Anti-Kela Awards 2013: Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns, Go Goa Gone, The Lunch Box, Shahid to be honoured in Delhi on March 29

The 6th Annual Golden Kela Awards, the Indian version of Razzies, which are very popular awards in the West for awarding the worst in the filmmaking industry, after announcing its 2013 nominations list for the worst attempts in Bollywood, has now announced the most  deserving  and the clear cut Winners of Anti-Kela Awards.

‘Anti-Kela’ awards are the special awards given by Golden Kela team to the films that are meaningful and entertaining, while still being in the mainstream.

Anti-Kelas – For Honouring the Boons of Bollywood in the year 2013

1.       Saheb Biwi aur Gangster returns – For being the only real sequel made last year.

2.       Go Goa Gone – For being India’s first ever Zombie Comedy and Stoner Film in one nice   package.

3.       The Lunchbox- For showing the world that Indian films are not all song and dance.

4.       Shahid – For being the best biopic made by Bollywood in a long time.
Anant Singh, Creative Head, Golden Kela Awards, said: “The Kela Awards are not just about highlighting the worst performances of the year, we feel its also our duty to point out some of the great work being done in the Indian film industry, therefore the Anti-Kelas”. The 6th Annual Golden Kela Awards ceremony will take place on March 29, 2014 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Jatin Varma, Founder of Golden Kela giving Anti Kela Trophy to Kahaani writer Advaita Kala as she receives it on behalf of her entire team.
Other than announcing the worst bollywood performances of the year 2013 and anti kela awards, some Special Awards will be announced at the official awards ceremony, like Aakhir Kyun Award, Dara Singh Award for Worst Accent, Bas Kijiye Bahut Ho Gaya, Aap Yahaan Aaye Kisliye Award and Ra.One Award for Worst Premise.

Anvita Dutt, Lyricist, Ishq Wala Love (SOY) won a Golden Kela Award for most atrocious lyrics.

Golden kela Awards started in the year 2009 are in its sixth year whereas Anti-Kela awards were introduced by Golden Kela team in the year 2011. The Kela Awards are making their presence felt strongly all over. Voting lines are open till March 28, 2014. Log on to goldenkela.com to check out the categories for Golden Kelas, nominees, updates and cast a vote for vengeance.

Asia Cup 2014 – Sheena Chohan appears in Tanvi & Pratiti outfit in Dhaka

Bengali siren, Sheena Chohan looked breathtakingly beautiful in The Mardi Gras saree Pure Georgette with raw silk border and sequin from ‘The Purple Sack’ by Designers Tanvi & Pratiti at first day of Asia cup 2014 in Dhaka where she was hosting and presenting the whole event.

Sheena Chohan is an Artiste with a flair for being natural in front of the camera. Her stylish persona with a dash of oomph makes her a versatile performer, be it playing roles with ease, anchoring for events and carving her own distinct niche when it comes to modeling and advertising commercials/brand campaigns.

Hailing from the cultural city of Kolkata and winning the beauty pagents well known in the city, acting came to her very naturally and to be in front of the camera became her staple diet. Soon after, she was priviledged to be handpicked by Sushmita Sen to participate in “Miss India Universe -I am She” where she won the “I Am Voice” title for her effortless and expressive connect with the audience. Ever since those days and now when she is a few films old, her passion for camera is still on a roll!

Sheena has gathered much appreciation as a model with her TVC(s) for brands like Sonia Bravia, Wella, Videocon, V-Guard, Enkay Garden, Dubai Gold and Diamonds and Green Rich Tea. Her first Advert was with Kunal Kohli Productions and has been her stepping stone. Apart from theatre, where she did plays like Shakespeare’s “A midsummer night’s dream”, “Adhe Adhure” with thespian Shyamanand Jalan and “ Ek Mamooli Aadmi” with eminent theatre director Arvind Gaur.
Sheena started her film career with a Malayalam blockbuster “The Train” directed by National Award winning director Jayaraj opposite the south superstar Mammootty.  This Punjabi-Bengali siren has recently done 2 films with Buddhadeb Dasgupta named “Mukti” and “Patralekha” based on Rabindranath Tagore’s Poems.
Vibrant and ecstatic is what Sheena was called when she was chosen as the face and host of the 1st & 2nd Season of BPL- Bangladesh Premier League where she garnered a lot of adulation, appreciation while she connected with the audience and earned the title of “the BPL girl”.  Her recent international film- Ant Story, was a world Premiere at the Dubai International Film Festival. She was in the Top 4 Finalists, amongst the Top artists of the country, in the Entertainers connect- LQ Awards2013 Sheena has a long way but she is stepping each stone with Professionalism, respect and great dedication. Indeed a superstar in making!

