Women Social entrepreneurship is vital for our future. Collectively we can make a change by closing the gap between men and women in the workforce. Entrepreneurs are those adventurous, daredevils who drive deep into the pressing problems of society and try to find solutions to them, not by leaving the responsibilities in the reins of the government or business, but by trying to change systems as a whole and persuading societies to take new initiatives.
In our Inner Wheel Social Entrepreneur series in this episode we are introducing you a very dynamic and popular face of International Inner Wheel Dist. 304, who always believes in Women Empowerment and social entrepreneurship. Yes, we are talking about Pragya Pareek District Chairman of Inner Wheel District 304. In an exclusive interview with Hello Womeniya she shared her Inner Wheel Journey and Lockdown experience with Hello Womeniya Correspondent Priyanka Yadav.
Hello Womeniya: Please share your first reaction and feeling on being District Chairman of IWC 304.
Pragya Pareek: When I came to know that I am going to be spearheading my District 304 as a Chairman for the year 21-22, I was elated beyond imagination and felt that now I will now have a chance to shape my district in a way that will be a milestone for years ahead.
Hello Womeniya: What will be your priority in the growth of Your Dis 304?
Pragya Pareek: Social work is needed solid finance!! And I knew that fundraising work is very less in my district probably because a majority of women associated are home makers and because of this the shortage of funds used to be very high, so my focus this time was to do some fundraisers so that the problem of finance in my district eased out, resulting in our increased capabilities to bigger projects.
Hello Womeniya: What are the current challenges your Dis 304 is facing due to this post pandemic.
Pragya Pareek: The biggest problem my district is facing in this Pandemic is that our aged senior members are leaving the clubs, they say that due to their limited software literacy they are not able to attend virtual meets and their family advises them against outdoor meetings, Hence the biggest problem of my district during the pandemic is that the memberships are decreasing. Lesser members mean lesser funds, and even lesser workforce to help people.
Hello Womeniya: What is your future agenda to solve these problems?
Pragya Pareek: See, I believe that experience of age and energy of youth are equally important. Hence making new members and retaining the old members in the club are equally important, so for this my special efforts are being made to keep in touch with the members who have left, keep in touch with them over phone or social media and even visit them personally. Invite them in our future events, encouraging them to re-join the club again.
Hello Womeniya: Share your Inner Wheel journey with us.
Pragya Pareek: My Inner wheel Journey – Ah! Well, when I think about it, it would be injustice to just put my 15 year long journey in a few words here. In the year 2007-8, I enrolled not knowing much about it, but when I dug deeper, I got completely attached to it. I always had a dream to contribute to my society and especially for senior citizens. I love going to old age homes and spending time with our elderly , Even during my tenure as a president ,my maximum focus was for the service of the elderly, this year also I have kept the project of helping Senior Citizen as a special category project in my district. The journey of inner wheel has been very memorable until now, the work which most people only dream of, I was able to achieve that through the inner wheel. I received 11 awards when I was President of IWC Indore Uptown in the year 13-14 including The Best President, The Best Club of year. When I was the district editor, I came up with a novel called Swarnaakshar. I also have a record in my name of collecting 100% district dues when I was the District Treasurer in the succeeding year. It is my wish that I keep working for the inner wheel till my last breadth.
Hello Womeniya: Could you please share your lockdown experience and how your District performed during this difficult time.
Pragya Pareek: See, initially there was a lot of trouble when Corona wreaked havoc around the world. Our Presidents could not understand how to work, but I am very happy to say that during pandemic I did a better job than the normal times, my Presidents without getting tired, went out without fear and were engaged in the service of the needy and were providing assistance to them at every level. The wheel in our organisation is universally seen as a symbol of Progress. It represents movement, mobility, change, action, time, unity, completeness, justice and perfection to which we adhered even in the pandemic.
Hello Womeniya: What is your appeal and message to Inner Wheel women?
Pragya Pareek: I want to give this message to my inner wheel sisters that you are doing a fabulous job in all the fields but I request you that your first priority should be your family, at any given time you should not deviate from family duties. Your family members such as elders, children, who need you on a daily basis, fulfill their needs first, and then do something for the society, if our family life is happily sorted then only we will be able to do true humanitarian service.
