Kalapandhari Magasvargiya and Adivasi Gramin Vikas Sanstha B.P. is a grounded activist who has been promoting the empowerment of women and girls for over two decades. He is an active member of the National and State Right to Education forum and is actively engaged in advocating for children’s right to education. Over the years he has implemented many projects and … Read More
Arvind Laxman Sakat
Partners for Urban Knowledge, Action and Research (PUKAR) Arvind has worked with tribal communities, street children, orphanages, people with HIV, female domestic workers, farmers, youth, and senior citizens. Currently, his work is focused around enhancing critical thinking among youth, and training them in research methodologies to create a cadre of “barefoot researchers.” The objective is to empower young men to … Read More
Anu Kaimal
Engendered Anu believes that women’s productivity at work could improve if they are given the right environment and opportunities. Having survived sexual harassment at the workplace, she recognizes the lack of redress in the legal and justice system for women in the informal sector. She aims to create safety and protection for women from sexual harassment at the workplace, end … Read More
Ashok Laxman Tangade
Jagarth Pratishthan Ashok leads grassroots campaigns and builds leadership. He is deeply committed to his work and understands the importance of a well-crafted advocacy strategy. Rise Up Together Cohort: India 2019
Amita Dharmaji Jadhav
Manas Foundation For more than a decade, Amita has directly engaged with tribal women on economic empowerment and participation in decision making in local self-governance on issues including reproductive health and nutrition, violence against women and girls, and property rights. She is generating awareness, building leadership, and organizing women around their rights to property. Amita has played an active role … Read More
Urmila Salunkhe
Urmila Salunkhe Program Officer – Akshara Centre Mumbai, Maharashtra – India Urmila has been involved with Akshara Centre since she received a scholarship from them as an adolescent. She has been employed officially with Akshara since 2007 working on their various campaigns for girls and youth including scholarship provision and technical training for 300 girls per year. Right now she … Read More
Shilpa Kashelkar
Shilpa Kashelkar Project Manager – Development Initiative for Self Help and Awakening (DISHA) Pune, Maharashtra – India Shilpa is a dedicated professional with more than 20 years of progressive and multifarious experience in Social Work and Interdisciplinary fields. She is a visiting faculty at the College of Social Work, Mumbai University. Shilpa has worked in the social field, primarily with … Read More
Savita Jadhav
Savita Jadhav Founder + Secretary – Sadhana Institute for Sustainable Development Pune, Maharashtra – India Savita grew up in and has been working in cantonments, which are former Army areas created by the British that don’t have the same bodies and governance as the rest of India. Her grandfather started the schools in her cantonment, where she studied psychology and … Read More
Sabah Khan
Sabah Khan Co-Founder and Managing Trustee – Parcham Consultant – Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai, Maharashtra – India Sabah is a feminist activist whose interests are minority rights with a focus on women. She follows this passion through her voluntary engagements. She co-founded Parcham, a group dedicated to breaking stereotypes based on religion, class, caste, gender and other markers … Read More
Ratnamala Sudesh Vaidhya
Ratnamala Sudesh Vaidhya Regional Coordinator – Mahila Raisatta Andolan Nagpur, Maharashtra – India Ratnamala is an elected representative at the village level. She works with elected women officials and women from the community in six districts and sees the value in building a connection between the two groups. She is especially interested in working with young women who are educated … Read More