Gartner Symposium & ITxpo 2013: NeoNiche Integrated Solutions bag award

NeoNiche Integrated Solutions won the award under ‘Most Admired Event Management Company’ and ‘Most Admired Corporate Event in IT Industry’ for ‘Gartner Symposium & ITxpo 2013.

Winners of the ‘Stars of the Industry Awards 2014’ were announced at a gala event held on February 14, 2014 at Taj Landsend in Mumbai in the presence of luminaries and stalwarts of the industry. The Stars of the Industry Awards recognises individual and corporate excellence across Industry verticals. These Awards were decided by an eminent Jury comprising senior professionals. The Awards were sponsored by 94.3 MY FM and endorsed by Asian Confederation of Businesses.

Speaking on the awards Prateek N Kumar CEO & MD NeoNiche Integrated Solutions said: “We are happy to be named the Most Admired Event Management Company and to get Most Admired Corporate Event in IT Industry. We are extremely grateful Stars of the Industry Awards organisers and 94.3 MY FM who provide such a great platform, to our clients who trusted us and are some of the most prestigious and recognised names in the corporate space. We also thank our partners in the industry and NeoKnights who deliver our promise of Ideas, Innovation and Insights to every project that we undertake. Lastly we pledge to continue giving our clients the most professional, innovative and process driven service, as we go forward with this new found recognition”.

Bentley Systems is Construction Computing’s ‘Company of the Year’ for Second Year Running

Bentley Systems Inc, the leading company dedicated to providing comprehensive software solutions for sustaining infrastructure, today announced that it was named ‘The Company of the Year’ at the Construction Computing Awards 2013 (also known as The Hammers) programme – marking the second year in a row that Bentley has achieved this recognition, according to a company statement.

Bentley further announced that SpecWave Composer – Bentley’s specification creation, control, and compliance software – received the top award in the “One to Watch Product” category, which acknowledged new products launched in 2013 that are going to become “big” in the next 12 months. Bentley also was named runner-up in the “Architectural Software Product of the Year” category for GenerativeComponents, “Document and Content Management Product of the Year” category forProjectWise, and “Mobile Technology of the Year” category for Field Supervisor.
Sponsored by Construction Computing magazine in the UK, the Construction Computing Awards, which are now in their 8th year, showcase and acknowledge technology, tools, and solutions for the effective design, construction, maintenance, and modification of commercial buildings, residential and social housing, and civil engineering projects of all sizes. The winners are selected byConstruction Computing magazine’s readership, which includes IT professionals in construction, product, project design and service companies, and a panel of influential industry experts that judges the project categories.
David Chadwick, editor, CAD User and Construction Computing – U.K., said: “Bentley’s ‘Company of the Year’ award win for a second straight year is further evidence of this company’s steadfast commitment to providing innovative products and services to the construction industry that address both project and infrastructure performance. Examples previewed at Bentley’s recent Year in Infrastructure Conference in London include not only SpecWave Composer, but also ProjectWise Construction Work Package Server for managing the lifecycle of construction work packages and Bentley CONNECT services for connecting project participants in cloud and hybrid environments. A shared capability of Bentley offerings is information mobility for collaboration, achieved through B/IM – Bentley’s advancement of the reach and benefits of BIM. On behalf of the entireConstruction Computing staff, I congratulate Bentley on this latest recognition”.
Commenting on the awards, Huw Roberts, Bentley vice president, platform advantage, pointed out: “It’s truly an honor to be recognized by the readership ofConstruction Computing, and we thank them for their vote of confidence. We also thank the editorial staff of Construction Computing for doing a superior job of encouraging these IT professionals in construction to explore and consider the adoption of innovations like our B/IM advancement that supports collaborative BIM and helps the thousands of moving parts in construction to work as one, reducing risk and improving profitability for owners and contractors alike. We proudly accept this award on behalf of not only all of our colleagues but also all of our construction users around the world, who innovatively apply our products to accomplish great things in project and asset lifecycles”. For additional information about the Construction Computing Awards 2013, visit constructioncomputingawards.co.uk.

