Ahmedabad: Marking the occasion of International Women’s Day, Udgam Charitable Trust honoured more than 30 women achievers for their contributions across diverse sectors during the 17th Udgam Women’s Achievers Awards held in Ahmedabad on Tuesday evening.
The event also witnessed the inaugural Women Startup Festival, organised in association with i-Hub Gujarat, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders. Held at the KCG Auditorium, the programme drew over 250 participants, recognising women driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact across 16 categories. The awardees were selected through a rigorous jury-led nomination process, ensuring representation from both urban and rural communities.
In a message shared on the occasion, Bhupendra Patel noted that Indian women are increasingly shaping the nation’s future across leadership and development sectors. The event was attended by several dignitaries including Ritaben Patel, Hiranmay Mehanta, former bureaucrat Sunaina Tomar, and Chiranjiv Patel.
Women achievers from fields including literature, social work, health, education, entrepreneurship, arts, sports, corporate leadership, and startups were felicitated. The awardees included Raksha Shukla, Neelam Kulshreshtha, Jignasha Goswami, Himali Trivedi, Sadhana Parmar, Rasna Dave, Dr. Bhavini Sandip Shah, Dr. Miral Utkarsh Panchal, Sudha Joshi, Gajjar Geetaben Manubhai, Anjali Prajeshkumar Patel, Pankhuri Soni, Dr. Shivani Kinarivala, Namrata Ronak Shodhan, Sejal Jaydeep Barot, Prachi Patwari, Gira Shah, Asha Varvabhai Patel, Payal Mehta, Asha Pravin Dad, Nivedita Gouthi, Bhavna Shailesh Mehta, Hetal Tejas Bhatti, Vinisha Ruparel, Abhipsa Apurva Dave, Anurita Rathore Jadeja, Khushboo Vaidya, and Paridhi Karmakar, among others.
Special recognitions were presented to Ritaben Patel with the Hall of Fame Award, while Hansaben Harshadbhi Patel and Dr. Minakshi Thakar received Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mayur Joshi, Managing Trustee of Udgam Trust, said that Udgam Usha Parva 2026 aims to transform recognition into economic opportunity by connecting women achievers with funding, mentorship, and professional networks.
Prior to the awards ceremony, panel discussions on “From Grassroots to Global: Real Journeys of Women Entrepreneurs & Startups” and “Funding Roots: Decoding Funding for Grassroots Innovations & Startups” were held. Expert sessions featured Mihir Joshi and Bhumika Pandya.
The programme aimed to go beyond recognition by providing institutional validation, professional credibility, and leadership opportunities for women, converting awards into tangible economic opportunities through the associated startup festival. Since its inception in 2010, the Udgam Women Achievers Awards have honoured more than 550 women across 17 consecutive editions, celebrating stories of courage, resilience, and leadership.
