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On August 1st, I had the privilege of attending a transformative panel discussion "BAAT BHARAT KI" with Mr. Narendra Nath Damodaran, Former Executive Director of PRADAN, and Mr. Anshu Gupta, Founder of Goonj. Their enlightening insights on local self-governance and community engagement left a lasting impression Insights from Mr. Narendra Nath Damodaran: 1. Empowering Rural Communities: Highlighted PRADAN’s success in organizing women into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and collaborating with Panchayats in Jharkhand and Rajasthan, leading to sustainable, community-driven development. 2. Holistic View of Poverty: Emphasized poverty as a multifaceted issue encompassing lack of opportunities and dignity, beyond mere income. Despite reports of declining extreme poverty, he stressed the need for comprehensive solutions. 3. Women as Catalysts for Change: His conviction in women’s transformative power stems from years of firsthand experience, showcasing their critical role in driving social and economic progress. 4. Empowering Panchayats: Asserted that Panchayats can be powerful agents of grassroots change if provided with adequate resources and training. Insights from Mr. Anshu Gupta: 1. Redefining Development Issues: Shared the origin of his title “The Clothing Man,” underscoring clothing as a critical yet overlooked development issue. His journey from a corporate career to founding Goonj was fueled by a vision to address this gap. 2. Creating a Parallel Economy: Goonj’s innovative approach to a trash-based economy challenges traditional cash-based systems, promoting sustainable resource utilization and community involvement. 3. Community-Led Solutions: Goonj’s philosophy of involving financially and materially poor communities in designing their own solutions has resulted in dignified and sustainable development outcomes. 4. Dignity over Charity: Advocated for transforming the culture of charity into one that preserves dignity, a core principle evident in Goonj’s programs that turn discarded materials into valuable resources. These sessions reinforced the power of community participation and local governance in achieving sustainable development. The insights shared by Mr. Narendra and Mr. Anshu are invaluable as we continue our mission to create meaningful impact through Aspirational Bharat Collaborative. #AspirationalBharatCollaborative #Leadership #CommunityEmpowerment #SustainableDevelopment #LocalGovernance #Inspiration #PRADAN #Goonj Narendranath Damodaran Anshu Gupta

Empowering Rural Women: A Success Story   Delighted to share the heartening success story of Sheela Bheel, a resilient woman from the village of Kachri, Rajasthan. Her journey serves as a testament to the transformative power of empowerment initiatives led by AROH Foundation and LICHFL Financial Services Ltd Hriday. Sheela, a devoted wife and mother of three, grappled with the harsh realities of poverty alongside her husband, who worked tirelessly as a daily wage laborer. With inflation looming large, the burden of providing for their family weighed heavily on their shoulders, leaving little room for financial stability or growth. However, amidst these challenges, a beacon of hope emerged in the form of self-help groups spearheaded by Aroh Foundation and LIC HFL. Sheela seized the opportunity and became an active member of the Bijasen Mata Self Help Group in her village. Here, she found not only solidarity but also avenues for personal and financial empowerment. One such initiative that altered Sheela's life was the provision of an Aata Chakki (Wheat Flour Machine), a micro-enterprise aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of women in rural communities. Sheela's determination and hard work, coupled with the support of her fellow group members, led to her being unanimously chosen to receive the Aata Chakki. Since then, there has been no looking back for Sheela. The Aata Chakki became her source of income, enabling her to generate approximately 5500/- per month, a significant increase from her previous earnings. In just four months, she managed to earn a commendable 22000/-, a feat that not only uplifted her family's financial status but also paved the way for a brighter future for her children. Sheela's story is a shining example of how empowerment initiatives can break the cycle of poverty and pave the way for sustainable development in rural communities. Through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions, AROH Foundation and LIC HFL are making a tangible difference in the lives of countless individuals like Sheela, empowering them to chart their own path to prosperity. #Empowerment #SustainableDevelopment #CommunityImpact #ArohFoundation #LICHFL #RuralEmpowerment

