List of NGO’s and Government Schemes Working Towards Empowerment and Rights of Women
To kick off our ‘Year of Women’s Empowerment’, we have put together a list of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) and government schemes that are working towards empowerment of women and other Women’s Rights Issues. The purpose of collecting these organizations was to have a single resource to access the help that is available and for those interested, to volunteer or donate. This is by no means an exhaustive list of organisations in India working on women’s rights issues. The list would be too long if we included all such organizations. These are the organizations and schemes we have studied and verified for the work that they are doing, and we have included the links to their websites and a description of their focus areas..
Schemes under the Ministry of Women and Child Development:
1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme ensures survival, protection and education of girl children. The scheme aims to address issues of the declining sex ratio over the past few years, create social awareness and enhance the efficiency of welfare services developed for girls.
This scheme facilitates emergency (medical), legal aid and counselling, non-emergency services under one roof to combat all forms of violence against women.
This is one of the government schemes for women empowerment that intends to give 24x7 emergency responses to women affected by violence in private or public spaces.
4. UJJAWALA
A Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation.
To promote safe accommodation and environment for working women and provide daycare facilities for their children, the Government of India has introduced the ‘Working Women Hostel Scheme’. Through this women empowerment scheme, the Government provides grant-in-aid for construction and new hostel buildings and extension of an existing building in rented premises.
6. SWADHAR GREH
Swadhar Greh to provide relief and rehabilitation to destitute women and women in distress.
Nari Shakti Puruskar confes award to eminent women and institutions in recognition of their service towards the cause of women empowerment.
This central government-sponsored scheme aims to create a link between police authorities and local communities to ensure police outreach on crime cases. This scheme works to create a safe woman-friendly environment and encourages women to join the police force.
9. SCHEME FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS
The Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) was devised in 2010 as a special intervention for adolescent girls of the age group 11 – 14 years to break the intergenerational life-cycle of nutritional and gender disadvantage and offer a supportive environment for the self-development of adolescent girls in the country.
10. MAHILA SHAKTI KENDRAS (MSK)
It aims to provide one-stop convergent support services to women to develop skills, generate employment opportunities, and increase digital literacy. This scheme is operational at multiple levels, such as national level, state level, and district level. The Government intends to cover the 115 most backward districts by establishing 920 Mahila Shakti Kendras.
This Scheme for the children of a working mother. It provides daycare facilities to the children and guarantees to improve the health and nutrition status of children.
Non Government Organizations (NGO’s)
12. SHANTI SAHYOG CENTER FOR WOMEN
Funded by Azim Premji Foundation, this center provides legal awareness/counselling/aid to victims of domestic violence/abuse, and their rehabilitation through vocational training in Computer Application, Beauty Culture and Cutting & Tailoring.
13. BEING A WOMAN
The main objectives and activities of the organization relate to empowerment of woman of the weaker section of the society in respect of their economic Upliftment ,Educational facilities besides Health care.
14. CARE INDIA
CARE has been working in India for over 70 years, for the upliftment of marginalised women and girls through 53 programmes in 18 states and 130+ districts.
15. GURIA INDIA
Guria is non-profit organization that is both dedicated to fighting child prostitution, second generation prostitution, and sex trafficking in Northern India, and to achieving freedom worldwide.
16. MAJLIS MUNCH – GIVING INDIA
Majlis started in 1991 as a response to a growing need for lawyers with a gender perspective who are dedicated to evolving innovative legal practices to defend women's rights.
17. INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR CRIME AND PREVENTIONAND VICTIM CARE
The International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC) was founded in 2001 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu to create and extend support services for women and queer individuals affected by domestic and interpersonal violence.
18. PRAJNYA TRUST
Prajnya's work is structured around two Inititives, at present: (1) Politics, Security and Women and (2) Education for Peace. The Initiatives reflect our understanding of "peace, justice and security".
19. SAKHYA WOMEN’S GUIDANCE CELL
The main focus of work of SAKHYA WOMEN’S GUIDANCE CELL is to help women to help themselves. In that it seeks to forge a relationship with the women and thereby tap her personal reservoirs, enhance her coping capacities, develop community support groups.
