forget labels, forget barriers...let's strengthen Sugamya Bharat and make it an important precursor to a Viksit Bharat," she urged, sharing her three decades of work on universal accessibility and inclusive mobility.
The scientific community was represented by two distinguished voices. Shilpi Soni, a space scientist with 24 years at Isro, shared her contributions to India's communication and navigation missions, while Elina Mishra, a nuclear scientist from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, detailed her work in electromagnetic research and medical applications of nuclear technology for remote healthcare.
Chess grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu brought a sporting perspective, encouraging young women to pursue their dreams regardless of hurdles. "Sports is among the best teachers," she noted, while praising India's improving support system for women athletes.
From Bihar's Nalanda district, Anita Devi shared how she established Madhopur Farmers Producer Co Ltd nine years ago, helping hundreds of women achieve financial independence through mushroom cultivation.
Political analysts view the Modi’s initiative as a strategic amplification of women's voices across sectors critical to India's development agenda. By temporarily ceding his immense digital reach—among the largest for any world leader—he has effectively showcased women's contributions to nation-building while highlighting government initiatives supporting their advancement.
The diverse selection of women—spanning rural innovation, scientific research, disability advocacy, sports excellence, and agricultural entrepreneurship—reflects the multifaceted approach to women's empowerment that the administration seeks to promote.
As India continues its economic and social transformation, this exercise underscores the increasing prominence of women's leadership across domains once considered inaccessible to them, while simultaneously drawing attention to ongoing challenges.
The initiative has been widely praised for going beyond symbolic gestures to provide substantive visibility to women making significant contributions to India's progress, reinforcing the message that women's empowerment is integral to the nation's development journey.
