Pradan

Pradan Along with its partners, PRADAN works with 3.4 million households.

PRADAN is a non-profit organisation working with rural communities across ten states in India to strengthen livelihoods and promote dignified, self-reliant lives. Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) works to reduce poverty, changing lives and choices for the poorest communities in rural India.

The Grassroots Leadership Fellowship, jointly facilitated by PRADAN and SEWA Cooperative Federation, is a structured cap...
26/04/2026

The Grassroots Leadership Fellowship, jointly facilitated by PRADAN and SEWA Cooperative Federation, is a structured capacity-building initiative to strengthen leadership, governance, and decision-making among grassroots women leaders in collective enterprises. It focuses on nurturing confident and accountable leadership within Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Women’s Collective Enterprises (WCEs).

Through a phased learning approach, covering personal growth, collective practices, and strategic leadership, the fellowship enables participants to strengthen their leadership roles, improve institutional functioning, and ensure long-term sustainability of their collectives.

As part of this, a graduation ceremony was held in Dumka, Jharkhand, for 22 Board of Director members from 8 FPOs across Dumka and Godda districts who participated in the fellowship. Conducted over six months, the program combined classroom sessions with exposure visits to SEWA Bharat-supported cooperatives in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, building a strong cohort of grassroots leaders.

The event was graced by Ms. Nisha Kullu (District Agriculture Officer, Dumka), Mr. Rajendra Prasad (District Horticulture Officer, Dumka), and Ms. Mirai Chatterjee (Director, SEWA Social Security), among others. They appreciated the fellowship and shared insights on relevant government schemes, emphasizing the importance of convergence.

An exhibition showcasing pulses, spices, and organic bio-inputs produced by FPO women was also organized during the event.

Story credit: Anshika Singh




Employed Women's Association- SEWA

PRADAN has recently initiated its work in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. As part of this, we conducted our first bl...
25/04/2026

PRADAN has recently initiated its work in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. As part of this, we conducted our first block-level orientation with key stakeholders in Aheri Block, Gadchiroli, an aspirational district under the NEEV–Sampanna Vidarbha initiative.

The orientation organised in the presence of Shri Ganesh Chavan, Block Development Officer (BDO), Aheri, marked an important step towards building institutional convergence and strengthening collaborative partnerships at the block level. It brought together 32 officials from UMED–MSRLM, Panchayat Samiti, Gram Panchayats, and the Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra.

The session introduced PRADAN’s development approach and the vision of the initiative, with a focus on role clarity, coordinated action, and long-term engagement. It also enabled meaningful dialogue, alignment on priorities, and strengthened ownership across departments.

Key discussions included learnings from an exposure visit to Raipur, Chhattisgarh, along with reflections on local challenges, laying the groundwork for context-responsive interventions.

This orientation marks a strong beginning for PRADAN’s engagement in Gadchiroli, setting the foundation for collaborative and sustainable livelihood efforts in the region.

About the Initiative:
NEEV–Sampanna Vidarbha initiative in collaboration with Tata Trusts aims to strengthen rural livelihoods in Gadchiroli and Gondia districts of Maharashtra through women-led, climate-resilient approaches across agriculture and allied sectors. Focused on income enhancement, ecological sustainability, and convergence with government schemes, it is designed as a scalable model for inclusive rural development.



CMOMaharashtra

India’s working-age population is at a historic high. Yet millions of young women remain on the margins of the labour ma...
25/04/2026

India’s working-age population is at a historic high. Yet millions of young women remain on the margins of the labour market.

A large share of rural young women are neither in education, employment, nor training. Even among those who work, most are concentrated in informal roles with limited security, stability, or growth.

Our report in collaboration with JustJobs Network, “What Does it Take? Rural Women, Migration, and the Road to Work”, slated to be launched on April 30th, examines why this gap persists.

From the scale of the NEET challenge to disparities in job quality, from skills and employability to the role of social identity, the findings underline a central issue: participation alone does not translate into meaningful work.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Network

Beyond Representation: Building Women’s Leadership in PanchayatsThis National Panchayati Raj Day, the conversation moves...
24/04/2026

Beyond Representation: Building Women’s Leadership in Panchayats

This National Panchayati Raj Day, the conversation moves beyond participation to preparedness, because strong Panchayats are built when elected representatives, especially women, are equipped to lead.

In the Banka district, Bihar, PRADAN, in collaboration with the Department of Panchayati Raj at the district level, has been working for over four years to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions through focused capacity-building efforts.

Over the last financial year, 25+ training events engaged 1,300+ participants, including Panchayat representatives, functionaries, and CLF leaders. These covered LSDG themes (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9), Village Prosperity and Resilience Plans (VPRP), Own Source Revenue (OSR), low/zero-budget planning, and GPDP processes, from planning and budgeting to implementation and monitoring.

At the heart of this effort were exclusive trainings for Elected Women Representatives (EWRs), focused on strengthening their understanding of governance systems, enhancing their role in decision-making, and building confidence to lead Panchayat processes.