20. NAZ FOUNDATION
Naz’s vision is to create a just and equitable society by transforming individuals from socially and economically excluded communities into agents of change.
21. FOUNDATION FOR REPRODUCTION HEALTH SERVICES (FHRS INDIA)
FRHS India is an affiliate of MSI Reproductive Choices that provides women and girls personalized contraception and safe abortion services in 37 countries, empowering them to make informed decisions for their fertility and future.
22. CHETNA INDIA
CHETNA is managed by a women-led core management team, governed by a governing council and comprises a team that has academic and research experts in the field of health, nutrition of women, children and young people, education, communication, and gender.
23. SAMA
Sama considers health a fundamental human right and believes this can be achieved by strengthening public health system, regulating private sector and curtailment of multiple forms of discrimination based on caste, class, gender, religion, ethnicity, ability and sexual orientation.
24. SOCIETY FOR EMPOWERING WOMEN TO ACHIEVE (SEWA)
Society for Empowering Women to Achieve (SEWA) is a platform for women to join hands and work towards a better society by enhancing the quality of living especially for women. The major focus of work is providing quality education and scholarships, improving women health in rural and below poverty line sectors. Regular counselling sessions to resolve family issues, helping in overcoming domestic violence related cases. Supporting promising startups and entrepreneurs, etc.
25. SNEHALAYA
Snehalaya means 'Home of Love', and was founded to provide support for women, children and LGBT communities, who have been affected by HIV and AIDS, trafficking, sexual violence, and poverty.
A women's rights organisation from North-east India working with and for women of all ethnicity, sexual/gender identity, disability, culture and space.
27. AZAD FOUNDATION
Azad Foundation provides livelihoods with dignity for resource-poor women living in urban areas in India.
28. CREA
CREA envisions a just and peaceful world, where everyone lives with dignity, respect and equality. They build feminist leadership, expand sexual and reproductive freedoms, and advance human rights of all people.
29. VIMOCHNA
Work for violence against Women.
30. MAHILA KISAN ADHIKAAR MANCH (MAKAAM)
MAKAAM, or Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch (Forum For Women Farmers' Rights) is a nationwide informal alliance of more than 120 individuals and organisations of farming women, of women farmers' collectives, civil society organisations, researchers and activists, drawn from 24 states of India, to secure due recognition and rights of women farmers in India.
31. JANODYA
"Women Empowerment" being the focus area of work; Janodaya facilitated access to socio-legal-economic justice and constitutional rights to its project beneficiaries and participants.
32. SAYFTY
Sayfty has the vision to make the daily lives of millions of Indian women safer by empowering them to take a stance against gender violence. A woman’s safety is her birthright and our programs and initiatives ensure that she feels safe and free from violence.
33. JAGORI
JAGORI means "awaken, women!" Their mission is to inform, inspire and empower. Their endeavour is to reach out to women in increasingly innovative ways.
34. SWAYAM
Swayam is a feminist organisation committed to advancing women's rights and ending inequality and violence against women and girls.
35. SUKARYA
Sukarya’s Mission has been to ensure fair and equitable access to quality health services for all, including the poorest sections of society, especially women, adolescents and children.
36. LAKSHYAM
Lakshyam vowed to put an end to this widespread violation of people’s fundamental rights, especially of women and children residing in the slums of India. They aim to empower them through education and employment by implementing models of development that are tailored according to the needs of the community.
ANANNKE FOUNDATION promotes the field of creating systematic support systems which benefit women and children who are at risk. The key areas the foundation focuses on are that of healthcare, education and advancement of human rights.
38. NAZARIYA
NAZARIYA works to sensitize the work and culture of groups and individuals working on issues of gender-based violence, livelihoods, education, and health from a queer perspective through research & evaluations, capacity building, and advocacy. Their focus is on Queer women and trans persons.
Sappho is a support group for Lesbian, Bisexual women and Transmen. SFE provides a platform to anyone and everyone, irrespective of gender and sexual orientation, who seek to question the organized workings of homophobia, heterosexism and heteronormativity.
