International Women's Day 2026: Hemlata Honours 21 Change-Makers

Hemlata Foundation's International Women's Day celebration at Katihar's Town Hall drew 800 attendees as the foundation honoured 21 women who have made extraordinary contributions to their communities over the past year.

Honorees included a 70-year-old teacher who has run a free evening school for 30 years, a 22-year-old who stopped 4 child marriages in her village, a single mother who built a 15-member women's self-help group into a ₹12 lakh enterprise, and a girl with disability who topped her district in Class 12 board exams.

Chief Guest was Justice (Retd.) Kamala Devi, former judge of the Patna High Court, who spoke powerfully about the importance of women's legal rights and challenged attendees to use the law as a tool of change.

Cultural performances by Hemlata's skill training graduates showcased traditional Maithili dance alongside modern spoken word poetry about gender equality — a blending of tradition and progressive thought that drew sustained applause.

The foundation also announced the launch of a ₹50 lakh Women Change-Maker Fund that will provide seed grants of ₹1-3 lakhs to women-led social initiatives across Bihar.

"These 21 women don't consider themselves heroes," said Foundation Director. "They are simply doing what they believe is right. Our job is to amplify their work and inspire 2,100 more."