Archana Mane, an entrepreneur and farmer from Ansurda village of Osmanabad district, Maharashtra was awarded CII Foundation’s Woman Exemplar 2023 Award in the Micro-Enterprise Category on 24th May, 2023. Archana was felicitated by Smt Smriti Irani, Minister of Women & Child Development and Minority Affairs, Government of India. Archana, along with other finalists for the Woman Exemplar Program, 2023, will engage in a year-long leadership development training organised by CII, to help improve the impact of her work.
Archana has been associated with Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) for the last 13 years, working to promote climate-resilient agriculture, women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and rural value chain development. Currently she serves as a Director in the Manjari Sakhi Producer Company, a women-led Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) that works on developing the oilseeds and pulses value chain in Osmanabad District, as well as a mentor to young women leaders and entrepreneurs.
Archana’s dedication, resilience and enthusiasm towards bringing about social change continues to inspire us and other rural women across Marathwada. She has demonstrated SSP’s belief that women empowerment leads to local action and community development.
“CII Woman Exemplar Awards highlight the need to do much more to inspire women at the grassroots level to bring about social change. Between the Government and Industry, let us resolve to build a society that is empathetic to the needs of the women.” Smt Smriti Irani, Minister of Women & Child Development and Minority Affairs, Government of India.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
May 24, 2023