Children engaged in creative drawing_social sector

Invest in the arts for social change

The role of the arts in India’s development sector remains limited to sporadic efforts. Here’s why that needs to change and how funders can lead the way.
by Raghu Gullapalli | 5 min read

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




A day in the life of


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From self to society: Navigating silence and stigma around mental health
A day in the life of a community health worker in Dehradun, Uttrakhand, who tackles mental health stigma through trust and support—in her own life and for the people she serves.
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A day in the lives of two women microentrepreneurs, who combine their marketing and product design skills to craft a winning formula for their social enterprise.


Social change leaders chronicle their failures and lessons learnt.

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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.
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The road to recovery
In Part II of a conversation with Dream a Dream CEO Suchetha Bhat and co-founder Vishal Talreja learn about what it took to rebuild an organisation in crisis, and why it needed a new kind of leadership.


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
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  • Livelihoods
  • Rights
  • Water & Sanitation

  • Why is anaemia on the rise in India?
    India's anaemia crisis is being exacerbated by a lack of awareness, poor nutrition, and high levels of air pollution.

    Midwives: The missing link to improved maternal healthcare  
    A government programme aims to build the cadre of professional midwives to reduce India’s maternal mortality rate and mitigate pregnancy complications. Here’s what it needs to succeed.  

    A guide to reporting on disability
    Reporting around disability in Indian media is often shaped by outdated narratives and ableist language. This toolkit offers a pathway for change.


    Invest in the arts for social change
    The role of the arts in India’s development sector remains limited to sporadic efforts. Here’s why that needs to change and how funders can lead the way.

    Midwives: The missing link to improved maternal healthcare  
    A government programme aims to build the cadre of professional midwives to reduce India’s maternal mortality rate and mitigate pregnancy complications. Here’s what it needs to succeed.  

    A guide to reporting on disability
    Reporting around disability in Indian media is often shaped by outdated narratives and ableist language. This toolkit offers a pathway for change.

    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

  • Invest in the arts for social change
    The role of the arts in India’s development sector remains limited to sporadic efforts. Here’s why that needs to change and how funders can lead the way.

    Using technology to support early childhood education
    Vipla Foundation’s experience shows how tech can strengthen early childhood education by addressing absenteeism, facilitating evaluations, and identifying classroom needs.

    Measure twice, pay once
    Outcomes-based financing demands more than just tracking data—it requires a shift in how nonprofits use monitoring and evaluation to drive real impact.