The second session focused on the theme “Women Leadership in NGOs” and was chaired by Prof. Neelam Sukhramani, Department of Social Work, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
In her opening remarks, Prof. Sukhramani highlighted the transformative role of women leaders in community-based organizations, noting how they bring empathy, inclusivity, and sustainability to social change. Speaking on the topic “Leadership”, she addressed the challenges faced by leaders, including expectations, vulnerabilities, and organizational demands. She also suggested practical solutions to overcome these challenges and emphasized that leadership issues must be viewed in a broader context—beyond the boundaries of any single organization.
The discussion also featured Ms. Hena Parveen, a prominent educationist, who shared her personal experiences. She pointed out that while women often serve as frontline workers, they remain underrepresented in boardrooms and decision-making spaces. She showcased inspiring examples of women leaders, such as those in Rajasthan who developed innovative solutions for water issues and worked to preserve indigenous knowledge. Ms. Parveen also highlighted structural barriers, including the informal nature of NGO work that can marginalize women, and the lack of strong networks that restricts their opportunities. Her powerful message left a mark on the audience: “Gender equality is not a women’s issue, it’s a human issue.”
Ms. Shaista Rafat, General Secretary of TWEET, shared her journey of mobilizing women through collective action, advocacy, and skill-building initiatives. She emphasized that women’s keen observational skills and innovative thinking make them strong leaders. Importantly, she noted that true leadership lies in creating more leaders, not followers, and concluded by presenting strategies to address practical challenges faced by women in NGO leadership.