‘B/IM’ signifies Bentley’s advancement of the reach and benefits of BIM for better-performing infrastructure assets, and better-performing infrastructure projectsthrough increased:
·         depth of information modeling – beyond design visualization to performance simulation, optioneering, and operational immersion;

·         breadth of information mobility – facilitating collaboration among multiple project disciplines and from design through construction and operations.

Construction Computing is the only UK magazine to focus specifically on IT solutions for the construction industry. The title is published six times a year and is combined with CAD User AEC Magazine. It has a circulation of just over 10,000 copies per issue.

The magazine’s editorial purpose is to provide information about all aspects of construction IT product and service use across the whole range of construction areas. Editorial content is placed in a construction company and construction project context. For example, how will any specific IT component improve the course of a particular construction project, and how will it improve the performance of the construction company and its relationship with the client? Content is presented so that IT can be shown to provide real construction business benefits such as increased profitability, lower costs, and faster project execution.
Bentley is the global leader dedicated to providing architects, engineers, geospatial professionals, constructors, and owner-operators with comprehensive software solutions for sustaining infrastructure. Bentley Systems applies information mobility to improve asset performance by leveraging information modeling through integrated projects for intelligent infrastructure. Its solutions encompass the MicroStation platform for infrastructure design and modeling, theProjectWise platform for infrastructure project team collaboration and work sharing, and the AssetWise platform for infrastructure asset operations – all supporting a broad portfolio of interoperable applications and complemented by worldwide professional services. Founded in 1984, Bentley has more than 3,000 colleagues in 50 countries, more than $600 million in annual revenues, and since 2005 has invested more than $1 billion in research, development, and acquisitions.

Times Food & Nightlife Awards 2014: Shazahn Padamsee in Harsh Harsh SS’14 ready-to-wear black and white gown by designer Harsh Gupta

Shazahn Padamsee in Harsh Harsh SS’14 ready-to-wear black and white gown by designer Harsh Gupta at the Times Food & Nightlife Awards 2014.

Saint-Gobain Glass India announces Winners of Transparence 2013

The Saint-Gobain Glass organised annual design competition, Transparence 2013 held for students of Architecture and Design, conducted its Grand Finale at Hyderabad on January 29, 2014 during the annual 56th NASA  (National Association of Students of Architecture) 2014 convention, according to a statement issued by Saint-Gobain.

Shahab Ghani Khan (Extreme left ) Architect from Pakistan, Mustapha Khalid Palash ( second from left) Architect from Bangladesh, Ranjit Sabikhi from Ranjit Sabikhi Architects (Centre), with  the winning team – Academy of Architecture, Mumbai. Unnikrishnan, National Head, Sales and Marketing , Saint-Gobain Glass India  (extreme right ) and R Subramanian, Managing Director, Saint-Gobain Glass India ( second from right) are seen with the winners . Gita Balakrishnan (third from right ) from Ethos looks on.
Transparence, India’s largest competition for students of architecture and Interior design is a unique initiative by Saint-Gobain Glass to integrate the student community, architects and the industry. The event is supported by Gita Balakrishnan run ‘Ethos’. The competition originally being held for Indian students since 2005 was made open for the SAARC nations to participate since 2013.
Held at the NASA Convention 2014, and judged by an eminent jury comprising Ranjit Sabikhi from Ranjit Sabikhi Architects, India, Shahab Ghani Khan from Pakistan and Mustapha Khalid Palash from Bangladesh the fiercely contested competition saw Academy of Architecture, Mumbai emerge as the undisputed winners and walk away with a cash prize of Rs 75,000. The National Runner  up 1, was from IIT-Kharagpur which bagged a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and SPA Vijayawada stood third nationally with a cash award of Rs 25,000 COMSATS university Islamabad won the rest of SAARC countries edition of Transparence.
Saint-Gobain also gave away scholarship worth Rs 3,00,000 for students in the fields of architecture three students from across India received Rs 100,000 each worth scholarships to pursue activities in the field of architecture ranging from projects on reusing urban waste to modular shelters for street children. Fourteen colleges took up the theme of Transparence 2013 as studio projects and were awarded books worth Rs 30,000 per college as aid.
Transparence is Saint-Gobain India’s innovative initiative to bring together the emerging architectural student community, experienced and renowned architects as well as the expertise of the industry. Year after year, the event establishes a platform for the best talent in the  architectural student community  to demonstrate their prowess and passion for architecture. Since its inception in 2005, Transparence has grown in stature, and is close to achieving its vision of becoming the forum for a confluence of great architectural minds. Today, Transparence is considered a movement in its own right, by students and the architectural fraternity as well.
This year, Transparence 2013 required the contestants to design an ‘Architecture College’ that offers an alternative environment for studying and training to become an architect. Students were encouraged to design energy-efficient and environment-friendly Architecture College with integrated functionalities and structures that do not compromise on modern educational environment.
Regional rounds for submissions from colleges in India were conducted in the four cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in November 2013 and  2 colleges from each region in India were selected from over 1200 registrations and over 260 submissions to compete for the GRAND FINALE. Apart from selecting the finalists, the regional level awards includes ‘JURY citation award, special recognition award and best studio project award at the regional level. Eminent architects were present as Jury members at the regional level.
After the grueling regional rounds, the teams that made it to the final from India were:
East

