A student from Ambala in Haryana is changing women’s fitness and public safety with an initiative that has brought together more than 200 women.
Kridha Gupta (Class 12) started a women-only running club RunX to allow women to exercise freely and make public spaces safer.
The idea for RunX came from Kridha’s own experiences. When she decided to take fitness more seriously her mother didn’t want to send her to a gym where very few women worked out and exercising outdoors was difficult because many public spaces weren’t well lit at night.
These concerns made Kridha ask why women had to think so much about safety before doing basic fitness activities. Instead of accepting limitations she brought women together and created an environment where they could run without feeling alone.
From a Small Group to a Growing Community
RunX started with five or six women. But it grew from there more and more people joined the initiative and soon a community of over 200 members was formed.
What began as a running group soon became a place where women could talk about fitness, confidence and what they went through when trying to access public spaces.
As the group grew members realized poor street lighting was one of the major concerns that prevented women from exercising safely. Kridha and the community decided to take their concerns out of conversations and work towards practical solutions.
₹8 Lakh Raised for Better Street Lighting
One of the biggest successes of the initiative has been to raise about ₹8 lakh to improve street lighting in Ambala. Working with local Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), the group installed five streetlights on poorly lit routes.
It also brought the issue of more lighting and safer public spaces to light. Talks with local authorities led reportedly to proposals for further improvements being put on Ambala’s 2026 civic policy agenda.
For Kridha this initiative shows that women’s safety cannot be seen as an individual responsibility only. Better infrastructure and community participation are equally important in making public spaces available to all.
Beyond Running: Supporting Students and Athletes
Kridha’s work has not been limited to RunX either. She organised the Ambala Martyrs Run with Indian Army; around 400 runners came together to honour soldiers and support families of martyrs.
She has also conducted workshops in more than 20 government schools reaching over 7,000 students on higher education, career opportunities, leadership and gender equality.
Through another programme called Khel Vikas she worked towards creating professional opportunities for former athletes. The programme helped 40 former national level athletes get certified as high school coaches and organised skill building sessions to support their career transitions.
A Small Beginning With a Bigger Impact
Kridha’s story shows how young people can make community change happen. It also demonstrates that initiatives don’t have to be big things or take a lot of planning to start.
RunX began with just a few women but grew into a platform for fitness, confidence and conversations about safety. Community participation meets practical action Kridha has shown how an idea can grow into movement.
Her message to other young people is start small one street, one classroom or a few people. Her initiative reminds us that change can happen when we make the decision to address the problem rather than ignore it.
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