SHEROSE

Dr. Meenakshi Nayar is a distinguished human resource and organizational development professional whose academic and professional journey laid the foundation for her lifelong commitment to youth empowerment. She earned a Master's degree in Psychology from M.S. University, Vadodara, followed by a Fellowship Programme in Management (FPM), equivalent to a Ph.D., in Organizational Behaviour from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. 

Before entering the social sector, she spent more than two decades in corporate Human Resources, serving in leadership roles, including Executive Vice President, HR at DCM Limited. 

At 50, she left her corporate career to pursue her dream of creating meaningful social impact beyond retirement. Partnering with her batchmate, Freda Joseph Swaminathan, she co-founded EduServe Consultants, where she worked extensively on career guidance, life skills development, adolescence and sexuality awareness, drawing on her corporate expertise and deep understanding of human behaviour.

A turning point in her life came during a Career Guidance Workshop for students from a Delhi slum. She realized she couldn't recommend enough practical and employment-linked education or training options for these promising young people with limited resources, leaving her with a deep sense of inadequacy.

Curious to understand their reality, she walked through the community. Seeing large numbers of young as well as middle-aged men playing cricket or cards on a weekday made her question why they weren't studying, working, or undergoing training somewhere. 

The search for answers threw up lack of employability as the primary reason , which soon transformed into determination to do something to change that. Drawing on her experience as an HR professional, she realized she could help prepare underserved youth for careers in the organized sector. 

ETASHA`s beginning 

The vision led to the founding of ETASHA in 2006 a not-for-profit organization that equips people from low-income communities with employability and vocational skills. What began with one centre in Delhi, supporting 100 youth, has grown to over 20 centres across Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan, directly helping youth and older women to develop skills and generate incomes and preparing adolescents for future readiness skills. Over the years ETASHA has impacted over 4,10,000 lives. 

Meenakshi Nayar has consistently worked to expand ETASHA’s reach and strengthen the quality of its programmes. What began with sessions for girls on career guidance, sexuality education, and life skills gradually grew to include boys as well, recognizing that every young person deserves guidance and opportunity.

As career growth emerged as a common concern among youth, ETASHA shaped its vision around helping every young Indian become employable, develop self-worth, and lead a dignified and productive life.

Through innovative skill-building programmes, ETASHA supports youth and older women from socio-economically weaker communities in preparing for employment and income generation. While it works with the support of funding organizations and individual donors, ETASHA focuses on empowerment and sustainable development rather than charity.

Challenges along the way

One of the biggest challenges she faced, beyond fundraising, was encouraging girls to enrol in job-oriented training. Many girls struggled with self-doubt and feared family disapproval, while parents often believed that girls should not work, considered employment unsafe, or worried it would affect their marriage prospects. Gaining their trust required continuous counselling and engagement with parents and extended family members.

In ETASHA's early years, Meenakshi personally financed the organization's work until it became financially unsustainable. She then sought support from friends and family before shifting her focus to institutional funding. A two-year grant from Tech Mahindra Foundation became a turning point, providing the support needed to establish and grow ETASHA.

Impactful initiatives

Over the years, ETASHA has implemented several impactful initiatives aimed at improving education, employability, and career opportunities for young people across India. Some of its notable programmes for girls include:

• Project Niranter – Trained 40 girls from Classes 10–12 and 20 teachers at a school in Anupshahr, Uttar Pradesh, with a focus on strengthening spoken English skills.

• Project Zabaan – A specially designed programme to improve employability and communication skills for over 600 female students at ITI, Siri Fort in Delhi.

• Project Aakar – Conducted Career Highway workshops for over 200 vulnerable young people across the states of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

• Project Nari Shakti – The project has been supported by the Rotary Club, Delhi South for 5 years and has helped train and place 266 girls from low-income communities in Delhi in large Organised Sector companies.

Awards and recognition

• Outstanding Vocational Service for Youth(2026) – Awarded to ETASHA Society by the Rotary Club of South.