·         IIT Kharagpur

·         IIT Kharagpur

North

·         Chandigarh College of Architecture

·         NIT Hamirpur

South

·         SPA Vijayawada

·         SPA Vijayawada

West

·         Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda

·         Academy of Architecture Mumbai

The frenzy that comes with every edition of Transparence is to be seen to be believed and this year’s edition too, lived up to it. The enthusiastic excitement of more than 2000 students from 120 colleges egged the finalists on, as the event reached a crescendo.
Speaking on the occasion, R Subramanian, Managing Director, Saint-Gobain Glass India said: “Transparence is Saint-Gobain’s innovative response to the changing times – the use of glass as a sustainable material for design is testimony to this. Transparence has always aimed to inspire and motivate the student community to showcase their talent and Transparence 2013 this year, has been a resounding success. This year Transparence travelled across Indian borders and was open to the SAARC countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Srilanka. We are happy to take this spirit which has ignited the passion of the Indian students of architecture to the students of other countries as well. It is great to witness the budding young architects and designers coming out with fresh and innovative ideas for the industry. This is a big opportunity for students to develop their skills. The overwhelming response from India and the SAARC countries  has reinforced our belief that creative young minds need a platform like Transparence to showcase their talent and we will continue to provide this kind of encouragement to the student community”.

Sanjay Puri: Only Indian Architect to win 33 international awards

Achieved a lot globally, yet remains a very private and understated South Bombayite. With his classic sensibilities, he is an avid traveller, known more in Milan or Italy than within his own turf. That is Sanjay Puri, the world renowned architect for you.

Brand in himself
Sanjay is a brand in himself and he is the only Indian Architect to will 33 coveted international awards. In fact, he is the only person in the world to have won three awards at MIPIM in March 2013.

The MIPIM is the equivalent of the Cannes in the field of architecture and design. Sanjay’s project, ‘DCaves’ in Hyderabad has won ‘The Most Sustainable Hotel in the World’ at the A+ Awards in New York last year as well.

Sanjay Puri and Associates, his firm is known not just for interesting designs, but also for contextual architecture. For instance, 72 screens in Jaipur takes its inspiration from the old traditional ‘jali’ screens of the architectural heritage of the region sheats the building on all sides further reducing the heat gain and rendering the building very energy efficient.

Also, the Courtyard House in Rajasthan is relatively large house, due to the client requirements, is designed in response to the desert climate of its location and is built sustainably with natural ventilation being facilitated throughout the house and minimised heat gain to increase its energy efficiency.
Notable projects

Few of his most prominent projects include the Chrome Hotel in Kolkata, DCaves Hotel in Hyderabad, H Hotel Lucknow, The Courtyard House in Rajasthan and more. Sanjay was also in the news lately for the Bombay Arts Society, which was launched in October last year.

Globally, the firm’s biggest and most noteworthy projects include the Chapel at Murcia in Spain and Teresa 153 in Montenegro. Sanjay, not known in many social circles in India has been featured in over 200 international publications.

Story behind the Enigma

It is not every day that one gets to be in the presence of sheer creative genius, which is nothing short of inspiring. One such personality is Sanjay Puri, who has silently but surely been working his way to become the leader in architecture and design in the country.

