Four Meritorious Young Women Engineers Bagged The Hope Foundation’s Late Shri Pralhad P Chhabria Award Worth Rupees 3.5 Lacs, Medal & Citation

Pune, 14 Mar 2022: As part of the 6th FOUNDER’S DAY CELEBRATIONS at Hope Foundation and Research Centre, Pune, four dynamic women were awarded the prestigious Shri Pralhad P Chhabria Awards. Dr. Saakshi Dhanekar, Asst. Professor at IIT Jodhpur was announced the winner for the Best Woman Professional (early career) and Ms Shatakshi Singh Tomar, pursuing her final year engineering at Mody University of Science and Technology bagged winner’s prize for the Late Shri Pralhad P Chhabria Award for the year 2022 that carries a prize of Rs. 1,25,000 each, a medal and a citation of honour. Dr. Neethu George, Scientist at Hitachi Energy Technology Services Private Ltd and Ms Nupur Kulkarni secured the runner-up positions in respective categories. They receive a prize of Rs. 50,000 each, a medal and a citation of honour.

The Hope Foundation and Research Centre, Pune in association with IEEE India Council, Women in Engineering (WiE) Affinity Group, IEEE Pune Section announced the winners of this year’s Shri Pralhad P Chhabria Awards at the 6th Founder’s Day held on International Institute of Information Technology campus in Hinjewadi, Pune. While Dr Suresh Nair, Chair of IEEE India Council, Mr Girish Khilari, Chair of IEEE Pune Section, and other core IEEE Members were present online on the occasion,  Mrs Aruna M Katara, daughter of Late Shri Pralhad P Chhabria and President of Hope Foundation and Research Centre, Ms Amrita Katara, Managing Trustee of Hope Foundation and Research Centre and other dignitaries present on campus. The aim of awards is to encourage and applaud young women who are at the threshold of their career under BEST OUTGOING STUDENT and those who are in their early career under the BEST WOMAN PROFESSIONAL (Early Career).

The Chief Guest at the 6th Founder’s Day celebrations was Mr. Arun Maira, author, Management Consultant and former member of the Planning Commission of India who spoke about the vision that a country like India could have and the role that the youth could play in the development. He added that youth should focus on research, innovation and make it clear that we have to contribute to nation building.

Mrs Aruna Katara said that, the Late Shri Pralhad P Chhabria Awards honour young, dynamic and enterprising Indian women who have been doing trail blazing work in the fields of Science, Engineering or Technology. She also added that her father always encouraged and supported education of young women. He firmly believed that women are far superior to men and have always been.  They have the ability to make whatever they get, greater.  And providing them with good education in turn ensures that they not only share their knowledge and skills for their family; but for the community and the nation.