Anusaya Garje is quietly leading a powerful shift in her community At 34, with education up to Class 10, Anusaya works closely …
Our Inspiration and Icon
“Ordinary women can trigger extraordinary changes. My vision is to create an ecosystem that empowers women at grassroot enabling to move from margin to mainstream, transforming not only their lives but their community, their villages and society – for the better”
– Prema Gopalan.
Ms. Prema Gopalan established Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) in 1998. She was a firm believer in the power of women to shift boundaries and mindsets.
Little did she know, she was setting in motion a movement that would spread across India. A movement that is inspiring rural women to step out of their homes, shrug off archaic notions of self, & carve new identities as entrepreneurs, farmers, & community leaders.
‘Sakhis’ as she lovingly called these women, are impacting every facet of their society today. With a strong vision of a developed community, they are battling issues of agriculture, water, health, nutrition, & civic leadership, to create thriving models of development.
Prema’s intrinsic belief in women’s leadership garnered worldwide interest & acknowledgment. In a glittering career spanning three decades, she received several national & international awards. She was the recipient of the 2021 Women Transforming India Award, NITI Aayog’s flagship initiative.
Prema leaves behind an immense legacy. She also leaves behind women leaders who embody her work, her values, & her spirit.
Late Mr. Nadarajan V.C. was a dedicated management consultant and a guiding force in the fields of rural finance, livelihoods, and enterprise since 1992. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and TNAU Coimbatore, he brought together deep academic insight and on-ground experience to his work.
Early in his career, he served as an officer with Indian Overseas Bank and as a development professional with PRADAN, New Delhi. Also he was the Board Member of the Covenant Centre for Development (CCD), Tamil Nadu, which is committed to build community institutions around traditional wisdom to empower the poor and vulnerable communities for sustainable development.
He was a valued Board Member of Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), where his wisdom and strategic thinking left a lasting impact. His loss is deeply felt, and his contributions will continue to inspire us.
He was a dedicated management consultant & a guiding force in the fields of rural finance, livelihoods, & enterprise since 1992. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad & TNAU Coimbatore, he brought together deep academic insight & on-ground experience to his work.
Early in his career, he served as an officer with Indian Overseas Bank and as a development professional with PRADAN, New Delhi. Also he was the Board Member of the Covenant Centre for Development (CCD), Tamil Nadu, which is committed to build community institutions around traditional wisdom to empower the poor & vulnerable communities for sustainable development. Over the years, he became a trusted advisor to national & international development organizations as well as grassroots NGOs, offering his expertise in project & program management focused on rural transformation.
He was a valued Board Member of Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), where his wisdom & strategic thinking left a lasting impact. His loss is deeply felt, & his contributions will continue to inspire us.
Our Key Sectors
Our Initiatives
Key Awards Received By SSP
2024 : Community Excellence / Saksham Samudaya Award from the International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM) recognizes outstanding contributions towards community empowerment and development.
2022 : Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)’s Local Adaptation Champions Awards 2022 at COP27. SSP is one of the four organisations recognised for their work in leading climate change adaptation for vulnerable local communities.
2021 : NITI Aayog’s Women Transforming India Award
2018 : Social Entrepreneur of the Year India Award, awarded by Jubilant Bhartia Foundation and Schwab Foundation (WEF)
2017 : Winner of the Equator Prize declared by the UNDP from 806 nominations from 120 countries for its women led climate resilient agro-ecological farming model
Awards Received by Grassroots Women Leaders
Global Local Adaptation (CGA)’s
“Local
Adaptation Award for
Capacity & Knowledge
(for the
Women Led Climate Resilient
Farming Model)” at COP27
Awards Received by Grassroots Women Leaders
Global Local Adaptation (CGA)’s
“Local
Adaptation Award for
Capacity & Knowledge
(for the
Women Led Climate Resilient
Farming Model)” at COP27
Women Taking The Leads
SSP and IDBI Join Hands to Support Wayanad Landslide Victims
Visit by Heike Roschanski, India Desk Officer, Misereor on 18th November 2024, to Kumbhari village, Solapur District, Maharashtra
Our Women Leaders
Anusaya Garje is quietly leading a powerful shift in her community At 34, with education up to Class 10, Anusaya works closely …
Sunita Kumbhar did not begin with opportunities-she began with responsibility. In Kumbhari village of Dharashiv district, Maharashtra, her life took shape around …
𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐲 In Longaon village of Jalna district, Maharashtra, her family depended on her husband’s photography work, which was limited …
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: 𝐉𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚’𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 In Shelgav Diwane village of Dharashiv district, Maharashtra, Jaymala Bhatlawande’s life took a difficult …
𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞: 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 In Kamalanagar Block of Bidar district, Karnataka, Sunita Metre is transforming lives in Holsamudra—turning everyday challenges …
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 In Orial village of Gaya district in Bihar, Panika Kumari’s journey shows how rural women can become …
𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 Shanta Raja, a small farmer from Kottathara Panchayat in Wayanad district, Kerala, has been managing her farm …
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Women farmers in Chinchpur village of Sillod block, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra, are building more climate-resilient livelihoods with …
The women who are quietly transforming their communities In Jalkotwadi village of Tuljapur block in Dharashiv district, Maharashtra, Gangabai Lokhande is one …
𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 In Shevdi village of Nanded district in Maharashtra, when only four self-help groups were active, Sheetal Eklare saw …
Our Women Leaders
Anusaya Garje is quietly leading a powerful shift in her community At 34, with education up to Class 10, Anusaya works closely …
Sunita Kumbhar did not begin with opportunities-she began with responsibility. In Kumbhari village of Dharashiv district, Maharashtra, her life took shape around …
𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐲 In Longaon village of Jalna district, Maharashtra, her family depended on her husband’s photography work, which was limited …
The organisation is committed to promote sustainable community development by
repositioning women as change makers and fostering collective leadership.
The organisation is committed to promote sustainable community development by
repositioning women as change makers and fostering collective leadership.
