Our Initiatives

Education - Nai Talim

DISHA implements Gandhi's "Nai Talim" philosophy through holistic, child-centric learning:

• Municipal Schools: Improved education quality for 13,440 children in Delhi primary schools through classroom support and digital resource centers
• Alternative Education: Serves 9,365 out-of-school children using interactive digital lessons, puppetry, theater, and storytelling
• Mainstreaming: Successfully enrolled 4,305 children into government schools
• Digital Literacy: Computer programs in schools and slums, including Hole in the Wall Learning Stations

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Health Initiatives

• Training & Awareness: Trained 7,880 frontline health workers (ANMs, Anganwadi workers) in communication skills for RCH and HIV/AIDS programs. Established 380 women's groups using theater, puppetry, and folk media for health awareness.
• Preventive Healthcare: Organized health camps for worm infections, skin diseases, TB, malaria, and malnutrition. Promoted Nature Cure, Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy reflecting Gandhi's holistic healing approach.
• Special Populations: Provided counseling and awareness for commercial sex workers and IV drug users. Served as Mother NGO for New Delhi district under RCH program (2004-2014).

 

 

 

Women's Empowerment

• Self-Help Groups: Organized 8,150 women into 675 SHGs linked with banks for micro-enterprise loans
• Mahila Shanti Dal: Established 20 Panchayat-level peace groups with 3,155 members promoting conflict resolution and linking government schemes
• Leadership: Many members became Sarpanch after 1993 Panchayati Raj Amendment
• Focus Areas: Dalit and Musahar communities in Bihar, village-level participatory planning

 

 

 

 

Natural Resource Management

Water Conservation

• Built 462 rainwater harvesting structures in 11 Bihar villages
• Constructed 50,000-liter underground systems in 8 schools
• Installed hand pumps in 10 villages
• Restored water bodies (Ahars and Pynes)
• Established Jal Samities for water testing and disease prevention

 

Livelihood & Skills

Trained 5,660 women and youth in Delhi, Bihar, and Maharashtra in diverse skills: beauty culture, photography, knitting, lens grinding, computers, motor winding, bakery, mushroom cultivation, spinning, organic farming, and cattle rearing. Provided marketing linkages and employment assistance.

 

 

 

Advocacy & Child Development

• Public seminars on street children's education, women's empowerment, environmental conservation
• NGO coalition networking
• Direct services in healthcare, education, and skill development for children in difficult circumstances

 

Peace Education & Gandhi's Message

Training Programs: Facilitated 282 talks on Gandhian ideology for PSEs, corporates, and universities

• Dr. Shobhana Radhakrishna delivered 267 lectures across 134 countries during Gandhi's 150th Birth Anniversary (2018-2021)
• Keynote addresses at UN offices (Bangkok, Vienna, Nairobi) and Peace Palace, The Hague
• 12 online Gandhi philosophy courses for 1,380 international participants across 109 Indian Missions

 

 

Sevagram Work - Continuing Gandhi's Legacy

Active in Gandhi's village (1936-1944 residence) with programs in ecology, skill development, education, and self-reliance:

• Tailoring training for 50 women (International Women's Day 2025 precursor)
• Youth and women engagement programs