This episodes speaker is Pragya Prasun. Pragya Prasun is an acid attack survivor-turned-activist and social worker who has been fighting for providing relief and rehabilitation to her fellow acid attack and burn survivors from the past 7+ years now. She has been coordinating with eminent Doctors/Hospitals from across the country for medical advice and treatment. She also works towards personal counselling and generation of a permanent source of regular income for all of the survivors who are in need. Pragya is the founder of "Atijeevan Foundation" an NGO that, apart from facilitating free of cost Surgeries and other non-surgical procedures, also provides avenues for income generation to several Acid Attack and Burn survivors. Atijeevan trains them to create handicraft products, provides them skill and vocational training and get them placed in the Industry as per their capability. Pragya is a post-graduate in Fashion Management, and for her exemplary work in the field of Social Welfare, she is the recipient of several Indian and International awards and accolades. Pragya is the Mascot and Ambassador of Pinkathon, and the Ambassador of ASFI South India Chapter. She is the Honorary advisor of a few NGOs and the Social welfare community.
Durga as a citizen sector organisation wants to build power and resilience in youth to act against sexual harassment in public spaces and also work towards a Gender Just society. Towards this, we do various strategic activities around engaging with youth in various places like colleges, schools, events, online forums, and also through active campaigning. Some of our efforts include VOICE (Gender Justice) labs in educational institutions, DAREs (Real Heroes who will be active bystanders) on streets, Unlikely Allies (with men, BMTC drivers, and Paurakarmika women) as well as social audits of public spaces that women should rightfully occupy.
To continue with this and show support to the Global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, Durga launched the India Gender Equity Week leading to the first-ever virtual forum named NGAGE to bring youth and others together to create awareness on the women’s movement, the issues of intersectionality, and also solutions aligned with the constitutional rights bestowed on citizens. The Fireside Chat is a continuation of the NGAGE forum. Through the Fireside Chats, Priya from DURGA speaks to Gender Justice activists across the country on their activism and inspiration to youth to further the movement.
Do you want to know what drives a true Activist? Listen to our Fireside conversations with some of the best Gender Justice Advocates, curated only for you - to question and dissent in your own way!