Changing Lives, One Village At A Time: How PRADAN Is Empowering Women In Rural India

Poverty is arguably the most pertinent affliction in our country. The stark gap between the haves and the have-nots widens as time passes. Most of the elite thrive in their bubbles of privilege and are completely disconnected from the daily woes and struggles of the common person. In such trying times, it becomes the foremost duty of every citizen to aid those less fortunate than them. After all, what is the use of privilege if one does not use it to uplift the underprivileged?

This brings me to the brilliant initiative PRADAN, created in 1983 by two young professionals, Deep Joshi and Vijay Mahajan. They firmly believed that the persistent and widespread poverty in rural India could be resolved or at least drastically alleviated. They were convinced that educated professionals had the necessary understanding and expertise to uplift the lives of impoverished individuals by actively engaging with the rural communities. Joshi and Mahajan's noble dream was to change the India they lived in.

The duo believed that grassroots work in the spirit of pradan (a Hindi word that translates to ‘giving back’), can be a fulfilling and rewarding vocation for educated men and women towards society. It was in this spirit that Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) was born to systematically train these well-educated people enabling them to assist those in poverty. These professionals are recruited from universities and come from many diverse fields such as management, engineering, agriculture, and the social sciences. They are selected both for their empathy as well as their technical expertise.

PRADAN operates in India's most impoverished areas; assisting marginalized communities with forming groups that enable individuals, particularly women, to earn a respectable income and provide for their families. Additionally, they facilitate access to government initiatives and other rights these individuals are entitled to as citizens. Their primary emphasis is on women, as they firmly believe that even those deemed most disadvantaged in society have the potential to instigate necessary transformations.

We are all familiar with the proverb “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime". PRADAN's main objective is to empower individuals in marginalized communities by helping them develop their own skills and initiatives, instead of simply providing them with services or solutions. Through hands-on experience, they learn how to create a sustainable livelihood and gain access to the necessary information to effectively engage with government authorities and other influential individuals. PRADAN has observed that when people feel empowered, regardless of their caste or gender, they are able to assert their rights and advocate for themselves. The organization strives for a comprehensive and positive transformation in the social, psychological, and economic well-being of these individuals; enabling them to take control of their lives and actively participate in society.

Additionally, PRADAN collaborates with other civil society organizations and the government to shape development policies. They firmly believe that their grassroots efforts and partnerships will result in significant and widespread positive change; ultimately influencing society as a whole.

Since its inception, PRADAN has been working with the government and over the years, have played a primary role in developing programs such as IRDP, SGSY, and the National Rural Livelihood Mission. They have brought about real change at the ground level through their flagship projects like LEAP, PROWFIT, ASSET, and START. They persist in striving for lasting and self-sustaining change, introducing expertise and structures that empower women, families, and communities to harness their own capabilities and live fulfilling lives. Currently, over 407 young professionals are actively engaged in 25,421 remote villages in India and work closely with the target communities across seven of the most impoverished states in India.

Follow the non-profit organization, PRADAN here.

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