Extraordinary women

"Be a simple woman doing extraordinary things. Try to do the best with your resources to give back to society. Create opportunities for women to reach their full potential. Advocate human rights and say no to violence,” exhorted Dilruba Ahmed, educationist from Bangladesh, and eminent member of Zonta International who was chief guest at the charter night of the Zonta Clubs of Bombay I and III. Zonta International is a worldwide service organization of executives in business and professions working to advance the status of women. The 55th charter anniversary of the Zonta Club of Bombay I and the 35th of Club III, along with the presentation of awards for 2014 by both Clubs were celebrated on March 12, 2014 at Hotel Diplomat, mentions a write-up sent to Parsiana by Freny F. Paghdiwala, past president of the Club.

Meher Banaji received the Woman of the Year Award 2014 from Zonta Club of Bombay I for her services in the field of the visually impaired. The founder director of Happy Home and School for the Blind has been associated with the institution for 45 years and has received a number of awards including the Padma Shri. Neera Saggi, first lady president of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry received the Zonta Club of Bombay III’s Woman of the Year Award 2014. Shruti Hetamsaria, a differently abled young adult of Om Creations Trust was presented the Encouragement Award 2014 by the Zonta Club of Bombay III. She presented the chief guest a little elephant which she had made.
Shehernaz Asavaid was declared the Zontian of the Biennium 2012-2014 from Zonta Club of Bombay I, while the Personal Involvement Award went to Errick Elavia. Corresponding awards from Zonta Club of Bombay III went to Firuza Sena, and Prajakta Chaudhari and Asma Patanwalla respectively. Scholarships were given to three students of the Jankibai Bajaj Institute of Management Studies of the SNDT University, while a donation of Rs 68,000 was handed over to the NGO (nongovernmental organization) Prerana for setting up a computer lab to train the daughters of sex workers. To empower the low income group women of Akshayashakti Welfare Association with vocational training, the Zonta Club of Bombay III sponsored charges of Rs 25,000 for two handicapped trainees of the Helen Keller Institute of Deaf and Deafblind, the write-up notes.
The function was well attended by representatives of various organizations and ended with fellowship and dinner.