Dasra

Land is more than just soil—it’s power, security, dignity, and opportunity. Yet, for countless women, owning land remains out of reach. In the mountains of Uttarakhand, where women grow the food, tend the fields, and sustain entire communities, the land they nurture often isn’t theirs to claim. But that’s changing. Since 1997, Association for Rural Planning and Action (ARPAN), founded by Renu Thakur, has been on a mission to turn silent labor into recognized ownership. In an survey, ARPAN found that out of 200 women — especially single women — 61 had no access to land rights or government schemes. And in a state where 90% of women work in agriculture but rarely hold land titles, this isn’t just an oversight — it’s systemic injustice. But women are reclaiming their power. Through legal awareness and advocacy, ARPAN is helping them secure land titles, access ₹6,000 annually from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, and unlock low-interest agricultural loans. It’s not just paperwork—it’s financial independence. It’s control over their future. The change runs deep in Mahila Samuhs (women’s self-help groups), where leaders like Urmila in Birkhim are spearheading seed banks, goat banks, and vermicomposting units—sustainable solutions built by and for women. In Sitola, Santoshi Devi (Uppradhan) and Jyoti (Adhyaksh) are dismantling child marriage and strengthening school infrastructure so that the next generation of girls grow up with more choices. And then there’s Hema, the Pradhan of Ghimali Gram Panchayat. Once hesitant to speak in leadership meetings, she found her voice through ARPAN’s Mahila Jagruk Manch. Today, she’s leading efforts to improve infrastructure and tackle alcoholism—proving that when women have power, entire communities thrive. As migration, mechanization, and unpaid care work continue to push women out of the workforce, ARPAN is proving that solutions exist—not in top-down policies but in collectivization, land rights, and economic inclusion. These women are not just sustaining their communities. They are reshaping them. Learn how: https://lnkd.in/dfSwKhZB Richa Pant #RebuildIndiaFund #LandRights #RootedInHerPower

📣 📣 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 📣 📣 We are thrilled to introduce 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 joining our 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬' 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Rooted in our learnings on scaling impactful solutions, this program is designed to identify and amplify promising practices that center women and girls in climate action. At its core, we hold a fundamental belief—𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞; 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. Our diverse cohort brings together a range of 𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, showcasing how women and girls are shaping climate solutions—from coastal conservation to regenerative agriculture, livelihood resilience to natural resource governance. 𝐀𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Stay tuned as we share insights from this journey with our incredible partners—women leaders, climate champions, and co-travelers in this mission! A big shoutout to our jury members Bharti Upparu Rohan Jaiswal Tanya Kak and Yamini Atmavilas for their invaluable time, insights, and guidance. We are truly grateful for all your support in making the process robust and inclusive.  Samajik Seva Sadan Dakshin Foundation SEWA Cooperative Federation SRISHTI (Society for Rural Initiatives in Sustainable and Holistic Themes in India) Realm of Nature Based Actions (RNBA) Goranbose Gram Bikash Kendra (GGBK) VIEWS-India Abhilasha Sharma Nayana Udayashankar kunal Gurnule Dewrav Thengari Kushalika Raptan Shaswati Mallick Sunil Kumar Ghadei Selvin Bheemarao Dimgong Rongmei Esther Gangmei Nokesh kumar patel Veronica Dungdung Sonakshi Yadav Veena Sharma WomenLead India Alliance ClimateRISE Alliance Aasha Pai Gauri Sanghi Parnasha Banerjee Tanya Dikshit Suveera Venkatesh Kirti Jain Safa Ansari Shruti D'souza Shalini Menon Sagar Nikam.

Dasra at Skoll World Forum 2025 April 2 2025 I Somerville College, Oxford Powering Change: Women-Led Philanthropy in Action In partnership with the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development (OICSD) at Somerville College, this panel brings together influential women leaders and philanthropists to explore how women-led giving is driving change. Despite influencing 85% of family philanthropy decisions, women’s perspectives remain underrepresented in philanthropy.  This panel will feature founders of India-focused organizations, Oxford academics, and sector experts, sharing insights on innovative funding, collaboration, and maximizing impact. Register here : https://lu.ma/iaznc12g University of Oxford I Neera Nundy I Parnasha Banerjee I Ethna Ghosh I Rhea Singh I Unaiza Rajan

Dasra at Skoll World Forum 2025 April 2nd 2025 I Museum of Oxford Unlocking the Potential of Diaspora to Shape a Climate-Resilient India With India facing increasingly severe climate impacts, including extreme weather events and sea-level rise, bold philanthropic action is more crucial than ever. This discussion will explore how the Indian diaspora can play a pivotal role in driving climate resilience by funding community-based micro-climate resilience initiatives, supporting vulnerable populations in both rural and urban areas, and shaping policy for systemic change. Featuring leading diaspora members as well as sector experts, it will examine the intersection of climate action with other sectors, offering practical insights on integrating a climate lens into giving and strengthening community resilience for a sustainable future.   Register here: https://lnkd.in/drFT3M2e Marmalade I Neera Nundy I Anshu Gupta I Goonj I Nitya Mohan Khemka I Silaja Birks I Wellcome Trust I Parnasha Banerjee I Ethna Ghosh I Unaiza Rajan I Rhea Singh

📢 New Article Alert! Philanthropic collaboratives are reshaping India's social sector by partnering with the government to drive sustainable, large-scale change. In the latest piece for Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR), Neera Nundy (Co-founder & Partner, Dasra) and Naghma Mulla (CEO, EdelGive Foundation) share key insights on how collaboratives like The Collaborators for Transforming Education (CTE) and 10to19 Dasra Adolescents Collaborative are successfully engaging with government systems to create lasting impact. As the role of philanthropic collaboratives continues to grow, these lessons offer valuable guidance for funders, NGOs, and policymakers looking to drive systemic change. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gvjzF4sd #Philanthropy #Collaboration #SystemsChange #India #SocialImpact

