a black and white photo of a wall clock--nonprofit humour

It’s 2016

How much has really changed?
by Shriya Roy | 2 min read

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The image shows an elderly male voter inside a polling booth station in a village. He stands in front of a table as a polling booth officer applies blue ink to his index finger.--local self-governance

From the village to the Republic
The idea of local self-governance has been a key part of India’s political imagination. However, development has often meant centralisation, undermining communities’ rights over jal, jangal, and zameen.
hexagonal lattice stone windows--queer-affirmative therapy

Therapist training in India overlooks queer experiences
Why is queer-affirmative mental health therapy so inaccessible and expensive? A key reason may be the absence of queer-focused pedagogies in psychology education.
a paper-mache figurine of Santa Claus and a camel--paper-mache in Kashmir

Tariffs, war, and a 600-year-old craft: Kashmir’s paper-mache artisans face uncertainty
From intricate masks to Christmas ornaments, Kashmiri paper-mache has long served an international market. As global political and economic conflicts disrupt exports, artisans fear a loss of not just livelihoods, but identity.
A collage showing field documentation activities: on the left, two people sit on a bamboo floor inside a small rural shop during an interview; on the right, a group walks through a forested area above an image of a man filming with a camera on a tripod outdoors--fellowships

Three fellows in a boat
A free-flowing conversation among three social sector fellows on public policy and the importance of youth led development in shaping a better Tripura.
two men in a forest, one squatting on the floor and the other standing--Baiga

In Chhattisgarh, Baiga Adivasis map their food, forest, and fires
Gaining habitat rights under the Forest Rights Act has changed the Baiga community’s relationship with the forest, as they revive indigenous knowledge and map resources to manage ecological balance.

Bite-sized stories from the people closest to the action.


A day in the life of

Frontline workers and first responders share their insights from working at the grassroots.
A picture of Parmeet in black t-shirt and blue jeans, sitting on a couch--deaf community

A book club, sign language, and our fight for Deaf rights
A day in the life of a Deaf student and founder of a book club as he strives for awareness, inclusion, and building a shared space for the Deaf community.
a female forest guard puts out a forest fire in Mewar Biodiversity Park, Udaipur district, Rajasthan--forest guard

Why conservation needs connection: Guarding Rajasthan’s forests
A day in the life of a forest guard, who navigates gender roles, community needs, and conservation in Rajasthan.
Women in a village standing in a group and talking_mental health stigma

From self to society: Navigating silence and stigma around mental health
A day in the life of a community health worker in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, who tackles mental health stigma through trust and support—in her own life and for the people she serves.

Social change leaders chronicle their failures and lessons learnt.
Silhouetted birds perched on bare tree_leadership failure

Building team culture isn’t optional
A nonprofit co-founder reflects on how scaling rapidly unintentionally alienated employees, which led to cracks in organisational culture.
Aerial shot of women protestors sitting_well-being

Preparing for a marathon, not a sprint 
Dalit civil rights activist Thenmozhi Soundararajan on why failure is an opportunity to build power, how systems of oppression affect well-being, and what healing looks like for individuals and communities.
Barbed wire_nonprofits

Why don’t nonprofits talk about their failures?
A number of risks, both real and perceived, stop nonprofits from talking about failure. Here's how various stakeholders can work together to overcome them.

Conversations with visionaries on their life's work, and their efforts to challenge the status quo in our country.

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Insights and analysis of specific sectors in the development arena—what works, what doesn't, and what needs to change.

See all coverage by topic:
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health & Well-being
  • Livelihoods
  • Rights
  • Water & Sanitation

  • Therapist training in India overlooks queer experiences
    Why is queer-affirmative mental health therapy so inaccessible and expensive? A key reason may be the absence of queer-focused pedagogies in psychology education.

    Tariffs, war, and a 600-year-old craft: Kashmir’s paper-mache artisans face uncertainty
    From intricate masks to Christmas ornaments, Kashmiri paper-mache has long served an international market. As global political and economic conflicts disrupt exports, artisans fear a loss of not just livelihoods, but identity.

    What the data reveals about India’s gig workers
    Platform work is often characterised as either an opportunity or as exploitation. A study by IDInsight explains why India’s gig economy is far more complex.


    From the village to the Republic
    The idea of local self-governance has been a key part of India’s political imagination. However, development has often meant centralisation, undermining communities’ rights over jal, jangal, and zameen.

    Therapist training in India overlooks queer experiences
    Why is queer-affirmative mental health therapy so inaccessible and expensive? A key reason may be the absence of queer-focused pedagogies in psychology education.

    Three fellows in a boat
    A free-flowing conversation among three social sector fellows on public policy and the importance of youth led development in shaping a better Tripura.

    Skills and functions that are core to growing programmes and organisations.

    See all coverage by topic:
  • Board & Governance
  • Fundraising & Communications
  • Leadership & Talent
  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Programme
  • Technology

  • Three fellows in a boat
    A free-flowing conversation among three social sector fellows on public policy and the importance of youth led development in shaping a better Tripura.

    Multimedia storytelling for nonprofits: Your phone can do it all
    Simple methods for creating engaging videos, audios, and graphics for your nonprofit.

    What nonprofits need from their data tools
    Nonprofits need data systems that support learning, not just reporting. Here's what building one taught us.