Overview

Ankur Swayamsevi Sanstha, founded in 2012, is a beacon of empowerment for single women in Kaij Taluka, Beed, Maharashtra. Through community-driven initiatives, it addresses the systemic inequalities and discrimination prevalent in village systems, organizing Mahila Mandals and advocating for women's rights. With a focus on capacity-building and skill development, Ankur provides training on various aspects such as women's health, administration systems, and driving. It fosters a supportive environment where women can come together, share their challenges, and collectively work towards solutions. Anita, a resilient member of the organization, exemplifies courage and determination in the face of adversity. Her journey from hardship to empowerment serves as an inspiration, earning her recognition such as the Tejaswini Group Raigad level award and the prestigious Sathi Anita Pagare Yallagar Samman Award. Through collaborative efforts with other organizations, Ankur continues to expand its impact and empower single women across Maharashtra.

Vanangana, a women's rights collective established in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh, in 1993, operates from Chitrakoot and Banda. Registered under the Societies Act, it focuses on combating violence against women, particularly among Dalit, Muslim, and tribal women, by integrating them into village development processes and elevating their social status. Started working on women's issues in 1997, through platforms for collective action, Vanangana empowers women to address common challenges and advocate for their rights, fostering leadership from within communities. With a commitment to justice, the organization advocates for a comprehensive application of the law, transcending social hierarchies and ensuring accountability within the judicial system.

Priyanka's journey from her rural roots in Bishanpur Gonahi Village of North Bihar to the forefront of community leadership is a testament to her unwavering determination and commitment to effecting positive change. Despite the societal expectations placed upon her, she pursued education and embarked on a journey of self-discovery that led her to challenge entrenched patriarchal norms. After completing her studies at Miranda House, University of Delhi, Priyanka joined Youth Alliance as a rural fellow in a village in Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh. There, she immersed herself in grassroots initiatives, working tirelessly with school children, women's groups, and the elderly. Through this experience, Priyanka gained firsthand insight into the systemic barriers faced by rural communities, particularly women. Motivated by her own experiences and inspired by leaders like Chhavi Rajawat, Priyanka resolved to return to her native village and challenge the status quo. Despite facing formidable opponents in the local political arena, Priyanka fearlessly contested the position of 'Mukhiya' in her village, challenging the entrenched 'Mukhiya-Pati' syndrome. Although she did not emerge victorious in the election, Priyanka's campaign sparked a crucial shift in the discourse of local politics, paving the way for greater women's representation and empowerment. Undeterred by setbacks, Priyanka has now embarked on a new chapter in her journey by founding Gram-Chetna Andolan, a civil society organization dedicated to accelerating leadership development initiatives rooted in the values of Gram-Swaraj. With a vision of building a local movement encompassing social, political, economic, ecological, and cultural aspirations, Gram-Chetna Andolan strives to empower diverse interest groups within rural communities. Priyanka's unwavering dedication to grassroots activism and community empowerment serves as an inspiration to all. Through her leadership, Gram-Chetna Andolan is poised to become a catalyst for transformative change, ensuring that the voices and aspirations of rural communities are heard and respected at every level of governance.

Shaila Yadav's journey as the founder of Samaveshak embodies the spirit of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. As the first woman from the Ghumantu community to pursue higher education, she defied societal norms and overcame numerous challenges to earn a master's degree in social work. Her struggles became the driving force behind her mission to improve the conditions within her community, particularly focusing on children's education and awareness-raising initiatives. Samaveshak, established in 2016 by Shaila and a group of dedicated youths from Denotified, Nomadic Tribes, and marginalized communities, serves as a beacon of hope for those often marginalized and overlooked in society. With a strong emphasis on the liberation of Nomadic Tribes and De-notified Tribes in Maharashtra, Samaveshak is committed to upholding principles of liberty, equality, justice, and fraternity. Through grassroots initiatives, advocacy efforts, and community empowerment programs, Samaveshak actively works to break the cycle of oppression and ensure dignity and respect for all individuals. Shaila's inclusive leadership approach actively involves community members in decision-making processes and program implementation, fostering a sense of ownership and agency among marginalized groups. Aligned with its vision for a strong society with equal opportunities, Samaveshak's mission focuses on capacity building, leadership development, education for nomadic tribal children, awareness-raising, and empowerment of women and youth from marginalized backgrounds. Through strategic partnerships and collective action, the organization amplifies its impact and works towards building a society where every individual's dignity is valued. Samaveshak's objectives encompass promoting awareness of rights, increasing democratic participation, building movement-based unions, enhancing socio-economic conditions, combating violence against women, preventing school dropout, and promoting constitutional values within NT/DNT communities and society at large. Shaila Yadav's tireless dedication, along with the collective efforts of Samaveshak's team, has made significant strides in addressing the systemic challenges faced by marginalized communities. Through their unwavering commitment to social justice and equality, they continue to pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society, inspiring countless others along the way.

