Phones were becoming increasingly common in Jaydevwadi village, Jalna district, Maharashtra, but villagers still had to travel several kilometres for recharges and …
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
Prestigious Manikarnika Award
2024
The FPO leader, Anjali Bhagwat Masalkar, has been honored with the prestigious Manikarnika Award 2024, recognizing her remarkable journey as a woman entrepreneur. The award ceremony was held on November 19, 2024, at the Yashwantrao Chavan Center, Mumbai.
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
Phones were becoming increasingly common in Jaydevwadi village, Jalna district, Maharashtra, but villagers still had to travel several kilometres for recharges and …
In Nirpur village of Nalanda district, Bihar, 30 year old Surbhi Kumari is transforming the way she farms and how she earns …
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫: 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐢’𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 In Murug village in Bidar, Karnataka, 37-year-old Asha Biradar …
The organisation is committed to promote sustainable community development by
repositioning women as change makers and fostering collective leadership.
Phones were becoming increasingly common in Jaydevwadi village, Jalna district, Maharashtra, but villagers still had to travel several kilometres for recharges and …
In Nirpur village of Nalanda district, Bihar, 30 year old Surbhi Kumari is transforming the way she farms and how she earns …
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫: 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐢’𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 In Murug village in Bidar, Karnataka, 37-year-old Asha Biradar …
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐔𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 For years, the land near Sarita Kumari’s home in Amethi village, Gaya, Bihar, …
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 She had just ₹3,000. Today, she’s creating livelihoods. For years, Rinku Kumari from Manik Bigha village, …
𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 She Never Dreamed of Becoming a Leader In Reula village of Gaya district, Bihar, life had always followed …
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: 𝐋𝐚𝐱𝐦𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐢’𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 For years, farming was the primary source of livelihood for Laxmibai Gohire and …
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫: 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚’𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝, 𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐚 Greeshma from Nedumbala village in Wayanad district, Kerala, began her farming …
𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝, 𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐢’𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 A few years ago, recurring pest attacks, wildlife damage, …
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 Nagamma Biradar from Madnoor village, Karnataka, once lived a quiet life focused on household …
The organisation is committed to promote sustainable community development by
repositioning women as change makers and fostering collective leadership.
