Prachi Kaushik, an award-winning social entrepreneur and reformer, has dedicated her life to empowering marginalized communities, particularly women, through innovative solutions. Recognized with the prestigious Abhaya Bravery Award 2025 for her excellence in community empowerment, innovation, and entrepreneurship, she continues to lead change through her venture, VYOMINI. Her inspiring journey from a challenging background to becoming a pioneer in social welfare is a testament to resilience, vision, and impact.
Early Life and Motivation
Growing up in a conservative, economically challenged family, Prachi witnessed the struggles women faced in achieving financial independence. Defying societal norms, she started earning at a young age and pursued education relentlessly. Her determination to break barriers and empower women fueled her mission to create lasting social change.
Prachi’s Journey in Social Work
Early Beginnings
Prachi’s social work journey began at 19 when she joined an organization dedicated to women’s development. This pivotal experience made her realize that true empowerment comes from economic independence. She later collaborated with multiple social organizations, developing a deep understanding of grassroots challenges.
Key Contributions
One of her most notable contributions was working with Samajik Suvidha Sangam, a government initiative under the Women and Child Development Department of Delhi. She identified inefficiencies in policy implementation and advocated for more effective execution to benefit underprivileged communities.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Prachi played a crucial role in monitoring and evaluating health and hygiene projects, ensuring they delivered real impact. Her strategic approach helped bridge the gap between government initiatives and their actual execution on the ground.
Education and Experience
With over 22 years of experience in the development sector, Prachi holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Delhi University. Her academic background strengthens her advocacy and leadership in social reform.
Commitment to Change
Starting at just 16, Prachi actively addressed domestic violence cases, later expanding her efforts to broader community development. Her lifelong commitment to economic and social empowerment has helped thousands of women achieve financial independence.
Challenges and Solutions
As a woman entrepreneur, Prachi identified three major challenges:
- Connectivity Issues – Lack of access to business networks hindered women entrepreneurs.
- Safety and Security – Women faced risks in professional environments.
- Safe Infrastructure – The absence of female-friendly spaces made entrepreneurship difficult.
To counter these, she introduced safe transportation solutions and infrastructure support, ensuring women could pursue careers confidently.
Vision for the Future
Prachi envisions a future where grassroots women are not just beneficiaries but leaders. Through VYOMINI, she promotes health, entrepreneurship, and sustainable community development, empowering women to become changemakers.
Awards and Recognition
Prachi’s efforts have earned her numerous accolades, including:
- Abhaya Bravery Award 2025 – For excellence in social welfare.
- Rex Karamveer Chakra Award (2024-25) – Recognized by iCONGO & the UN.
- Mahila Shiromani Samman (2024) – For outstanding work in social reform.
- Women BW Disrupt WEISA Social Entrepreneur of the Year (2024) – By BW Business World.
- Women Transforming India (2021) – By NITI Aayog.
- Best Social Enterprise (2020) – By the Exhibition Council.
- Women Excellence and Leadership Award (2019) – By Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Foundation.
- Phenomenal She (2023) – By the Indian National Bar Association.
VYOMINI: A Catalyst for Change
Founded in 2017, VYOMINI is a woman-led enterprise focusing on clean energy, agriculture, nutrition, health, and sanitation. Its mission is to empower grassroots women entrepreneurs, enabling them to generate economic, social, and environmental impact in climate-vulnerable regions of India.
Achievements and Impact
- Empowered over 10,000 women, strengthening rural economies.
- Established 10 incubation centers for training rural entrepreneurs.
- Conducted 550 Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) workshops, benefiting self-help groups, released prisoners, and transgender communities.
- Launched Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) workshops, educating over 25 lakh women and promoting hygienic practices.
- Set up Capacity Building Centers under the Ajeevika Mission to support self-help groups.
- Partnered with NSIC Delhi to create Incubation & Training Centers for entrepreneurship development.
Conclusion
Prachi Kaushik’s journey—from overcoming financial hardships to receiving national and international recognition—demonstrates that women can be powerful agents of change. Through VYOMINI, she has transformed the landscape of women’s empowerment, menstrual hygiene, and rural entrepreneurship, proving that economic independence leads to social transformation.
Her story continues to inspire thousands, reaffirming that with vision, resilience, and the right opportunities, women can become trailblazers and community leaders.