Bhumi Pednekar appointed by the United Nations Development Programme to raise awareness about gender equality

Actress Bhumi Pednekar, who is noted for her distinctive choice of message-driven films, lives by this mantra in real life as well. She has always been a socially engaged citizen, and she is the founder of Climate Warrior, a well-received pan-India advocacy movement to raise awareness about environmental conservation and climate change.

This time, the Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017) actress, has announced an exciting collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) prior to International Women's Day. The UNDP plans to launch a year-long social campaign in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, for which Bhumi Pednekar has been enlisted.

The UNDP marquee campaign is titled ‘Women at Work – Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Future Tomorrow’. In this campaign, Bhumi is expected to speak out on a variety of topics, including preparing young women for challenges and opportunities in non-traditional roles and career paths, the importance of creating an eco-system to promote non-traditional aspirations for young women, the role of government, businesses, NGOs, CSOs, and individuals (influencers), and the value of peer support for women working.

“Our career pathways and choices are often influenced by people around us and their expectations of us,” Bhumi says of the event. It limits our aspirations; our potential to truly achieve what we can.

This is especially relevant for women and girls given the rigorous social conditioning that they experience."

She further stated, “The need for more women in the workforce is not only an economic imperative but a social one as well. Our workspaces need to be inclusive encouraging diverse skill sets and expertise. This can be made possible when women occupy spaces in leading roles, breaking stereotypes, and barriers inspiring others especially, young girls to aspire and realize their full potential.”