Tata Steel Foundation’s initiatives in Baliapal and Basta blocks of Balasore are fostering a movement of women empowerment and community transformation. Through the establishment of over 144 women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs), more than 427 women from rural and tribal communities have gained the skills and resources needed to create sustainable livelihoods. A Milk Product Processing Unit, the Radharani SHG,where 13 women from Pratappur village produce paneer, ghee, chennapoda, yoghurt, and rabdi. Their products have found a strong foothold in local markets, with the group earning a collective profit of approximately ₹74,000 last fiscal year. Similarly, the women involved in Sabai handicrafts have seen their income grow, with 165 women from 70 SHGs producing beautiful items like flower vases, fruit trays, and table mats. Their dedication has led to collective earnings of around ₹2 lakh in the past year, enabling them to support their families and gain financial independence. Another example is the Appliqué Centre, consisting of 18 SHGs with 30 women who have sold products worth ₹29 lakh in one year, earning them the Best OGOP (One GP One Product) award for 2023–24 from the State Government of Odisha. These stories highlight the profound impact of community's efforts in providing skills training, market linkages and financial literacy. Share this inspiring journey of empowerment and transformation. #WomenEmpowerment #CommunityTransformation #TataSteelFoundation #SelfHelpGroups #RuralDevelopment #TribalCommunities #SustainableLivelihoods #WomenInBusiness [Women Empowerment, Community Transformation, Self Help Groups, Tribal Communities, Rural Development, Women In Business, Sustainable Livelihood, Tata Steel Foundation, TSF]

📰✂️ Proud Moment Alert! 📰✂️ It's a moment of immense pride as our efforts towards rural empowerment are making waves! Under the aegis of the Rajasthan Grameen Aajiveeka Vikas Parishad, a program was organized in Ramseen, led by District Manager Gaurav Pol. During the event, 9 sewing machines were distributed to needy women associated with the livelihood group, aiming to foster economic independence and stability within families. Sarpanch Parmar emphasized the importance of women's participation in such groups, enabling them to become self-reliant pillars of their households. Omprakash, the Gram Development Officer, highlighted how initiatives like these provide women with opportunities for self-sufficiency, including access to low-interest loans for entrepreneurship. Additionally, free sewing machines are being provided to women in need, along with subsidized ones for group members, to promote domestic entrepreneurship. District Manager Gaurav Pol stressed the need for increased awareness among women in Jalore district about such initiatives. Understanding the objectives and work style of these programs can empower women to become self-sufficient contributors to their families and communities. This event witnessed the presence of enthusiastic individuals like Mukesh Kumar, Krishna Kumar Garg, Prakash Kumar, Kumkum Chauhan, Radheshyam, and Surajdevi Solanki, alongside our beloved Animal and Agriculture Friends. Together, we're building a stronger, more self-reliant rural society! 🌱💼 #RuralEmpowerment #CommunityDevelopment #SustainableGrowth

The places where we hail from tend to evoke nostalgia even if we no longer live there. Those migrating or even ones living in rural areas often tend to think or focus on what their communities are lacking. Organisations like Goonj flip the question and ask communities what their places/communities are rich in - knowledge, skills, insights, cultural practices, and natural resources. They enable them to think about what they have and thereby instil a collective sense of pride. Goonj even challenges established social sector vocabulary and ditches the use of words like ‘charity’, ‘donors’, ‘beneficiaries’, ‘poor’, etc. Instead, the emphasis is on valuing people for the skills, wisdom and strengths they have. Gram Swabhimaan Shapath (pledge) and Gram Swabhimaan Diwar (dignity wall) are leveraged to invoke pride and connection to the place! 💚 Rainmatter Foundation has partnered with Goonj to support their work towards Gram Swabhimaan to foster village empowerment and development by catalysing collective participation, setting positive narratives, building environmental consciousness and capacitating youth to encourage a solution-based approach for complex issues such as environmental resilience. 🤝  ~~~~~~ What you see in the images: Slide 2 - A girl pens her and her village’s name on a copy of the Gram Swabhimaan Shapath (pledge) in Rajasthan, India Slide 3 - Women tying a knot with strands of cloth on the rope as part of Gram Swabhimaan in Maharashtra, India Slide 4 - Gram Swabhimaan Diwar - a dignity wall in Maharashtra, India Slide 5 - Founder of Goonj, Anshu Gupta holding a copy of the Gram Swabhimaan Shapath with villagers in Rajasthan, India —------------------------------------------- Know more about the work that Rainmatter partners like Goonj is doing by joining our forum, Grove - https://lnkd.in/g27-F-DQ 🔗 #thoughtleaders #rural #pride #thinklocal #localknowledge #changingmindsets #traditionalknowledge

Vedanta Group has revamped around 1450 anganwadis in Varanasi, and renamed them as Nand Ghars, reports Ayantika Pal of The Times Of India in a story that sheds light on the UP government's efforts to modernise anganwadis. Read more: http://bit.ly/3tORdZO #TransformingIndia #TransformingLives 

