Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar Lauds Women’s Contributions at Punekar News Women Achievers Awards Event

Pune, 24th March 2024: Punekar News, the leading English language hyper-local news website of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, hosted the inaugural Women Achievers Awards in a glamorous ceremony at Hotel Pride in Shivajinagar on Saturday, March 22nd.

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar graced the event as the Chief Guest, while Sonali Tushar Acharya, Director of Ganaadhish Avirat Sewa Ani Sanwardhan Foundation, was the Special Guest. The event was attended by Punekar News Managing Editor and Co-Founder Mubarak Ansari, Consulting Editor Tikam Shekhawat, and Bureau Chief Sumit Singh.

The event’s sponsors included Ganaadhish Avirat Sewa Ani Sanwardhan Foundation as the Diamond Sponsor, Chandrai Constructions as the Gold Sponsor, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company as the Silver Partner, and Green leaf (Brihans Natural) as the Skin Care Partner.

During his address, CP Amitesh Kumar, a distinguished 1995 batch IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, commended the significant contributions of women to society. Despite his recent appointment in Pune, with a tenure of just 50 days, he expressed his dedication to ensuring fair law enforcement for all citizens. He pledged to crackdown on illegal activities such as drugs smuggling, gambling dens, illicit liquor trade, and other vices, as well as to address traffic issues in the city.

Managing Editor Mubarak Ansari mentioned receiving approximately 600 nominations within 10 days of announcing the awards, making it a challenging task to shortlist only 21 women for their achievements. Ansari concluded by stating commitment to showcasing the stories of other nominees through news articles.

The Punekar News Women Achievers Awards aims to honor the outstanding achievements of women from diverse backgrounds and professions. The awardees included:

1. SWaCH Pune Cooperative (Solid Waste Collection & Handling): A waste picker-owned cooperative society providing door-to-door waste collection in partnership with PMC. Representatives Mangla Pawar and Balubai Pawar received the award.

2. Professor Pranjali Atul Deshpande: An Assistant Professor in the Computer Engg department of Cummins College of Engg for Women for the last 17 years, known for her innovative work in blending computer engineering with languages.

3. Dr. Suroshree Mitra: Professor and Head of Community PT Dept at Sancheti Institute for Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation College of PT, Pune, dedicated to empowering women and adolescent girls in healthcare.

4. Rucha Limaye: Notable for her participation in G20 meetings and her contributions to India’s global engagements.

5. Dr. Caroline Audoir de Valter: Founder CEO of Hope for the Children Foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in India.

6. Dr. Ankita Chandra: Known as “Doctor Didi,” she conducts free Oral Health Camps in rural areas and is committed to improving oral health in Maharashtra.

7. Damini Squad of Pune Police: A dedicated group of female police personnel providing services to women in distress.

8. Monica Sharma: Instrumental in addressing various civic issues in Kalyani Nagar, including restro bar nuisance.

9. CA Rachna Ranade: A renowned figure known for increasing financial literacy across India through her YouTube channel which has about 50 lakhs subscribers.

10. Meghana Sakpal: The first woman to join Pune Municipal Corporation’s fire brigade department.

11. Anuja Karhu: Founder of Unique Envicare Pvt Ltd, dedicated to environmental consultancy.

12. Dr. Priyanka Mishra: Recognized for empowering students for entrepreneurship in Management Education.

13. Roopa Jain: Renowned for her coaching institute Scholars Hub Academy, which specializes in preparing students for competitive exams.

14. Neha Rathi Ayade: CEO of Mitraya Solutions, a Digital Marketing company, known for her expertise in AI applications.

15. Arpita Choulwar: Known for her compassionate care for animals on the streets of Pune.

16. Ankita Nandkeolyar: Founder & Chief Brand Strategist at Firebrand India, a strategic branding and marketing consultancy.

17. Natalie Grant Nanda: General Manager at Ruby Hall Clinic, leading initiatives to bring pioneering medical technology to Pune.

18. Dr. Sunita Tandulwadkar: A renowned gynaecologist and IVF specialist, known for her pioneering work in stem cells and laparoscopic surgery.

19. Asha Chandravallabh Bhatt: President of Manthan Foundation, dedicated to providing healthcare and vocational training to marginalized communities.

20. Jaie Uttam Khamkar: A visually impaired social worker, committed to empowering differently-abled individuals.

21. Manisha Gawade: A manager at a top Software company in Pune, actively involved in Corporate Social Responsibility projects.

These women exemplify excellence and leadership in their respective fields, inspiring others with their remarkable achievements.

About Punekar News: Punekarnews.in is the leading English language Hyper-Local news portal of the Pune Region, including Pimpri-Chinchwad. With our inception in July 2014, we have proudly held a leading position in the digital news space of Pune, reaching approximately 50 lakh page views per month.