11 women honoured with Shakthi Sigaram Thodu 2026 awards

Madurai: A total of 11 awards recognising excellence across social impact, art and culture, agriculture, technology, sustainability, healthcare, education, innovation, and lifetime achievement were distributed as part of the ‘Shakthi: Sigaram Thodu 2026' event held on Friday. The event was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry-Indian Women Network, Madurai.The Rising Star award was presented to Jerlin Anika, a para Olympian and Arjuna Awardee, for her achievements in para sports. The Social Impact award went to Priya Babu, founder and director of the Transgender Resource Centre, for her work with the transgender community. Sowmya Somanathan received the Art and Culture Excellence award for her contribution to promoting traditional art through Silaii, while the Agricultural and Rural Development award was given to Bhuvaneshwari for preserving indigenous paddy varieties.The Technology for Impact award was presented to Rebecca Khanna for her rural outreach initiatives, and the Sustainability and Climate Action award went to Senthil Shankar, managing director of Ecoline Clothing and Shree Renga Polymers, for promoting sustainable business practices. The Hospitality and Tourism award was conferred on Rukmani Thiagarajan for her work in heritage hospitality.The Innovation award was presented to Anil Srinivasan for integrating music and education through the Rhapsody Music Foundation, while the General Health and Impact award went to BKC Mahanprasad for his contributions to healthcare. The Excellence in Education award was given to Premalatha, and the Lifetime Achievement award honoured Uma Kannan for her long-standing contributions to education and social development.Meera Nagarajan, managing director and CEO of Kalyanamalai, spoke on the changing landscape of women's leadership and highlighted the critical role of adaptability in a rapidly evolving world, noting that long-term success depends on the ability to grow, embrace change, and remain resilient.