Because when women don’t just occupy seats but shape decisions, local governance becomes more inclusive, accountable, and resilient.



& Collector, Banka

On this National Panchayati Raj Day, we celebrate the spirit of grassroots governance, where Gram Panchayats are driving...
24/04/2026

On this National Panchayati Raj Day, we celebrate the spirit of grassroots governance, where Gram Panchayats are driving meaningful transformation at the community level.

Across 454 Gram Panchayats in Kanker district, Chhattisgarh, Gram Panchayat Development Planning (GPDP) is emerging as a powerful platform for data-driven, participatory, and inclusive governance. Guided by the Department of Panchayati Raj and strengthened through collaboration between the district administration and PRADAN, Panchayats are shaping plans that reflect real community priorities.

A strong capacity-building ecosystem has been created through 358 training initiatives, including technical training on digital GPDP tools, governance modules, Elected Women Representatives (EWR) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) strengthening sessions across blocks, and workshops at Zila Panchayat, Kanker. These efforts are enhancing planning quality, strengthening digital adoption, and deepening participatory governance.

As a result, 1,229 PRI members, including 254 EWRs, have been trained to lead the process at the grassroots level. Additionally, 456 Sachivs and departmental representatives are working towards improving convergence, coordination, and effective implementation across schemes.

At the forefront of this transformation, EWRs are strengthening transparency, promoting inclusion, and shaping more responsive local governance systems.

PRADAN hosted a panel on “Women-Led Climate Resilience: Scaling Local Solutions for Systemic Impact” at the Climate Asia...
23/04/2026

PRADAN hosted a panel on “Women-Led Climate Resilience: Scaling Local Solutions for Systemic Impact” at the Climate Asia Annual Conference 2026.

The session was moderated by Manas Kumar Satpathy (Lead, Centre of Excellence–Climate Action, PRADAN) and featured an eminent panel including Dhruvi Shah (Axis Bank Foundation), Namita Mishra (Foundation for Ecological Security), Radha Thakur (Reliance Foundation), Deeksha Supyaal Bist (Ministry of Rural Development), and Abhishek Jain (Council on Energy, Environment and Water).

The discussion explored how climate change disproportionately impacts women, while also highlighting their critical role in driving climate resilience. Panelists shared grounded insights on leveraging community institutions like SHGs, CLFs, and VOs, not just as platforms for adoption, but as spaces where women emerge as leaders and promoters of climate-resilient livelihoods and structures.



Asia

Three women. Three villages. One quiet shift under shade nets in Jharkhand.For years, farming in the villages of Beram, ...
22/04/2026

Three women. Three villages. One quiet shift under shade nets in Jharkhand.

For years, farming in the villages of Beram, Durgapur, and Merudaru moved with the monsoon; uncertain, seasonal, and limiting. But in 2026, things began to change.

Mayno Devi of Beram village had spent years farming in a familiar rhythm; paddy, maize, pulses, repeat. Yet her land remained idle in ways she couldn’t quite name: no irrigation, no protection from the harsh sun, and little reason to try anything beyond what had always been done. Then, in January 2026, a shade net went up over her plot. Drip lines threaded through the soil. And five hundred capsicum saplings on 0.06 acres of land, fed on organic preparations she had been trained to make herself, took root in land that had only ever known subsistence—earning her ₹12,000.

Around the same time, in Durgapur village, Pinki Kumari chose a different path, one her neighbours considered risky. She had been growing groundnut: low risk, low return, dependable but limiting. But after seeing capsicum cultivation under shade nets, she decided to try something new, despite the doubts around her, on her 0.06 acres of land—earning a profit of ₹10,640.

In Merudaru, on a small 0.06 acres of land, Phool Kumari was already seeing results. Despite challenges like aphids and wilt, and with consistent technical guidance, she harvested 350 kg of capsicum, earning a net profit of ₹11,500 from that small piece of land.

Three women. Three villages separated by hours of road. Yet in the season of 2026, in just around three months, something connected them that went beyond geography, a shared willingness to ask more of their land, and of themselves.

This was possible with the support of IndiGo Reach in collaboration with PRADAN which brought structures like shade nets, drip irrigation, training in organic inputs like Shivansh Khaad and Jeevamrit, and access to markets through the Farmer Producer Companies. But structure alone doesn’t grow anything. What grew in Beram, Durgapur, and Merudaru was something older and harder to engineer: the belief that things could be different.

Story credit: Ankit Kumar Paul




IndiGo

Earth Day | Forests for a Better EarthAt PRADAN, we have adopted a strategy to 'Protect - Restore - Regenerate' to ensur...
22/04/2026

Earth Day | Forests for a Better Earth

At PRADAN, we have adopted a strategy to 'Protect - Restore - Regenerate' to ensure livelihoods and ecology grow together in rural India. In doing so, our close association with communities out there helped us realise forests are not just landscapes — they are production systems, regenerative economic spaces, and the foundation of ecological balance.