  Rebuild is now 174 strong!    What to Expect from our 6th cohort of grassroots NGOs?    a. Expanded Presence: We have extended our reach to new states including Haryana, Nagaland, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh. Rebuild is now in 25 states and covers of 60% India's aspirational districts!    b. Clear exit strategies: Planning exit strategies for NGOs can help tackle systems change and help with actualizing long-term sustainability. In this cohort, we have organizations that implement projects with sustainable exit strategies to ensure long-term community resilience.    c. Behavioral Change: We have partnered with community-based organizations that are bringing change to social norms and behaviour.     d. AI on Ground: We have also identified and partnered with grassroots organizations that are embracing cutting-edge technology, including AI, to drive impactful on-ground solutions.    Our partners expand our learning and knowledge about communities while building evidence for trust-based philanthropy!    Are you interested in knowing more?    #RebuildIndiaFund #nonproft #flexiblefunding    Rashtriya Jharkhand Seva Sansthan Association For Social and Human Awareness Pro Rural Centre For Aquatic Livelihood | Jaljeevika GRASSROOT SHILLONG St.Thomas Charitable and Educational Trust Chetana Child And Women Welfare Society Kankura Masat Welfare Society Sri Arunodayam Charitable Trust SAMA FOUNDATION Rural Education and Development (READ) India PraveenLata Sansthan Foundation Vikalp Sansthan Women's Organisation in Rural Development (WORD) Lohardaga Gram Swarajya Sansthan (LGSS) Anchalik Samrudhi Sadhana Anusthan Shikhar YUVA Manch - India 

As a team, the way we try to ensure our work is thorough and check for better scope of greater output is by - revisiting our basics. Going over what we have done to keep upgrading our work, project after project - finding spaces of improvement in all layers is what allows us to offer help in all ways possible. . . #RangoliatTresna #shapinglivelihood #GrowingwithTresna ( NGO - Tresna - Rangoli Bakshi - non proft - organisation - foundation - team - family - lives - Villages - Gujarat - India - Rural )

If you ever need proof that one person can truly make a difference, just look at what Popatrao Pawar did for Hiware Bazar. Hiware Bazar, a small village in Maharashtra, was once struggling. The people faced big problems like lack of water, poverty, and many were leaving to find a better life elsewhere. The village was in such a bad state that even government workers didn’t want to be sent there. But Popatrao Pawar came back to his village when he could have easily stayed in the city for a more comfortable life. Instead, he chose to lead the change. Elected as the village leader, he didn’t have fancy plans or big money. What he had was a simple, powerful idea - bring everyone together to work for a better future. With the villagers, he made important changes, like saving water, stopping alcohol, and encouraging everyone to help out. Slowly but surely, the village started to turn around. They built systems to collect rainwater, grew more crops, and incomes began to rise. Families that had left the village started to return, filled with new hope. Today, Hiware Bazar is known across the country for its success. The village has enough water, every child goes to school, and it has become a shining example for others to follow. Under Pawar’s leadership, the village went from having most families living in poverty to almost none. And what’s even better is that other villages have started to use the same ideas to improve their own communities. Popatrao Pawar’s story touched me personally. It reminded me of why we started TEDxGateway - to share stories that show how real change can happen, even from the smallest actions. His work proves that when people come together with a common goal, they can achieve the impossible. His story also makes me think: what can we each do to make the world around us a little better? It shows us that real change starts with small steps and a strong belief in what’s possible. If you haven’t seen his TEDx talk yet, I really encourage you to watch it here. It’s a powerful reminder of how one person’s vision can change an entire village. I feel so much joy in working with individuals that create such movements! If you have an idea worth sharing with the world or know someone worth featuring on our TEDx stage - add it to comments below #inspiration #communitychange #sustainabledevelopment #TEDx

Rural women groups such as the Adarsh Ajeevika Mahila Samooh from India, and the Twaweza Women’s Group of Tanzania, are leading transformation in their rice-planting communities as promoters of direct seeded rice (DSR) and producers of certified quality seed respectively. Creating an enabling and empowering environment for rural women supported by inclusive policies, accessible financial support, and comprehensive education, can help improve their food and income security. 🔗 Check out these stories: Engaging Women Farmers in Direct Seeded Rice System in Jharkhand 👉 https://bit.ly/4e8HKxQ Tanzanian women farmers emerge as leaders in quality seed production and higher rice production 👉 https://bit.ly/4fUPXHV