Honoring achievers

"Her work for upliftment of women and giving shelter and a dignified future to girl children of sex workers is commendable,” states a note from past district governor Mahazaver Dalal of the Zonta Club about Gauri Sawant, who was recognized as Woman of the Year 2018. The joint charter night of Zonta Clubs of Bombay I and III held on April 28, 2018 felicitated Sawant for her successful efforts to get "third gender” status for transgender individuals by petitioning the Supreme Court. Collegian Amani Dabriwala was felicitated as Woman of the Year for 2018 for her efforts at spreading awareness on menstrual health and hygiene. Both Clubs donated a pad destroyer machine through Save the Children India to a government shelter for victims of trafficking. Firuza Sena and Zarine Khambatta were recognized as Zontians of the Biennium 2016-18 while Navaz Dhalla walked away with the Personal Involvement Award for 2016-18.

Encouragement awards were given to visually impaired Kritika Purohit for successfully petitioning the Bombay High Court for permission to be admitted to a medical college for a course in physiotherapy and to Megha Kakde for passing Class 12 examinations despite a severe spinal cord defect. Amruta Karvande was presented with a special recognition award for successfully lobbying with the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for a job after passing the State Public Service Commission examination, despite not having a caste certificate. Guests of honor district governor Fahmida Karim and past board director Dilruba Ahmed lauded the work of the Clubs. Zontians around the world are working together to help women unleash their potential and to have a smile on their faces with their achievements, said Ahmed.
Key office bearers of the Clubs are Bombay I president Shehernaz Asavaid, Bombay III president Roshni Meherhomji, Lt governor-elect Errick Elavia, and Area 1 vice-director elect Sena, besides Dalal.
Zonta International consists of nearly 30,000 members in 1,200 clubs in 66 countries, according to their website. "As we prepare to celebrate our 100th anniversary in 2019, we look back on some of the most significant milestones in our rich history of empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy,” it states.