Forests sustain livelihoods, protect biodiversity, and act as powerful shields against climate change and:

🌳 Absorb nearly 30% of global carbon emissions

🌳 Support millions of forest-dependent communities

🌳 Hold the key to a healthier, more balanced planet

Every tree in a forest has a story, a purpose, and vital ecosystem services.
Natural forests cannot be recreated—while we can plant orchards and gardens, a true forest takes decades, even centuries, to evolve.
When a forest tree is lost, an entire ecosystem built over years is lost with it.

So, this 🌏, here's to the forests for restoring balance — between people, ecology, and the planet.

Better forests. Better Earth. Better future.

PRADAN organised a three-day orientation programme on Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) in Kanker district, ...
22/04/2026

PRADAN organised a three-day orientation programme on Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) in Kanker district, Chhattisgarh. The programme brought together 22 co-learners, including Development Apprentices and Executives from PRADAN, and focused on building a clear understanding of INRM. It also introduced Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools and their role in planning, with discussions on reducing resource exploitation and ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience.

Participants explored different types of resources, both natural and human-made and reflected on their responsible use, conservation, and community ownership. The sessions also covered successful INRM models from Chhattisgarh, along with key concepts such as the ridge-to-valley approach, stakeholder mapping, and water budgeting, helping connect theory with field realities.

The field exposure component strengthened practical learning, as participants engaged with communities using PRA tools like social and resource mapping, and transect walks. The focus was on understanding the “why” behind interventions. A key takeaway was that interventions must be need-based, with structures designed according to local demand to ensure sustainability and ownership.
The programme also highlighted the need to strengthen technical understanding of watershed structures. Participants will now apply their learnings in the field and return with insights for the next phase.

Overall, the orientation created a strong space for collective learning and reflection on natural resource management.

Story credit: Team Kanker, PRADAN

At the Climate Asia Annual Conference 2026, we are excited to host a panel on Women-Led Climate Resilience: Scaling Loca...
21/04/2026

At the Climate Asia Annual Conference 2026, we are excited to host a panel on Women-Led Climate Resilience: Scaling Local Solutions for Systemic Impact.

Join us for the discussion! Request your invite for the conference here: https://climateasiaconference2026.lovable.app/
Last few hours to register for the conference!

We are pleased to welcome an esteemed panel of speakers who bring diverse expertise and valuable perspectives to this discussion:
🔶Dhruvi Shah, Axis Bank Foundation
🔶Namita Mishra, Foundation for Ecological Security
🔶Radha Thakur, Lead - Climate Resilience and Livelihood initiatives under the Rural Transformation Program, Reliance Foundation
🔶Abhishek Jain, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)
🔶Deeksha Supyaal Bist, Assistant Commissioner, Rural Employment, MoRD
🔶Manas Kumar Satpathy (Moderator), PRADAN

The discussion will explore how women’s leadership can strengthen adaptation efforts and how policies, grassroots institutions, finance, and partnerships can help scale women-led climate action.



Asia

“The market has come to our doorstep” — Surodhini MarandiShikaripara block in Dumka, Jharkhand, is witnessing a shift, o...
21/04/2026

“The market has come to our doorstep” — Surodhini Marandi
Shikaripara block in Dumka, Jharkhand, is witnessing a shift, one that is unfolding under the harsh summer sun, bringing both relief and new income opportunities to women farmers.

In Sulunga village, the Amrapara MPA (Micro Production Aggregate/Cluster), a sub-unit of around 150–200 farmers led by 47 women farmers, has transformed dry, vacant fields into vibrant stretches of pumpkin cultivation across 17 acres.

What once lay barren during peak summer is now alive with green, a powerful testament to what collective effort and the right support can achieve. Earlier, these lands remained uncultivated due to extreme heat, water scarcity, and open grazing.

With training support from PRADAN under Axis Bank Limited’s initiative, along with strengthened market linkages, these women adopted regenerative agriculture practices. They have earned ₹5,000–₹8,000 from early summer pumpkin harvests, along with an additional ₹10,000–12,000 from crops like chilli and brinjal.
Farming here is no longer just an activity, it is becoming a shared journey of learning, earning, and growing together.

Among them is Surodhini Marandi from Sulunga village, whose experience captures this transformation vividly. This season marked a first for her. Standing at her doorstep, she sold 500 kg of pumpkins at ₹10 per kg, earning ₹5,000 in a single harvest, without having to travel to the haat or worry about uncertain sales.

Story credit: Santam Majumder




Axis Bank

- requesting all interested candidates to read the job description and eligibility criteria carefully before applyi...
20/04/2026


- requesting all interested candidates to read the job description and eligibility criteria carefully before applying by clicking on this link: https://www.pradan.net/other-opportunities/ or by scanning the QR code.

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#3, Community Shopping Centre, Neeti Bagh
Delhi
110049

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 6pm
Thursday 9:30am - 6pm
Friday 9:30am - 6pm
Saturday 9:30am - 6pm

Telephone

+911141630455

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