Sneha Jagasia on the True Meaning of Emotional Empowerment for Indian Women

An Exclusive Interview with Sneha Jagasia, Founder of Stree Shakti Foundation, an initiative dedicated to providing emotional and financial support to women and families from underserved communities.

Sneha Jagasia, Founder of Stree Shakti Foundation, details her commitment to empowering women and families in underserved communities. She launched the initiative to provide crucial emotional guidance alongside essential financial support, addressing the holistic needs of vulnerable groups.

Your journey into social work was deeply personal. Can you share what life experiences led you to start Stree Shakti Foundation and shaped your desire to support women emotionally as well as financially?

Sneha Jagasia: My journey into social work came from my own life experiences. I have faced difficult phases myself, where I felt alone and had no one to guide or support me. Those moments made me realise how helpless a person can feel when they are struggling and there is no one to stand by them.

Years ago, I started a boutique, which was a dream I fulfilled. While running it, I interacted with many people involved in social and political work and attended several community programmes like medical camps, ration drives, and educational initiatives.

Through these, I met women, single mothers, senior citizens, and families who were silently suffering. That is when I felt that instead of waiting for support systems to reach them, I should create something of my own. That thought led to the birth of Stree Shakti Foundation.

The name ‘Stree Shakti’ reflects the belief that every woman carries inner strength. How does this belief guide the way you work with women who come to you for help?

Sneha Jagasia: I named the foundation Stree Shakti because I truly believe that “har stree mein ek shakti hoti hai.” Every woman has strength within her, even if she doesn’t realise it yet. When women come to me, I never see them as weak or helpless. I see them as strong individuals who are just going through a difficult phase.

My role is not to control their decisions but to help them rediscover their confidence and self-belief. Whether it is emotional support, work opportunities, or basic help, I always remind them that they are capable and deserving of a better life.

You often speak about the importance of simply listening. Why do you feel emotional support and being heard is one of the biggest gaps in women’s lives today?

Sneha Jagasia: In today’s fast-paced world, no one has time to listen, not even family members sometimes. Many women carry emotional pain for years without anyone asking them how they truly feel. I have seen that often, women don’t even need solutions immediately; they just want someone to hear them without judging.

I make myself available to listen, whether it takes one hour or more. I even share my phone number so they can reach out anytime. When someone listens sincerely, it gives women mental relief and emotional strength. That feeling of being heard itself becomes empowering.

From helping with ration and school fees to connecting women with job opportunities, your work is very hands-on. Can you tell us about the kind of challenges women usually approach you with and how you try to support them?

Sneha Jagasia: Women approach me with very basic yet serious problems, no ration at home, children’s school fees pending, husbands not earning enough, or no source of income at all. I also meet senior citizens who are managing alone and single mothers who are trying their best to survive.

I take their biodata, understand what kind of work they can do, and then connect them to job opportunities through my personal network. I also help with ration and try to support children’s education through NGOs or trusted contacts. Whatever help I can arrange, I do it with honesty and commitment.

Many women see you as a safe space they can reach out to at any time. How do these personal interactions and moments of trust motivate you to continue your work?

Sneha Jagasia: What motivates me the most are the blessings I receive from families. When mothers thank me with tears in their eyes and say that I helped their children, it touches my heart deeply. Those moments stay with me.

Seeing their smiles and relief gives me emotional satisfaction. It is not about punya or recognition; it is about fulfilment. These interactions keep me motivated and also inspire my own family to stay supportive of the work I do.

Building a strong network has helped you support families through employment and resources. How important are community connections and personal relationships in sustaining a foundation like yours?

Sneha Jagasia: Community connections are everything. I have been able to help because of the relationships and trust I have built over time. Whether it is arranging work, connecting to NGOs, or seeking help from personal contacts, nothing would be possible without strong human relationships.

Stree Shakti Foundation is not run through systems alone, it runs on trust, goodwill, and people who genuinely want to help others.

Looking ahead, what is your vision for Stree Shakti Foundation, and how would you like to grow its impact while staying true to its personal and compassionate approach?

Sneha Jagasia: My vision is simple, to help more women and families without losing the personal connection that defines Stree Shakti Foundation. I want to reach more people in need, create more job opportunities for women, and ensure that no one who comes to me feels unheard.

Even as we grow, I want to keep the foundation rooted in empathy, availability, and genuine care, because that is where real impact begins.

Jagasia asserts that true empowerment integrates emotional strength with economic stability. Stree Shakti Foundation’s dual focus is fostering resilience and self-reliance, ensuring women have both the mental fortitude and resources to improve their families’ futures.

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