Countdown to SheSparks, girls’ hostels, and a woman who wears many hats: Top stories of the week

The countdown to SheSparks, YourStory’s flagship event for women, has begun. To be held on March 14 at IIT Delhi, the event will bring together women from across industries, regions, and life stages.

The event will not just be a celebration of women, but will offer a shared space for 

uniting women across sectors, cities, and generations, SheSparks 2026 fosters a community where learning, connection, and visibility are not privileges, but shared possibilities.

Blending keynotes, panel discussions, fireside chats, and short talks, the programme goes past inspiration to substance. It spotlights lived experiences, tough decisions, and everyday challenges women leaders, founders, and professionals confront in today’s economy. Read more about the event here.

A woman of many acts

Anu Vaidyanathan describes her childhood as a “patchwork quilt” of influences—an early sign of the eclectic path she would go on to forge. Trained as an engineer and researcher, she built an intellectual property consulting firm, went on to become an endurance athlete, and an author.

But Vaidyanathan didn’t stop at entrepreneurship or athletics. She moved into writing, theatre, filmmaking, and even stand-up comedy, training at an international clown school to sharpen her craft. Meet this restless learner who embraces discomfort and reinvention. 

Girls’ hostels in every district

The announcement made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2026-27 to establish a girls’ hostel in every district of India could be a game-changer for women’s higher education.

Safe and affordable accommodation remains one of the biggest barriers preventing young women, especially from smaller towns and rural areas, from pursuing college and STEM education away from home.

The lack of secure hostels disproportionately affects women’s choices, often forcing them to compromise on courses, institutions, or careers simply to stay closer to home.

By placing hostels at the district level, the policy aims to reduce these structural constraints, enabling more women to continue their education, access opportunities in science and technology, and participate in the workforce. 

Women-led industrial park

FLO Bangalore has launched a women-led industrial park in Gowribidanur, supported by Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board and Karnataka Udyog Mitra. Spread across 50 acres, the project aims to bring more women—especially first-generation founders—into manufacturing and industrial entrepreneurship by creating opportunities beyond metro cities.

Designed as a full ecosystem rather than just a workspace, the park offers single-window approvals, financial and compliance support, and shared facilities like skill development and childcare. The goal is to simplify the entrepreneurial journey and enable more women to build and scale businesses with confidence.