Diksha

https://www.dikshaworld.org/

Founded: 2001

Geographical Focus: West Bengal

Organization Overview:

The organization aims to empower children residing in and around red-light areas to break an intergenerational cycle of forced entry into sex work and has created a safe space for children within these vulnerable communities to report any form of distress. Diksha has enabled this through a model focused on building youth leadership who are trained and mentored to become the first points of contact for any child in a situation where they are feeling unsafe. Youth leaders and women’s collectives built by Diksha are now trained to address community issues and sensitive cases independently, especially in areas like Kalighat where sex work is prevalent.

NGO List

  • Grameen Sahara

    grameensahara.org

    Founded: 2002

    Headquarters: Chhaygaon, Assam

    Geographical Focus: Assam, Meghalaya

    Lives Impacted: 50,000+

    Organization Overview:

    Grameen Sahara was set up to respond to the unique development challenges of the North-Eastern states. They work with farmers, weavers, and artisans from families from Other Backward Caste (OBC) communities below the poverty line, living in remote villages of Assam and Meghalaya, and focus on promoting livelihoods through financial services, agri-tech innovations, and community integration.

  • Gramin Shiksha Kendra 

    www.graminshiksha.org.in

    Founded: 2002

    Geographical Focus: Rajasthan 

    Organization Overview:

    Gramin Shiksha Kendra was established in response to rural communities’ demand for quality education in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. Their aim is to focus on transforming education perceptions in the community. Through the Uday Community Education Program, the organization empowers communities to lead change, combining service delivery with education. Over nearly two decades, the priority is to eradicate caste and gender discrimination in accessing quality education and fundamental rights. The organization collaborates with children, parents, teachers, adolescent girls, youth, and indigenous De-notified and Nomadic communities in Ranthambhor, fostering confidence and capacities for overcoming present and future challenges in their growth journey. 

  • Gramin Swavlamban Samiti (GSS)

    https://gssindia.org/tkg/

    Founded: 2002

    Headquarters: Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh 

    Geographical Focus: Madhya Pradesh

    Lives Impacted: 100,000+

    Organization Overview:

    Gramin Swavlamban Samiti, founded by Rajkumar Ahirwar, works with migrant workers, bonded labours, women and children from various Dalit communities (Valmiki, Banskar and Chamar) across Bundelkhand region. They aim to empower the communities to become self-reliant by intervening in safe migration practices, education and reducing violence against women. 

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  • HALO Medical Foundation (Health and Auto Learning)

    www.halomedicalfoundation.org

    Founded: 1992

    Headquarters: Osmanabad, Maharashtra

    Geographical Focus: Maharashtra

    Lives Impacted: 200,000+

    Organization Overview:

    HALO Foundation works with survivors of domestic violence, single women and children of single women from Scheduled Caste (Mahar and Mang)/ Scheduled Tribe / OBC (Chambar and Dhor) communities. They do this through various health support initiatives and crisis intervention support for survivors of domestic violence. HALO also works with community members to build a cadre of health workers capable of  identifying and treating minor illnesses.

  • Hill Social Welfare

    http://kalimponghsws.org

    Founded: 2000

    Headquarters: Kalimpong, West Bengal

    Geographical Focus: West Bengal

    Lives Impacted: 10,000+

    Organization Overview:

    Registered in 2000, HSHW works in the districts of Darjeeling & Kalimpong focusing on marginalized communities such as semi-literates, migrants, slum and pavement dwellers, sex workers, women farmers and indigenous tribes like Tamang, Bhutias, Dukpa Subba, Lepcha and Sherpas. HSHW works on several social issues based on community demand and works across the sectors of health, education, social and economic development.

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  • Human Organization for Patronizing Environment (HOPE)

    Founded: 2008

    Headquarters: New Delhi

    Geographical Focus: Jammu & Kashmir

    Lives Impacted: 90,000+

    Organization Overview:

    HOPE works to improve livelihoods and combat gender-based violence prevalent in the Scheduled Tribe Gujjar communities and especially the Bakarwal communities in J&K. Beyond the remoteness of location, national and local political agendas adversely impact the existing uncertainties in the area. HOPE identified agriculture as a core theme during its inception but has since evolved basis community needs.

  • Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation

    https://www.hrf.net.in/

    Founded: 1993  

    Geographical Focus: Tamil Nadu 

    Organization Overview:

    Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation is a women led organization led by Tamalarasi a proximate leader. The organization supports both networks and communities through investing in capacity building of both the stakeholders basis their requirements with the larger aim that the learnings from these training are then taken forward and disseminated with the larger community at a village level. The organization also works with the governance bodies by taking inputs from them on the compendium that the organization has created, which has information on all acts, reforms, entitlements and rights of the community. Subsequently, training is conducted with networks and village representatives to help build their capacities. The organization also works with representatives from other districts and smaller CBOs to extend their reach further within the state. 

  • Institute of Self Management (ISM) 

    https://ismmadurai.1ngo.in/

    Founded: 1983

    Headquarters: Madurai, Tamil Nadu

    Geographical Focus: Tamil Nadu

    Lives Impacted: 50,000+

    Organization Overview:

    Institute of Self Management (ISM) aims to facilitate social and gender justice. They work in urban and rural districts of Madurai, Theni, Kodaikanal and Dindigul in Tamil Nadu with Paraiyar, Arunthathiyar, Paliyar, Pulaiyar and Narikuravar communities by mobilizing informal and unorganized workers and underserved women from the community to enable agency while building leadership within the communities. 

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  • Integrated Rural Community Development Society (IRCDS) 

    http://www.ircds.org/

    Founded: 1979  

    Geographical Focus: Tamil Nadu 

    Organization Overview:

    Led by Jeevanandam, a proximate leader from a small farmer’s family in the Shivgangai district. IRCDS provides need-based support to vulnerable communities across Shivgangai and intervenes across various social vulnerabilities associated with bonded labour, education, health (TB and HIV), and social protection. IRCDS’s approach entails system strengthening by working with government stakeholders to identify core community-level challenges while strengthening scheme implementation at the grassroots level. The organization has been able to build trust within the community and remains accessible to community members at all times for any form of support.

  • Integrated Social and Institutional Development for Empowerment (InSIDE- North East) 

    www.insidenortheast.org

    Founded: 2013

    Geographical Focus: Manipur

    Lives impacted: 14,400+

    Organization Overview:


    InSIDE Northeast    , under the leadership of Hejang, focuses on uplifting marginalized communities in remote, conflict-affected regions of Manipur. Through interventions in livelihoods, education, youth development, and peacebuilding, the organization supports the Kuki, Naga, and Nepali communities. By providing skill-based training to women, running education centers for children and youth, and organizing cultural and sports events, InSIDE Northeast fosters holistic development. Its emphasis on peace and conflict resolution through awareness camps promotes reconciliation and harmony among diverse groups. Committed to sustainable progress, InSIDE Northeast plays a pivotal role in cultivating a resilient and inclusive society in Northeast India.

  • Jago Foundation

    www.jagofoundation.org

    Founded: 1997

    Headquarters: Giridih, Jharkhand

    Geographical Focus: Jharkhand

    Lives Impacted: 37,000+

    Organization Overview:

    Jago Foundation primarily works with children from economically poor communities of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and others residing in mica-mining, forest & Naxal-affected rural regions of Jharkhand. It works to prevent child labor, child marriage, child abuse and trafficking by primarily investing in education along with health and other government services.

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  • Jan Chetna Sansthan (JCS)

    Founded: 1990

    Headquarters: Sirohi, Rajasthan

    Geographical Focus: Rajasthan

    Lives Impacted: 350 villages

    Organization Overview:

    JCS works in 5 blocks in the districts of Sirohi focusing on communities marginalized based on caste & economic status including Dalits (Meghwal, Koli, Bhaiwal), Religious minorities, and Tribals (Garasiya, Bhils, and Gameti). Interventions include the formation and capacity building of Sangathans at the grassroots for the implementation of various government social security schemes and micro-finance initiatives.