Expressnews
Chennai, March 7, 2026: The CII Indian Women Network (IWN) Tamil Naduannounced a leadership transition at its flagship summit, Thaaragai 2026, with Ms. Amudhavalli Ranganathan, Director of CavinKare, & Executive Director of CK Group of Educational Institutions, taking over as Chairwoman of CII IWN Tamil Nadu. The summit, held in Chennai, brought together over 400 leaders from industries, policymakers, entrepreneurship, healthcare and academia for a day of insightful dialogue, inspiration and collaboration centred on advancing women’s leadership and driving inclusive growth.
Held under the theme “Give to Gain: Rise. Radiate. Redefine.”, the summit served as a platform for discussions around women’s health, safety, entrepreneurship and workforce participation, while highlighting the importance of collaborative action between industry, government and academia to build a more inclusive ecosystem.
Ms. Amudhavalli Ranganathan, Chairwoman, CII IWN Tamil Nadu, Director of CavinKare, & Executive Director of CK Group of Educational Institutions, said,“Platforms like Thaaragai play a vital role in bringing together leaders to exchange ideas and collaboratively shape solutions that enable more women to succeed. While it is important to acknowledge the challenges women continue to face, forums like these are equally focused on presenting a clear way forward through actionable recommendations and collective commitment. As I take on the responsibility of leading CII IWN Tamil Nadu, I look forward to building on this strong foundation and further strengthening our efforts to create opportunities, networks and mentorship for women. When women are empowered with the right support systems, they become powerful catalysts for progress across organisations, communities and the wider economy.”
Ms Savitha Kesav Jagadeesan, Immediate Past Chairwoman, CII IWN Tamil Nadu & Senior Resident Partner, Kochhar & Co., said, “Thaaragai is not just a summit but a movement that celebrates women who rise and, in doing so, lift others along with them. Tamil Nadu continues to be one of the leading states in India in terms of women’s workforce participation and entrepreneurship, making it even more important to strengthen ecosystems that enable women to thrive. This includes expanding access to opportunities, creating leadership pathways, and building supportive policies that empower women to participate fully in the workforce and in society.”
Mr. A R Unnikrishnan, Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu & Managing Director, Glass Business Saint-Gobain India Private Limited, said, “Women’s participation in leadership and the broader Indian economy is not only a matter of equity but a critical driver of growth and innovation. Today, women’s participation in the labour force in India stands at around 32%, while Tamil Nadu is at nearly 40%, and further increasing this participation is essential. When women step forward to contribute, it becomes a gift that creates value at multiple levels empowering themselves, strengthening families, enriching organisations, uplifting society, and ultimately contributing to the progress of the nation. Industry has a vital role to play in building inclusive workplaces and enabling more women to take on leadership roles across sectors.”
Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Kauvery Hospitals, said, “More than 65% of live organ donors in India are women, while nearly 70% of recipients are men. This statistic is not something to simply celebrate; rather, it prompts us to reflect on the expectations and responsibilities women often shoulder within families and society. It also underscores why conversations around women’s health and safety must remain central to our development agenda. As women navigate different stages of their careers and lives, they encounter unique challenges that require stronger support systems, greater awareness and access to healthcare. Prioritising self-care is essential for women to remain healthy, independent and empowered. Progressive states like Tamil Nadu have made encouraging strides in advancing women’s wellbeing, but there is still more to be done to ensure women are supported and not disproportionately burdened.”
A key highlight of the summit was the release of a White Paper on Women’s Health and Safety developed through consultations with leaders from industry, healthcare, government and civil society. The document outlines policy recommendations aimed at strengthening healthcare access, workplace safety frameworks, caregiving support systems and gender-inclusive workforce policies in Tamil Nadu.
Another key highlight was the policy dialogue titled “Women Shaping Tamil Nadu @2030”,featuring senior government and global representatives including Ms Asha Ajith, IAS; Ms Vandana Bahri; Ms Silai Zaki; and Ms A Kayalvizhi, IPS. The session focused on strengthening policy frameworks and collaborative efforts to accelerate women’s participation in Tamil Nadu’s economic growth. Speaking during the discussion, Ms Asha Ajith noted that women’s participation is not just a social priority but a critical economic imperative for the state’s future growth, emphasising the need for stronger policies supporting women’s health, safety, education and entrepreneurship.
During the summit, industry leaders also took the Equal Opportunity Pledge (EOP), reaffirming their commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces and advancing gender equality within organizations.
Panel discussions during the summit explored themes such as male allyship in leadership, founder readiness and financial literacy for women entrepreneurs, career growth and board readiness, along with leadership conversations highlighting inspiring journeys of women leaders.
The event concluded with the CII IWN Tamil Nadu Annual Day 2026, which saw the release of the IWN Tamil Nadu Annual Book, the introduction of the IWN Trichy and IWN Tiruppur chapters, and the announcement of the new leadership team.
With conversations spanning policy, leadership and entrepreneurship, Thaaragai 2026 reinforced the growing momentum around building inclusive ecosystems that enable women to lead and shape Tamil Nadu’s economic future.
