- 510 rural women graduate as grassroots leaders under DISHA programme
Berhampur, January 09, 2026: Tata Steel Foundation organised the DISHA Convocation 2026 at the Berhampur University Auditorium, celebrating the successful completion of a year-long leadership journey by 510 rural women who have emerged as community leaders through the DISHA programme.
The convocation was graced by Chief Guest Shri Keerthi Vasan V, IAS, Collector and District Magistrate, Ganjam, along with Shri Sourav Sugandh, Chief, Tata Steel Special Economic Zone (TSSEZ), who felicitated the participants and recognised their contributions to grassroots leadership and inclusive development. Addressing the gathering, Shri Keerthi Vasan underlined the transformative role of empowered women in building equitable and resilient communities.
Launched in FY22, DISHA is Tata Steel Foundation’s flagship women’s leadership initiative, aimed at empowering 6,000 women over five years through structured social, political and digital capacity-building. The programme equips women with leadership, communication, governance and digital literacy skills, enabling their active participation in community institutions and decision-making platforms.
To date, over 5,700 women have completed DISHA’s training modules, with 4,750 women participating in convocations across Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra. The 2026 convocation brought together women from Gopalpur, Kalinganagar, Meramandali, Sukinda and Bamnipal, marking their transition from trainees to grassroots changemakers.
Held under the theme “Enlightened Equitable Society”, the event highlighted inspiring journeys of transformation and reaffirmed Tata Steel Foundation’s commitment to strengthening women-led leadership at the grassroots as a key driver of sustainable and inclusive social change.
Smita Verma, Lead – Gender and Community Enterprise, Tata Steel Foundation, Jayant Kumar Tripathy, Unit Lead, Tata Steel Foundation, Gopalpur, along with other senior officials of Tata Steel Foundation and TSSEZ, were present on the occasion.