40. SANGAMA
Sangama is a sexual minorities, sex workers and people living HIV human rights organization for individuals oppressed due to their sexual preference. They aim to help live their lives with self acceptance, self respect and dignity especially emphasize the concerns of sexuality minorities from poor and/or non-English speaking backgrounds and sexuality minority sex workers, who otherwise have little to no access to information and resources.
41. PARI
PARI is one of its kind institutions in India, advocating against sexual violence, providing prevention mechanisms and supporting survivors with psychological counselling.They advocate for rape survivors who can’t speak about their ordeal due to stigmatization.
42. MAJLIS
Majlis started in 1991 as a response to a growing need for lawyers with a gender perspective who are dedicated to evolving innovative legal practices to defend women's rights.
43. CHHANV
Chhanv Foundation is a Non-Profit Organisation in India working for the rehabilitation of acid attack survivors. Chhanv Foundation raised the unheard voices of acid attack survivors through its campaign Stop Acid Attacks.
44. MEER FOUNDATION
Meer Foundation is a Non-Profit Organisation especially working for Acid attack women. They support initiatives and programmes to empower as well as rehabilitate women & build a society that respects her. Meer Foundation was founded by Actor Shah Rukh Khan.
45. THE ACID SURVIVORS AND WOMEN WELFARE FOUNDATION (ASWWF)
ASWWF, an initiative of Kanoria Foundation, has since expanded its scope and range of services to support survivors of all forms of violence and atrocities against women, including trafficking and domestic violence.
Kanoria Foundation supports the education of students from nursery to higher education and promotes the following causes: sustainable environments, moral values teachings, non-violence against women, spirituality, and health, and skill development.
47. AMBA FOUNDATION
AMBA Foundation is working with marginalized communities to help provide local solutions to education for their children. Skilling and better employment opportunities for youth and women and access to quality healthcare.
48. ACID SURVIVORS SAAHAS FOUNDATION (ASSF)
ASSF was established with the vision of helping the ACID victims & performing major surgeries to the victims & providing them with basic human needs.
Their mission is to provide dignity and independence to acid attack survivors through medical, legal, educational, vocational and psychological rehabilitation.
50. COMMON HEALTH
CommonHealth envisions a society that ensures the right to the highest attainable standards of reproductive and sexual health for all, especially for women and marginalized communities in India.
The YP Foundation (TYPF) is a youth development organisation that facilitates young people’s feminist and rights-based leadership on issues of health equity, gender justice, sexuality rights, and social justice.
52. IPAS INDIA - PARTNERS FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE
IPAS INDIA work with partners around the world to advance reproductive justice by expanding access to abortion and contraception.
53. AKSHARA
Akshara focuses on empowering women and girls. With education, productive work and resistance to violence in their lives, they can be strong and independent contributing members to society.
54. ASHADEEP MISSION
Ashadeep established Navachetana Rehabilitation Homes for Homeless Women with Mental Illness.
55. SEVEN SISTERS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE (SeSTA)
Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA) collectivizes women to form Self Help Groups (SHGs), builds their capabilities and strengthens livelihood systems.
56. THE FOUNDATION FOR MOTHER AND CHILD HEALTH
The Foundation for Mother and Child Health works on maternal health and malnutrition. They empower families from vulnerable communities with contextual, timely and actionable information services – thus, breaking the cycle of poverty.
57. THE SELF EMPLOYED WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION (SEWA)
India’s oldest and largest union of textile workers, SEWA is now a globally recognized trade union of women workers in the informal economy. In order to secure economic, social, and legal rights for women workers, SEWA supports the formation of member-based organizations of poor working women.
58. THE BANYAN
The Banyan is a non-governmental caters to the mentally ill and homeless women.
59. THE LIVE LAUGH LOVE FOUNDATION (LLL)
LiveLoveLaugh (LLL) was founded in 2015 by actor Deepika Padukone. The Foundation combines knowledge and domain expertise to create awareness about mental health, reduce stigma associated with mental illness, and provide credible mental health resources.
Youth4Jobs focuses on education and employment of persons with disabilities.