‘From 20 Girls to 18,000’: Dr Kiran Bedi Applauds Lila Poonawalla Foundation’s 30-Year Journey
Pune, 5th October 2025: The Lila Poonawalla Foundation (LPF), a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering girls through education, celebrated a remarkable milestone — its 30th Postgraduate Scholarship Award Function — on Sunday at the Dewang Mehta Auditorium, Persistent Systems, Pune. The event was made especially memorable with the presence of Dr Kiran Bedi, IPS (Retd.) and Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, who returned as the Chief Guest after nearly three decades.
Dr Bedi had also graced the Foundation’s first-ever award ceremony in 1996, making this year’s celebration a historic reunion. Recalling her earlier visit, she said it had been an “inspiring journey.” “In 1996, I wondered whether the Foundation would even survive for ten years. When I came back as Chief Guest in 2005, I said it would last forever — and today, I’m proud to see that it truly has,” she remarked.
Her presence served as a symbol of continuity, resilience, and unwavering faith in LPF’s mission to empower young women through education and mentorship.
The event also saw participation from Freny Tarapore, Shernaz Edibam, Maya Thadani (who shared her message via video), and Firoz Poonawalla, all Founder Trustees of LPF. Each shared their reflections on the Foundation’s three-decade-long journey.
Dr Bedi released the 30 Years of Excellence souvenir, which was presented to her by Poonawalla. “This wall clock is a symbol of the ever-running and ever-growing Lila Poonawalla Foundation, and I am happy to gift it to you on the occasion of our 30th anniversary,” Poonawalla said.
Members of the LPF Board of Trustees, along with several scholars from the first batch of 1996 — some attending in person and others through video messages — added a special emotional touch to the event. Their journeys reflected the Foundation’s enduring impact.
LPF also acknowledged the vital role of its corporate partners, charity collaborators, trainers, alumni, and well-wishers, whose continued support has helped transform the lives of thousands of girls. Many corporate partners were present at the event, contributing not only financially but also through mentorship programs, industrial visits, volunteering activities, and placement initiatives.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bedi said, “I feel proud to return as the Chief Guest in the 30th year of the Foundation. Three decades ago, there were just 20 girls. Today, LPF is a family of over 18,000. The strength of this movement lies with you — the LILA Girls. The responsibility is now on your shoulders to take it forward for many more years and decades.”
Reflecting on LPF’s journey, Lila Poonawalla, Founder and Chairperson, said, “Our mission has always gone beyond scholarships. It is about nurturing confident, capable, and compassionate women leaders of tomorrow. I thank everyone who has believed in this mission and walked with us.”
Over the years, LPF has expanded beyond Pune, now operating in Wardha, Amravati, Nagpur, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. The Foundation offers scholarships for both postgraduate and undergraduate studies and has introduced a school-level program, ‘2morrow 2gether,’ to support girls from an early age across various streams.
As LPF celebrates 30 years of transformative impact, the Foundation now looks ahead with a vision to empower 25,000 financially challenged girls by 2030, thereby uplifting not just individuals but entire families and communities.