In an exclusive interview with Jayashankar Menon, the globally renowned Architect sheds more light on his education, growing up and rising to international fame. Excerpts:

JM: Can you talk about your education and the eventual beginning of your tryst with Architecture?
SP:  After finishing my graduation from Mayo College, I went on to pursue my dream of becoming an Architect and studied from the illustrious Academy of Architecture, Mumbai. My tryst with Architecture began at an early age and my formal training in the subject which gave me the means to channel my creativity in a productive manner. Like all creative minds, I find inspiration everywhere. Of course my biggest inspiration and something that I turn turns to even today is ‘The Fountainhead’ by Ayn Rand. This novel that is one of the greatest books of our times revolves around the life of the protagonist, an Architect who is so driven that he would rather struggle than compromise on his artistic vision. This is the mantra that I follow till today and is the thing that sets me apart from other Architects.

JM: Can you talk about your earlier career?
SP: I began my career by working under the Master Architect of my time: Hafeez Contractor, who taught me a lot of what I know on the subject. Subsequently, I went on to establish my own firm and in 1992 Sanjay Puri Architects was born. From then on there was no looking back. Today I am at the forefront, leading my impressive team of more than 72 employees in several projects in India and around the world.

JM: Your avant-garde architectural style is truly unique and a true expression of your creativity. What is the essence of your design theory?
SP: The essence of my design theory is creating innovative design spaces that are contextual but at the same time sustainable. The main aim is to evoke an exhilarating experience while infusing functionality effectively.

JM: Today you are the leading architect in the country with a name in India as well as overseas. You are the only architect worldwide to win awards in three categories at the latest MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards in France. Besides this you have also bagged over 33 international awards and numerous national awards garnering fame for yourself and your firm. How can you still be simple and down to earth?

SP: By nature, I am quite a simple and straightforward man, and do not believe in unnecessary embellishments on buildings. I prefer to focus on the form of the structure and pay more attention to the way the building feels and not just how it looks. I also do not look like a man who will allow success to go to my head and has managed to remain humble and unassuming in spite of having appeared in over 200 international publications and being a speaker in architectural events in Italy, Spain, Singapore, Serbia, Mexico and The Netherlands.

JM: Please describe your work?
SP: My utmost preoccupation is to evolve innovative design solutions and incorporate the geography of the location in a positive way into the design. Most of my designs have an element or principle of traditional Indian architecture that I try to imbibe in them in my own way. While designing a space, the most important thing to remember is not to hold back, to let your creativity flow undeterred. This is something that is missing in the run of the mill buildings that we see cropping up everywhere nowadays. I try to ensure that every structure I design and create is vastly different and unique from the previous one, and avoid repetition at all costs.

JM: Can you talk about Sanjay Puri Architects?
SP: Founded in 1992, Sanjay Puri Architects (SPA) today is one of the most sought after architectural and design firms in India. With a team of over 72 employees, the firm is an unmatched powerhouse of design. SPA has an extensive design portfolio that includes architectural and interior design projects in fields like hospitality, commercial, retail, educational and entertainment facilities as well as large urban projects and town planning. Currently we are involved in designing over 100 projects in 40 cities across India as well as projects in Montenegro, Spain, UAE and Mauritius.
SPA have won 34 International awards including the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture & Design’s International Architecture Awards 2012 & 2011, the World Architecture Festival Awards 2012, 2011 & 2010 , nine  MIPIM Architectural Review Future Project Awards & 5 World Architecture Community Awards, UK and two Hospitality Design, New York Awards. We also have innumerable national awards to our credit.
Some of the firm’s most notable projects include the Chrome Hotel in Kolkata, D Caves Hotel Hyderabad, D Hotel Lucknow, 72 Screens Jaipur, The Courtyard house Rajasthan and Bombay Arts society. Internationally the firm’s biggest and most noteworthy projects are the Chapel at Murcia Spain and Teresa 153 in Montenegro.

Times Food and Nightlife Awards Pune 2014: Bollywood actor Tanisha Mukherjee wears Harsh Harsh couture

Bollywood actor Tanisha Mukherjee wears Harsh Harsh couture at Times Food and Nightlife Awards Pune 2014. A Photo feature.

Ruoush limited edition collection of shoes launched in India

RUOSH announced the launch of their limited edition collection of shoes, specially designed by Head Designer – Abhishek Kumar. Each Product in this range is hand finished so no two shoes are the same. The collection has different styles and colours which fall under the brand’s categories namely Work, Casual, Wedding, Club and Occasion, according to a company statement.

This collection has a pair for every occasion that is contemporary in style and attitude. Each pair has a unique finish and are hand finished so no two pairs are identical, keeping it trendy and yet very classy.

