India

In early March, the Indian upper legislative body passed a constitutional amendment that would require that women hold 33 percent of seats in federal and state legislative assemblies. If passed into law, this amendment would change the landscape of women's rights in India.

Kenchamma's work with The Hunger Project-India quickly showed that she was a natural and capable leader. Though her gender and caste presented her with extra obstacles, she has delivered undeniable results in the community, producing wide-ranging changes benefiting women, the elderly and children.

The Hunger Project-India hosted the ninth annual Sarojini Naidu Prize ceremony on October 2, 2009. The Sarojini Naidu Prize annually honors three journalists for outstanding reporting on women in Panchayati Raj (local government). Guests of honor included The Honorable Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr. Shashi Tharoor; social activist Ms. Aruna Roy; and Director General of Doordarshan (India's leading national television network) Ms. Aruna Sharma.