Breaking Through – India’s Stories of Beating the Odds on Poverty

FICCI Ladies Organisation organised a Panel Discussion on ‘Breaking Through – India’s Stories of Beating the Odds on Poverty’ to deliberate and showcase positive examples of people who managed to beat the odds in India’s villages, towns and cities. Their stories had to be told not only to inspire other poor people but also to show planners and others that there are ethical ways to beat poverty.

The Distinguished Panellists included Dr Meera Mitra, Author, Sociologist & Development Specialist; Pandmavibhushan Dr Sonal Mansingh, Distinguished Indian Classical Dancer; & Shalini Singh, Former Deputy Editor, The Hindu

In her address, Ms. Neeta Boochra, President, FLO, said ‘When adversity comes our way, how we respond to that difficulty is much more important than what has happened to us. It’s our response that determines who we are to become. If we are to progress, life will likely get more difficult. The more daunting the challenges and the greater the apparent obstacles, the more potential there is for personal growth’.

Dr Meera Mitra said that these touching stories are of real people she had met during her extensive research and she even narrated touching incidents that helped shape her experiences and inspired her to come out with the book.

The other two panellists Pandmavibhushan Dr Sonal Mansingh & Shalini Singh too quoted excerpts from the book connecting with the audience in a narrative style.

The narratives were held together by the common theme of entrepreneurship through which men, women, Dalits, homemakers and farmers have been able to strive for a better life for themselves and their families and communities, in the background of adversities.