Swati Singh's journey as the Director and Founder of Muheem organization is a testament to her unwavering commitment to social change and empowerment. With over eight years of experience, Swati's leadership has been marked by her dynamic approach and dedication to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. Before founding Muheem, Swati had already established herself as a talented freelance journalist, recognized for her storytelling and advocacy skills. Her work in journalism earned her three Ladali Media Awards, showcasing her dedication to shedding light on pressing issues and fostering meaningful dialogue. However, Swati's passion for creating tangible change led her to establish Muheem: Ek Sarthak Prayas Welfare Society. Headquartered in Varanasi, Muheem is a community-based organization focused on the multidimensional upliftment and empowerment of marginalized individuals, particularly women, girls, and youth. Under Swati's leadership, Muheem has become a beacon of best leadership practices, as recognized in the United Nations Women's India coffee table book. Swati's role as a distinguished panelist at the UN Women's India conference further highlights her commitment to advancing gender equality and social justice. Muheem's initiatives span across rural areas in Varanasi, Bhadohi, and Mirzapur districts, addressing critical issues such as women's health, gender equality, and intersectional feminism. Through collaborations with organizations like UNFPA, Muheem has launched initiatives like the Sohar songs in 2023, aimed at empowering marginalized communities. The organization's contributions to sustainable menstruation and the promotion of women's leadership have been acknowledged by prestigious institutions like the Ministry of Culture and UN Women India. Through its relentless efforts, Muheem strives to create a more inclusive and equitable society, reflecting Swati's vision for a world where all individuals live with dignity, respect, and equality.

Neelam Besra, a resident of Hazaribag district, Jharkhand strongly believes in creating a world where everyone can live a just and equitable life. This led to the beginning of Jharkhand Mahila Uthan in 2002 in response to the need for a support agency to strengthen women’s voice against domestic violence and to sensitize Chuurchu, a community development block in Jharkhand, on gender equality and gender justice. The organization holds workshops and training programs dedicated to helping women and girls through activities like education, health, women empowerment, and leadership role training.This women-led organization offers a platform for victims and survivors to discuss rights and violence issues, especially intersectional gender and caste-baste violence against Tribal, Scheduled Caste and other marginalized communities. The team works on prevention of both child marriage and forced marriage of young adolescent girls, and also focusses on enhancing the leadership capacity of adolescent girls.The organization believes in women’s representation in Panchayats for long-term sustainable change. They work with elected women representatives to introduce a feminist lens to developmental initiatives through community organizing, training and leadership development programs. Neelam has worked with 110 elected women representatives over the last 10 years.

Ranjita Pawar and her team at Samarthya Kalyankari Sanstha believe that true gender equity cannot be achieved until men are part of the change process. They have been working since 2008 with Denotified and Nomadic communities in Osmanabad district, Maharashtra on access to quality primary education, strengthening and promoting community based organizations, and women and girls empowerment to help them become leaders and changemakers of the future.The team works on prevention of violence by engaging with young men and adolescent boys through various programmes in their community. They also work with survivors of violence to get access to legal justice. Apart from counseling and legal services, this organisation also supports women with livelihood opportunities for financial independence, giving them a new lease of life.

Sahjani Shiksha Kendra works in education , literacy and empowerment of women and adolescent girls from the feminist perspective in Bundelkhand area of ​​Lalitpur district. The founder, Meena Devi, and her team, work on various initiatives to create awareness of intersectional gender issues pertaining to caste, patriarchy, early marriage, violence against women, right to work and food security. As a result of their work, women and adolescent girls have become aware of their rights and have begun raising questions and advocating for their rights.The team works on different strategies to address and prevent violence against women and girls within the Dalit, Adivasi and other marginalized communities. Some of these strategies include holding village level meetings with women, creating awareness of the community’s issues through jatha rallies, engaging men and boys in conversations on patriarchy and advocating cases of survivors with the administration. More than 15,000 women and adolescent girls have been a part of this movement.