South Asia | India | Business

Meet Captain Monica Khanna, who safely landed SpiceJet flight after engine fire

Captain Monica Khanna’s quick-thinking saved the lives of around 185 passengers on board the SpiceJet flight that caught fire shortly after takeoff on Sunday. The Delhi-bound SpiceJet flight safely returned to Patna after cabin crew noticed sparks flying out of the left engine of the aircraft and alerted the pilots. Captain Monica Khanna – the pilot in-charge – acted calmly and took control of the situation. After consulting with First Officer Balpreet Singh Bhatia, she switched off the affected engine and landed the ‘overweight’ aircraft skillfully in Patna.

South Asia | India | Career

Between domestic chores and agricultural work, rural Indian women have no time for child-rearing

Source: Quartz

Working in agriculture-related jobs brings financial freedom to Indian women, but it comes at a cost. Intense work leads to stress and compromises in care responsibilities towards children and also affects the women’s own health, according to recent research published by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). “Women’s work in agriculture seems to have a negative effect on household nutrition through two pathways: lack of adequate time for care work in peak agricultural seasons and seasonal energy with consequent losses in body weight,” the study notes. “Recognition of women

South Asia | India | Career

Women are bringing solar energy to thousands of Indian villages

Source: CNN

India is trying to bring electricity to hundreds of millions of its citizens who live off the grid. And it's trying to ensure that the power comes from clean and renewable sources. Frontier Markets is helping to achieve both those goals in the Western desert state of Rajasthan, selling solar-powered products to hundreds of villages. The company is thriving by turning its customers into salespeople. The company employs women to sell products like lamps, stoves, and even TVs that run on solar power through a program called Solar Sahelis (Solar Friends). Each woman is in charge of sell

South Asia | India | Career

Meet India’s courageous women cab drivers

Source: Mashable

Shanno Begum never dreamt that she would become a cab driver. A single mother, she worked as a cook and caregiver to finance her children’s education. But the irregular work made it hard to plan. But when she heard that the non-profit Azad Foundation in Delhi offered a six-month driving course, she applied. "It was a risky move since I wouldn’t be able to earn anything for those six months," the 39-year-old says. "But I knew that I could get regular work afterwards." After completing her training, Begum worked briefly as a private chauffeur, and within a year, became the first driver

South Asia | India | Career

Women auto drivers bravely fight all odds in Chennai to work

Source: IndiaToday

This story is not about ordinary women, but the ones who fearlessly fight gender inequality everyday. Chennai, known as the gateway to South India, also acted as a gateway towards women empowerment. Since March 2014, hundreds of women have started driving auto rickshaws in the city. The count is increasing at a fast pace as the passengers feel safe travelling with them. But with such great initiative comes obstacles. This move has threatened male auto rickshaw drivers and their income. Out of anger, male auto drivers harass these women drivers. But these sneers from the male auto driv