New Delhi: After recently bringing in Bill Gates on her show ‘Kyunki 2.0’, which was the revival of the iconic series that changed Indian television 25 years ago, Smriti Irani is now making waves internationally with her latest women-centric initiative, Spark The 100k Collective.
A movement to empower 100,000 women entrepreneurs
Through Spark The 100k Collective, Irani has launched a transformational mission to empower 100,000 women entrepreneurs across 300 cities in India. The initiative creates a 360-degree ecosystem that promotes skill-building, entrepreneurship and access to opportunities, and consists of six key sub-initiatives that aim to strengthen women-led enterprises across the country.
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Irani described the project as a call to action not only for Indian women but for communities around the world to support women-run businesses and create lasting social impact.
In an emotional reflection during his recent global address, Irani shared his personal journey and the values that shaped his mission:
“They say life comes full circle and it really does for me tonight. Forty-two years ago, on the streets of New Delhi, my father, who was a bookseller, sold second-hand magazines, which he bought from a scrap dealer, so he could earn two dollars a day to support a family of three girls. So as I stand among you tonight, I stand here because not only did I have hard-working parents. But also because someone helped me get an education, someone paid me a fair salary, someone helped me become a political voice in my country.”
Spotlight on India’s women workforce
Representing the collective power of Indian women, Irani highlighted the immense potential of the country’s female workforce:
“There are 400 million women like me at home. Ninety million of them work in villages and the small businesses they run generate a turnover of $37 billion every year. In my country, 1.5 million women are elected to positions in panchayats, what you all call city councils. Six million women go to work every day as frontline health workers.”
Sowing the Seeds of Change: A Global Perspective
Speaking about her vision through Spark The 100k Collective, Irani emphasized the overarching goal of the initiative to create a ripple effect of empowerment beyond India’s borders.
“As someone who has awakened a bit of collectivity, I am here to sow a seed. In India, two women, including myself, wanted to reach 100,000 women in very small businesses. We wanted to help fellow Indians and not just wait for governments to come and save us. So we decided we would reach out to 300 cities, starting with 100,000 women, moving up to one million. Will reach out, create a hundred million dollar impact fund – and then someone said, can you take it to 56 countries and we said yes, so I’m here to plant a seed.”
A call to global leaders
Concluding her address, Irani made an impassioned appeal to world leaders to take action on gender equality and economic justice:
“My only appeal is this – women control $30 trillion of consumer spending in the world, but own only one in three businesses and struggle with a 20% pay gap. So when you have the courage to lead for your dreams and your ambition, please have the courage to be the voice of the voiceless.”