• GIVE Gold Certificate for Excellence (2025) – ETASHA Society recognized for excellence in governance, transparency, and impact in the development sector. 

• 2nd Highest Fundraising NGO in the Livelihood Sector (2024) – ETASHA Society recognized at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon for outstanding fundraising efforts supporting livelihood initiatives. 

• Lifetime Achievement Award (2024) – Conferred by the Social and Business Enterprise Responsible Awards (SABERA) on Dr. Meenakshi Nayar in recognition of her decades-long contribution to social development and youth empowerment. 

• Outstanding Contribution to Social Consciousness (2022) – Awarded by CSR World Day for ETASHA's contribution to community development and social awareness. 

• NGO Leadership Award (2023) – Awarded by CSR World to ETASHA Society. 

• Top 30 Most Trusted NGOs of the Year (2023) – Awarded by Brand Honchos to ETASHA Society. 

• 3rd Highest Fundraising NGO in the Livelihood Category at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (2023) – Awarded by United Way of Delhi and Procam International to ETASHA Society. 

• Most Promising Award for Women Entrepreneurship (2018) – Awarded by CauseBecause for ETASHA's work in promoting women-led entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities. 

• 50 Most Impactful Social Innovators (2017) – Dr. Meenakshi Nayar honoured by CSR World for her innovative approach to skill development and community transformation. 

• Top 12 Women Transforming India (2016) – Dr. Meenakshi Nayar recognized by NITI Aayog for her pioneering work in empowering underserved communities through education, employability, and livelihood initiatives. 

• Women for Purpose Award (2016) – Presented by PVR Nest to Dr. Meenakshi Nayar for her outstanding contribution to social impact and women's empowerment. 

• GuideStar India Platinum Transparency Certification – ETASHA has received the Platinum level Certificate of Transparency and Public Accountability every year since 2018 

• Best Use of ICT by an NGO Working in Sustainable Development in South East Asia (2012) – ETASHA Society recognized for leveraging technology to enhance the effectiveness and reach of its programs. 

Over the years, these recognitions have reflected ETASHA Society's consistent commitment to expanding opportunities for underserved youth and women. They also highlight Dr. Meenakshi Nayar's vision of creating sustainable pathways to education, employability, and economic independence through community-driven initiatives.

Dr. Meenakshi Nayar's take on importance of Financial Literacy for women:

Financial literacy is important for all, but for women with little or no formal education it is nothing short of a lifeline. While formal education provides a foundation for reading and writing, financial literacy provides the practical tools needed to survive, protect a family, and break out of the cycle of poverty. 

An educated, working but financially ignorant woman remains on the side lines of decision making within a family even though she is an earning member. Financial literacy transforms her from a dependent bystander into an active financial decision-maker. For a woman with low education, lack of financial literacy can lead to much worse consequences. A sudden life event like the illness, death, or abandonment of a spouse can instantly plunge her into severe poverty if she doesn’t know how to manage money, access bank accounts, or understand basic safety nets.

In today’s increasingly digital environment, a most important aspect of financial Literacy is that it protects women from becoming victims of financial scams, predatory lending, and financial abuse. Understanding concepts like interest rates, collateral, and basic consumer rights acts as a shield against fraud and understanding of the measures that can be taken to prevent access to scamsters. Coupled with Digital Literacy and On-line safety, Financial Literacy can really be a game-changer for many women.

The benefits to society of training women from all socio-economic strata in Financial Literacy are huge. Irrespective of status, a woman who understands saving and budgeting passes those habits down to her children by example, ensuring the next generation starts with a better financial foundation. Women from the lower socio-economic strata stand to gain much more and the ripple effects of that gain spread much further. Many women with low formal education turn to informal labour, sewing, agriculture, or small-scale trading to make a living. With financial literacy, they can avail and benefit from many Government schemes and CSR-led projects which offer loans for growth of the nano & micro enterprises run by them, helping them get their families out of the cycle of poverty.