Rohan Jaiswal is one of Dasra Fellows. During his time with Dasra’s Urban Sanitation team, he has explored how collaboratives, cross-learning, and knowledge exchange can drive real change in tackling sanitation challenges. This experience has not only deepened his understanding of India’s sanitation landscape but also empowered him to contribute to innovative, sustainable solutions. Swipe through to hear Rohan’s reflections on his journey—with a special thanks to: Moutushi Sengupta, Aditya Vishwakarma, Nitesh Bauri, Husainbee Khan, Jagalinga Dhangar, Safa Ansari, Tanushka Singh, Karishma V, Uhanjali Yandrapu, Aujas Vashisth, Tanya Dikshit, Latisha Shah, Mahasweta Chakraborty, Mohammed Arshath Parvez M, Tanvi P. Naik, Ami Misra, Tamara Fernandes, Pragya B., Shreya Samant, Parnasha Banerjee, Rishma Saha, Mansi Rathore (She/Her), Kaveri Dhawan, Reshwin Noel Washington, Dhruv Mitter, Sahil Philip. Khyati Pokar, Anushka Dias (Wellbeing session) Shreya Narain, Surbhi Malu, Reethu Philomina, Shreya Sharma, Sneha Roy, Yashaswin Sridhar, Stuti Gupta, Gautham Pradeep, Abhishek Nair, Sidharth Patro, Yashaswini Pandit and the entire Dasra team

Invisible yet Indispensable. 80% of Delhi’s workforce is in the informal sector (WIEGO - Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing). They build our homes, clean our streets, drive us to work, and beautify our cities, yet their struggles remain unseen. Many face low wages, unsafe conditions, and limited access to education, healthcare, and social security. How can this change? Through organizing, collective action, and strong community support. For over three decades, Kislay has been working alongside informal workers in Delhi, ensuring they secure fair wages, essential services, and recognition for their contributions.  📌 42,000+ construction workers now access ₹40-50 lakhs in benefits, including maternity aid, pensions, and healthcare.    📌 Migrant children are enrolling in schools, thanks to sustained advocacy efforts with the government.    📌 Electricity and water access in slum communities has improved through collective action. This is why grassroots philanthropy matters. If we truly want to build an equitable society, we must invest in organizations closest to the problem—because they are leading real change. Read the blog to see how Kislay is making informal workers visible: https://lnkd.in/dMpcu3gR #OnGround #FieldVisits Anantvijay Singh Mahasweta Chakraborty

🎉Celebrating the Call for Solutions Journey! 🎉 𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉-𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒔.  Earlier last year, Dasra and YuWaah India at UNICEF launched the 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 (𝐂𝐅𝐒) 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞—an effort designed to work with 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬) presenting transformative potential in 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.      𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥? To create a collaborative platform that accelerates solutions and ensures young people are at the center of decision-making. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲:  🔹𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 – A 𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 played a key role in selecting solutions, reinforcing our belief that 𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉.   🔹 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. Through a structured learning journey, we co-created spaces with our 12 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 to 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬.This included 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬-𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 with sector leaders, government, and philanthropy—ensuring that learning remained dynamic, actionable, and deeply enriching for all     🔹 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐲 – We brought together 100+ 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 in convenings that spotlighted on-ground interventions and encouraged collective reflection, reinforcing the power of peer learning.    🔗 We are 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 #CallforSolutionsLearningsReport—a reflection of this collective effort, capturing insights and experiences that can shape the future of youth-focused impact. Please find the detailed report here: https://lnkd.in/d5ArH9-C This initiative wouldn’t have been possible without the invaluable support of 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔, 𝒋𝒖𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 and most importantly, our 12 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔 who embarked on this journey with open hearts and minds. Thank you for making this a success! Let’s keep pushing boundaries and scaling impactful youth solutions together! 💡🚀 Alohomora Education Foundation Antarang Foundation Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST) Chambal Media Child in Need Institute (CINI) Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy, ILS, Pune LetsEndorse Magic Bus India Foundation Pratham Skilling QUEST Alliance Salaam Bombay Foundation URJA TRUST

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Reaffirming Our Commitment to Family-Based Care The recently concluded National Consultation on Re-Affirming Family-Based Care in Maharashtra brought together 17 state governments, civil society organizations, and sector experts to strengthen efforts toward ensuring that every child grows up in a safe and nurturing family environment.   Hosted by UNICEF India and UBS Optimus Foundation, with Transform NEEV Collective and India Alternative Care Network (IACN) as technical partners, the two-day consultation reinforced the urgent need to prioritize family-based care over institutionalization. Key discussions focused on strengthening policies, advocating for family support services, and fostering collaborative solutions to advance child protection in India. The consultation concluded with a strong commitment from Ms. Aditi Sunil Tatkare, Hon. Minister for Women and Child Development, Government of Maharashtra, to advancing child protection and family-based care. The Transform #NEEV Collective, an initiative supported by #UBS Optimus Foundation is driven by partners Dasra, Prerana, Leher, Miracle Foundation, UNICEF and Sambodhi Research continues to work toward systemic change, ensuring that every child has the right to grow up in a family. Together, we are making family-based care a reality. #ForEveryChild | #NEEVCollective | #ChildRights | #FamilyBasedCare UNICEF India | #Leher | Prerana | Miracle Foundation India | Sambodhi Research and Communications Pvt. Ltd. | Dasra | India Alternative Care Network | UBS