NGO Round Table: A Civil Society Dialogue
The Centre for Social Impact successfully convened a one-day NGO Round Table Meeting titled “Urban Poverty and Slum Intervention: A Civil Society Dialogue”, an initiative born from a critical need to synchronise the intellectual rigour of academia with the lived experiences of grassroots organisations working at the frontlines of urban poverty in Bengaluru.
Dr. Sudeshna Mukherjee, Director, Centre for Social Impact, opened the proceedings with a clear and compelling vision, to position the Centre as a catalyst that bridges the gap between theoretical social constructs and practical, field-level intervention. She underscored that sustainable and measurable social impact demands a seamless synergy between those who study social issues and those who intervene in them daily.
Shri Venkatesh Murthy, Founder and Chief Mentor of Youth for Seva, facilitated introductions from the twelve participating NGOs, each presenting its mission, focus areas, and field interventions. The diversity of representation was striking. Rashtrotthana’s Seva Vasathi and Abhyudaya shared their holistic support models within urban pockets of poverty; Sparsha Trust spoke to the urgency of child shelters and protection of vulnerable youth; and Stree Jagruti Samiti highlighted the ongoing fight for dignity and rights among domestic workers. Buzz India Trust focused on financial literacy and women’s self-help groups, while AWEKSHA addressed sensitive crisis interventions for women and children. Sumangali Sevashrama discussed women’s rehabilitation; Samarthanam brought insights on empowering the differently abled; and Shilpa Foundation, Surabhi Foundation Trust, SSS Trust, and The Social Voices collectively addressed sanitation, burn victim rehabilitation, tribal women’s welfare, and media advocacy for the unheard.
In a landmark commitment, Chanakya University pledged to extend institutional resources to participating NGOs, specifically in assistive technologies, data tool development, and project strategy formulation. The valedictory address by Prof. Sushant T. Joshi, Registrar and Professor of Management, commended all participants and reaffirmed the University’s dedication to fostering an inclusive, research-backed partnership with civil society.