Hello Womeniya: Do you agree this pandemic brought a lot of changes in our personal and professional life
Pragya Pareek: Yes, I believe that due to the Pandemic, there has been a lot of impact on the personal and professional life of a person, many members have died in a single family, almost everyone has lost someone dear, due to which the family members have drowned in despair and there is no compensation for this loss. Because of this, a lot of negativity has followed, the cases of suicide have increased in the society as well as everyone’s business has been affected professionally, there has been a lot of financial loss, it will take time to bring it back on track. But as someone said the fight is never over until we say it’s over. So keep fighting, we all will overcome this and emerge into an even stronger society.
Hello Womeniya: Can you highlights some important service projects you did during this pandemic
Pragya Pareek: *Ageing*Western toilets were built in the aging old age home, along with them all the festivals were celebrated, yoga, kirtan story competition and music evening were organized with them, various temples were visited by bus and picnics were organized. Health check up camps was organized. Clean water and nutritional food provided. Eyeglasses were given, cataract operation was done, calcium and iron only tablets were distributed, warm clothes, blankets, slippers, ration etc., old people were respected, wheelchairs were given, plantation was done, water filter was installed in old age ashram, chairs were given. *Family*Kaccha house were turned into Pakka house, A woman’s leg was imputed while going to the work place, she was treated, then she got married and got a job. Clean water, clothes, utensils, ration, etc. were distributed. Covid vaccines were given from door to door, gas and gas stoves were given, a workshop was organized on the importance of joint family. The head of the family were made drug free. Garba, Film show, magic show etc. were organised, waiting room was built for the family at the railway station, garden shade umbrella, oxygen concentrator and oxygen bank were made in the village and the ponds & wells were cleaned. Medicinal plants were planted in the inner wheel garden.
*Status of women* Women Entrepreneur Workshop was organized, Donation of Sewing Machine, Mixer Grinder, Pattal Dona Making Machine, Driving Classes, Computer Classes, Dance Classes, Karate Classes, Five Day Gym Workshop etc. were done, Female doctors, corona warriors, teachers, players Anganwadi workers were honored. AnandMela was organized for women doing business from home so that they can sell their product better and become self-reliant. Amisha, who ran the marathon, Shreya, a street level shooter, JagritiAwasthi, who came first in the women’s category in administrative services and Y. Shi Yadav, a power lifter, were honored. *Ageing*Western toilets were built in the old age home, all the festivals were celebrated with them, yoga, kirtan story competition and music evening were organized with them, various temples were visited by bus and picnics were organized. Health check up camps was organized. Clean water and nutritional food provided. Eyeglasses were given, multiple cataract operations were done, calcium and iron tablets were distributed, warm clothes, blankets, slippers, ration etc., old people were honored, wheelchairs were given, plantation was done, water filter was installed in old age ashram, chairs were given. *Narcotics Drug* Almost every club worked on Anti Drugs Projects. Huge hoardings, posters and banners were put up on public places, pamphlets were distributed, webinars were conducted on anti-tobacco, in which doctors came from Tata Memorial Hospital, In the schools, colleges, slum areas ; anti-drugs street plays were organized, road shows and quizzes were held on Anti Tobacco. [*Caring for women and girls* A speaker was arranged to spread awareness of the rights of women and the help was received from the government to the assembly. Sanitary Vending Machines, Sanitary Napkins were distributed, Judo Karate training was given. Camps were organized for the prevention of menopause, cervical cancer, osteoporosis etc. A domestic worker was successfully operated upon.
Hello Womeniya: Being a Social entrepreneur what is your goal and vision about the upliftment of the society.
Pragya Pareek: See, I believe that women are the centrifugal force of the house and everything else just orbits it, if they are also financially strong, then the family and society will also be strong, Adding to it, I am very pleased to share that I have been able to do a lot of work in this regard as the district chairman, women who are doing their own business, they are getting a chance to increase their product sales through AnandMela and from time to time their products are being made available online increasing their outreach, Women do not know about the various government entrepreneurship schemes they provides them loans, so as individual, I make an effort to make them aware of not only about schemes but their rights as an individual, so that they gain more confidence and increase their business and contribute to the progress of family and society.
Brief Introduction of International Inner Wheel:
International Inner Wheel is an international women’s Social organisation to create friendship, service and understanding. It has clubs in over 100 countries with over 100,000 members. Inner Wheel has very strong presence in India. It has more than 3000 thousands clubs in Urban and rural India. Since the Covid-19 Pandemic breaks out Inner wheel club launched charity campaign worldwide.
About District 304 :
District Chairman (for 2021-2022) :
Pragya Pareek
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