Prime Minister Narendra Modi went off social media, including Twitter, to let 7 women take over his account to share their inspiring stories. This was the PM’s social media campaign to celebrate Women’s Day 2020.
Dr Malvika Iyer, a bomb blast survivor, is a motivational speaker and disability activist. Using the PM’s handle, @MalvikaIyer tweeted, “ People with disabilities should have equal representation—be it media, politics or any other field. The more we see them, the more we accept them as part of our society. Representation is key.”
Malvika wrote, “Acceptance is the greatest reward we can give to ourselves. We can’t control our lives but we surely can control our attitude towards life. At the end of the day, it is how we survive our challenges that matters most.”
The suspense was finally over at 11 am on Sunday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed off his social media accounts for the day, and what we saw by way of tweets from @narendramodi were hashtagged #SheInspiresUs. And seven women got to spread the message of their passion and work, using the @narendramodi handle.
Dr Malvika Iyer
None of them is a name that we can immediately place or connect with. Their cause, and their dedication to it, sure touches our hearts. While the social sector in India must have hundreds of secret superheroines who we will all be happy to know about, www.indiaingoogletimes.com presents in random order, the seven who got to use the PM’s accounts for the day. It is an unabashed and total “lift” from www.narendamodi.in and Twitter.
Malvika was one of the seven. At 13, she survived a gruesome bomb blast that blew off her hands and severely damaged her legs. But she did not give up her determination. A PhD now, she says “Giving up is never an option. Forget your limitations and take on the world with confidence and hope.”
Malvika believes that education is indispensable for change.“We need to sensitize young minds about discriminatory attitudes. We need to show people with disabilities as role models instead of showing them as weak and dependent,” she writes.
Kalawati Devi
Kalawati Devi of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh used the Prime Minister’s social media to share her inspiring story of building toilets for those who cannot afford them.
She raised money from people in her village and mobilised people about the importance of cleanliness. Through her strong determination, she has constructed thousands of toilets and encouraged people to maintain personal hygiene. She says, “Hygiene is necessary for being healthy.”
To all the women across the country, Kalwati Devi has a message.“Sincere efforts to take society forward never fail. Move out of your homes. If someone opposes or argues, let them do. If you want to achieve your goal, then do not look back.”
Kalpana Ramesh is a “Go Green Water Champion and shared her views on the crucial subject of water scarcity and water conservation.
Through her handle @kalpana_designs, she tweeted “Much as I would love to, the first half of the day has been spent managing this Twitter handle. So, this has not quite been a normal Sunday. A busy and satisfying one!
Kalpana Ramesh
I wish to inspire every single individual to take action and ace water management. Conserve and save. Sensitise others, work with communities.”
Kalpana is a ‘Water Warrior’ and doing her bit to water secure the future of our children. She believes that small efforts can make a big impact.
Taking to PM Modi’s Twitter handle she writes, “Water is a valuable inheritance we got. Let’s not deprive our next generations. Contribute by using water responsibly, harvesting rainwater, saving lakes, recycling used water and creating awareness.”
Kalpana says that she never imagined she could bring back birds to a lake or tweet from the PM’s handle. She says that with firm resolve, the impossible can emerge and we can bring a change in the communities with collective action on how we manage water resources. “Let us become problem solvers,” says Kalpana.
Sneha Mohandoss
Sneha Mohandoss feeds the hungry. Her first tweet, using @narendramodi was
“You heard of food for thought. Now, it is time for action and a better future for our poor.
Hello, I am @snehamohandoss. Inspired by my mother, who instilled the habit of feeding the homeless, I started this initiative called Foodbank India. #SheInspiresUs”
Sneha, Founder of FoodBank-India, was inspired by her mother, who instilled the habit of feeding the homeless and thus began her initiative.
Sneha, along with a team of volunteers, works towards eradicating hunger. Food Bank-India has over 20 chapters and has brought a positive difference in the lives of many through their work. Sneha says that Food Bank-India has also initiated activities like mass cooking, cooking marathons, breastfeeding awareness drives.
She urges fellow citizens, especially women to come forward and join hands with her. She urges everyone to feed at least one needy person and contribute to a hunger-free planet. Within an hour of taking over the PM’s account, her followers doubled.
“I also hope the efforts towards removing hunger also double now and wish that all the followers will also follow our mission” she tweeted.
Arifa Jaan
Arifa Jaan , an artisan from Kashmir, worked extensively to revive the “Namda” craft, according to narendramodi.in. Arifa tweeted,
“I always dream of reviving the traditional crafts of Kashmir because this is a means to empower local women.
I saw the condition of women artisans and so began working to revise the Namda craft.”
Veena Devi shared in the PM’s Twitter timeline her unique mushroom farming technique, which not only made her self-reliant but also boosted her morale.
The farmer from Munger in Bihar says, “Everything can be achieved with will”
Veena Devi had started cultivating mushrooms under her bed. She says, “Today women are not far behind in any field. If the women power of the country is determined, then they can start their journey from their home itself. Due to this farming I got respect. I became a sarpanch. It is a pleasure for me that many women like myself are getting similar training opportunities.”
She further says that today the women of Munger have become an example for the whole country. From farming at home to selling the produce in the local Haats, the entire task is her responsibility and her life story inspires everyone.
Here’s Veena Devi sharing about her mushroom farming technique:
जहां चाह वहां राह… इच्छाशक्ति से सब कुछ हासिल किया जा सकता है।
मेरी वास्तविक पहचान पलंग के नीचे एक किलो मशरूम की खेती से शुरू हुई थी।
लेकिन इस खेती ने मुझे न केवल आत्मनिर्भर बनाया, बल्कि मेरे आत्मविश्वास को बढ़ाकर एक नया जीवन दिया।
वीणा देवी, मुंगेर #SheInspiresUs pic.twitter.com/MkfyZ8mnZp
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2020
Vijaya Pawar from Maharashtra showcased Banjara handicrafts on the PM’s handle and shared the wonderful Banjara handicrafts and familiarized everyone with the artworks.
Vijaya has been making Banjara handicrafts for the last two decades. Tweeting in Marathi, she wrote that PM Modi not only encouraged them to promote ‘Gormati Art’ but also provided financial assistance. She said that it was a matter of glory for the women associated with the Banjara handicraft.
You have heard about handicrafts from different parts of India. My fellow Indians, I present to you handicrafts of the Banjara community in rural Maharashtra. I have been working on this for the last 2 decades and have been assisted by a thousand more women- Vijaya Pawar pic.twitter.com/A3X47245E3
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2020
She has been working on the Banjara handicraft the last two decades and has thousands of women assisting her.
Here is hoping the use of Prime Minister’s handle for a day gives their work some real momentum.
The story was first published by the author on her blog, India in Googletimes, and has been republished with permission. The original article can be found here.