Rashmi Tiwari

Dr. Rashmi Tiwari is the Founder and Director of the Aahan Tribal Foundation of India,[1] working to dismantle the machinery of trafficking.[2][3] She is Fellow of Vital Voices (USA), Fellow of SIMP and a Certified Leadership Coach from NeuroLeadership Institute.

Rashmi Tiwari
Born1972
NationalityIndian
EducationBanaras Hindu University
Known forFounder and Director of the Aahan Tribal Foundation of India

She was one of the emerging businesswomen from India under the Fortune/US State Department Leadership Mentorship Program. She was mentored by Anne Mulcahy of the Xerox Corporation.

Early life

Tiwari was born in 1972 in an affluent family, but later raised by single mother with no house and no source of income. She grew up in a house in Varanasi which was just 3.5 x 5.5 m.[4]

Tiwari had to face discrimination and social stigmas. She was a posthumous child and after evicting her house in Mumbai.[5][6][7]

Tiwari was chosen as "The Good Crusader" by Times NOW for her work on anti-trafficking of tribal girls through Aahan Foundation.[8]

She spent a year in Kanpur with one of her aunt and then moved to Varanasi where she completed her education and earned Ph.D degree in Economics from Banaras Hindu University which was awarded in the year 1998-99.

Career

Tiwari was the Associate Director and then Director of American Chambers of Commerce In India (AMCHAM)][5][6] from 2000 to 2008 and until quite recently she was spearheading the operations of associations of CEOs in CEO Clubs, India as the Executive Director.[9] She regularly speaks on issues of women empowerment and mentoring of women at various national and international platforms.

Dr. Rashmi Tiwari at American Chambers of Commerce in India
Dr. Rashmi Tiwari chosen as one of the Tejaswinis by DD News with Neelam Sharma.

Interaction with Janie Wanless, Head of Corporate Banking for Bank of America gave her courage to follow her dream and she launched Aahan Tribal Development Foundation.

Life as founder and director of Aahan Foundation
Working with Self-Help Group of Tribal Women in Jharkhand

Tiwari's Foundation - Aahan Tribal Development Foundation has been working in the Jharkhand region of India and address a string of interconnected social problems related to girls & women. These problems are: Gender Inequality, Violence Against Women (Girl Child Trafficking, Child Marriage etc.), Poverty, Lack of awareness and facilities for Health, Hygiene and Sanitation, Illiteracy.

Challenges in running Aahan Foundation

She has been covered in the local and international media including the Washington Post for her work in the social sector with tribal girls and for mentoring & development of women leaders.[10] However, working in the Naxalite regions and human traffickers was very difficult of Rashmi. She many a times had to face the Naxalites, traffickers and at times face the threats from local leaders or opposition from the Panchayat.

Village Level Mentoring of Tribal Girls in Chandwa, Jharkhand

Members of Local-Government

Awards and recognition
  • "The Good Crusader" award by Times Group for her work on anti-trafficking[11]
  • "BIG Hero" award by Radio Channel 92.7 BIG FM[12]
  • "Tejaswini" award by DD News[13]
  • Featured in the program "Shunya Se Shikar Tak" on Lok Sabha TV[14]
  • Vital Voices Fellow[15]
  • Global Ambassadors, Vital Voices[16]
  • Fortune emerging women business leaders from India – 2007[17]
  • Awarded "World of Difference 100 Award" by the International Alliance For Women (TIAW) organisation of USA[18]
  • Bank of America Global Ambassador's Program[19]
  • Vital Voices International Girls’ Empowerment Panelists[20]
  • "Empowering The Tribal Girls of India" by Sheroes[21]

References
  1. "Aahan Tribal Development Foundation". Aahan Tribal Development Foundation. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  2. "Sentinel Assam".
  3. "How Samosas and Gulab Jamuns Are Saving Tribal Girls in Jharkhand From Human Traffickers". The Better India. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  4. "Tejasvini : Interaction with Dr. Rashmi Tiwari". YouTube.
  5. "State Department Program Opens Doors for World's Businesswomen | IIP Digital". iipdigital.usembassy.gov. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  6. "State Department Hosts International Women's Mentoring Program". VOA. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  7. "Shunya Se Shikhar Tak" ""Shunya Se Shikhar Tak"". YouTube. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  8. "The Good Crusaders - Rashmi Tiwari". YouTube.
  9. "Welcome to CEO Clubs India | CEO Clubs India". ceoclubsindia.org. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  10. "Dreaming in India". Washington Post. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  11. 100 Pipers India (8 December 2016), The Good Crusaders - Rashmi Tiwari, retrieved 2 January 2017
  12. "BIG Hero Award by Radio Channel". YouTube.
  13. "Tejaswini Award by DD News". YouTube.
  14. "Shunya se Shikhar Tak". YouTube.
  15. "Vital Voices".
  16. "Rashmi Tiwari | The Global Ambassadors Program". global-ambassadors.org. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  17. "The Fortune/State Department International Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership". 2001-2009.state.gov. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  18. "Current Award Recipients - The International Alliance for Women". tiaw.org. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  19. "India 2012: Encouraging women's entrepreneurship from Bank of America". About Bank of America. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  20. "Worldwide Women Festival" (PDF).
  21. "Empowering The Tribal Girls Of India". sheroes.in. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
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