Suman Rao’s initiative ‘Project Pragati’ creates job opportunities for underprivileged women

Pageants have always been in the light for displaying the aspirant’s beauty and brains but most people ignore their social advocacies. The prestigious Miss World pageant has been organizing the (BWAP) Beauty with a Purpose Project since 1972 which is a registered charitable and non-profit arm of the Miss World Organization, chaired by Julia Morley, which raises funds and participates in humanitarian projects across the world.

Beauty with a Purpose award appreciates the delegate’s contribution to humanitarian causes and is the highest recognition a beauty queen can receive at the Miss World pageant. The winner of Beauty with a Purpose always stands out for her kindness, compassion, beauty and empathy.

Suman Rao, who represented India at the international platform of Miss World, made the country proud when she was crowned Miss World 2019 - 2nd Runner-up and Miss World Asia 2019. Suman, who is well known for her humble nature and for using her platform to spread awareness for many social causes, made it to Top 10 with her Beauty with a Purpose Project.

Suman who has been actively doing her bit to contribute towards women empowerment, initiated her BWAP project under the title of ‘Project Pragati’ in September last year. The diva collaborated with Princess Diya Kumari Foundation (PDKF) an NGO run by Princess Diya Kumari who works towards a similar vision for women.

Suman’s #ProjectPragati aims to empower underprivileged women residing in the rural areas of her home state, Rajasthan by generating employment opportunities with the help of resources available around their area and by putting to use their skill-set, fostering financial independence, to increase the female literacy ratio and to improve the existing condition of women in the state.

Project Pragati in collaboration with Princess Diya Kumari Foundation, essentially helps women become independent and self-sufficient through skill development, it has set up a many production units of handicrafts and hand-woven textiles. The workers which include local women are trained to make Indian handicraft products and carry out the required production. The products are later commercialized through PDKF’s offline stores and online retail channels.

Suman, who is a chartered accountancy student also encouraged these women to open bank accounts, and has also shared the importance of being financially independent.