The range has been hand tamponed personally by Angelo Cocco, In house RUOSH master craftsman so that each of them is inimitable and distinct. Each pair is brought to life by Angelo in his workshop and has his artistic trademark. The selection caters to your casual needs as well as those dressy evening occasions.

The limited edition offers you classic hand-finished shoes with minimal brogue detailing in different colors, hand-finished brogue wing tip boots with contrasting Sole colors, deep tanned oxfords, black suede and patent wing tip slip-ons and classy limited edition range of club wear. The RUOSH Casual shoes are a great addition to your winter wardrobe. Pair it with your favorite coloured chinos as well as denims. RUOSH limited collection starts from Rs 5,490.

Sara Suole is a manufacturer and exporter of shoes and soles to the international market since 2001. Some of its key clients are Esprit, Kenneth Cole, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Clarks, Buggati, and Witchery among others. With three shoe manufacturing facilities, one  each sole making  and leather goods unit and now RUOSH, the new retail unit, under its umbrella.

Sara Suole has the capacity of producing 11,000 pairs of soles a day, making it one of Asia’s largest sole manufacturers. With a CRISIL SME rating of ‘High’, Sara Suole has recently won second place for its excellent performance for the year 2010 – 2011 from the Council of Leather Export in the category of exports up to Rs100 crore in leather footwear. The shoe maker has also been recently awarded the ‘Best Manufacturer Exporter Award’ by the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mumbai
Bandra Linking Rd: Shop No 3A, Gr.floor,Kudpi House,532,Linking road, Bandra (West) Mumbai – 400 005. Phone: +91 022 65520888. R City Ghatkopar: F-66, First Floor, Ghatkopar West, Mumbai – 400 068. Phone: +91 022 66426897.

Dasra Girl Power Awards is India’s first ever attempt to empower adolescent girls

Dasra, India’s leading strategic philanthropy foundation announced the launch of the Dasra Girl Power Awards. According to a statement issued by the foundation, the awards, which total an amount of Rs 300,000, will recognise and support high impact institutions that work towards empowering adolescent girls in India. With several entries filling in, non-profit organisations across the country have until December 8, 2013 to apply for this one of a kind award, which will be announced early next year.

Vulnerable group
Despite their numbers, the 113 million adolescent girls in India are a largely invisible and vulnerable group. India is home to the largest population of child brides, 60 percent of the three million sex workers are young girls, 95 percent girls drop out of schools by age 15 in leading states and over 50 percent of them face domestic violence.
Speaking about the issue, Neera Nundy, Partner Dasra, said: “Most programmes either focus on issues, such as education or health, or children or older women. Adolescent girls are a frequently overlooked beneficiary group when it comes to programme design or focus. With the Dasra Girl Power Awards, we are aiming at building urgency around issues faced by adolescent girls and establish the need to focus on their empowerment. What is more, investing in girl specific programmes translates into better futures for women, children and families thereby creating intergenerational impact”.
Empowerment
The Awards are part of Dasra’s larger focus on adolescent girl empowerment. In fact, early this year, Dasra launched a five-year, $ 14 million initiative in collaboration with USAID and Kiawah Trust that seeks to achieve systemic change by fostering innovation, improving outcomes and reaching scale to improve the reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child health and empower adolescent girls in rural and urban India.
Workshop
The Awards which total an amount of Rs 300,000 will be given to three Indian non-profit organisations that deliver programmes in the areas of health, education and life skills for adolescent girls. In a unique initiative, the Dasra Girl Power Awards will also provide capacity building support to 15 shortlisted organisations that will undergo an intensive two day workshop and network with potential funders.
Speaking about the Awards, Smarinita Shetty, Director, Dasra opined: “Our goal is to identify innovative models that have the potential to transform the lives of young girls in this country.  Our Awards have been designed to provide both financial as well as capacity building support because we think both components are equally critical to developing organisations that can have impact at scale”.
The Awards will call for applications from non-profit organisations across India with the aim to highlight organisations with innovative and impactful programmes while also encouraging established entities to focus actively on adolescent girls.
Evolution
Founded in 1999, Dasra has become India’s leading strategic philanthropy foundation.  Over the past 14 years, Dasra has strengthened the growth plans of more than 200 non-profits and social businesses, engaged with and educated over 500 philanthropists on strategic philanthropy, enabled over $ 38 million in funding to social entrepreneurs, and published 22 research reports in education, health and livelihoods.  For more information, visit dasra.org.