Shaifalika Panda, Founder and CEO of the Bansidhar and Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF), the CSR arm of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd. (IMFA), has been honoured with the prestigious Shakti Award at the We Women Want Conclave 2025, organised by NewsX in New Delhi. The award recognises her remarkable contribution to social work and her relentless efforts to drive empowerment and sustainable change in rural communities. Shaifalika Panda was also a distinguished panelist at the conclave, participating in a thought-provoking discussion on “Raising Confident Girls in Today’s World.” In her address, she shed light on the urgent need to challenge deeply entrenched gender norms and systemic inequalities, especially in rural areas where societal and economic barriers often restrict the aspirations of young girls.

Panda emphasised that true empowerment requires dismantling long-standing social barriers and moving beyond symbolic gestures to create sustainable, community-driven ecosystems. She advocated for the “three A’s” approach — Agency, Aspiration, and Access — as critical pillars for enabling girls to navigate life’s challenges and fulfil their dreams. She called for sustained investments in education, healthcare, and mentorship to help young girls develop confidence, resilience, and self-determination.

“True empowerment means dismantling deep-rooted social barriers and moving beyond token efforts to build sustained, community-led ecosystems. Supporting girls through the three A’s — Agency, Aspiration, and Access — helps them navigate challenges and realize their dreams. This requires all of us — families, communities, workplaces, and stakeholders — to be active allies in creating lasting change,” Panda said.

The We Women Want Conclave 2025 brought together policymakers, thought leaders, social entrepreneurs, and public figures to celebrate women achievers and grassroots change-makers. This year’s edition featured keynote addresses by prominent leaders, including Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Renowned personalities from the entertainment industry — Ekta Kapoor, Dia Mirza, and Shabana Azmi — also graced the occasion. In addition to honouring national leaders and influencers, the conclave celebrated inspiring grassroots initiatives, highlighting the achievements of Drone Didis and Lakhpati Didis — women whose stories of resilience, innovation, and economic empowerment deeply resonated with the audience.