What we do
GCDW's Focus groups & workstreams
We work at the intersections of caste, class, & patriarchy.
Survivors
Survivors of caste-based sexual and gender violence, residing in rural North Indian districts in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Rajasthan often surrounded by a culture of impunity and lacking support services, monetary resources, and critical information.
community leaders
Aspiring or functioning Dalit women leaders in local & regional governance. Includes Dalit Women Elected Representatives, Local Activists, Volunteers, CBO Leaders, and Human Rights Defenders in rural North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Rajasthan..
Marginalized Youth
Dalit, marginalized OBC, and Adivasi girls/women/queer persons between the ages of 15 and 35. Includes queer, intersex, non-binary, and trans-identifying youth, with specific focus on individuals from urban poor and rural backgrounds. .
CIVIL society
Stakeholders interested in anti-caste, feminist progress across South Asian countries - Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. Includes research participants, funders - current & potential, partners, advisors, human rights activists, media, CBOs, and NGOs.
SURVIVOR SUPPORT
In rural North-India, we work with victims-survivors of caste-based sexual and gender violence and their families, who live in extremely deprived financial, social, and emotional contexts. As a result, they require considerable support in terms of legal aid, psycho-social counseling, funds for travel and healthcare, as well as livelihood assistance in select cases.
Leadership development
Our work in this area is two pronged. First, we continue to invest our energies in sustaining the Ambedkarite Social Cafe, where we focus on digital training, English writing and speaking, networking skills, and career counseling. Second, GCDW continue to intervene in similar ways at the state/district level in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, focusing mainly on institutional building support for Dalit women-led CBOs and NGOs, educating Dalit women elected representatives, identifying grassroot leaders for political representation, and volunteer-to-leader programs.
grassroots activism
In order to achieve systemic change, GCDW, in partnership with other groups, aims to mobilize Dalit communities towards strategic advocacy. We identify key issues faced by community members at the state and district level in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. This is followed by prioritizing issues based on community needs and GCDW’s expertise
research
GCDW’s emerging research vertical is targeted at producing knowledge and research on caste-equity and feminist-led work in South Asia. In 2023, we completed our research report commissioned by CCFD on Indian Feminisms, with a specific focus on feminist civil society organizations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Delhi.
multi-year projects
In the next five years from 2025 to 2029, GCDW intends to grow in size, presence, and intended impact. Project Kaamyaab, which means success in Hindi, will serve as a strategic blueprint that will guide recruitment, resourcing, and projects.
partnerships
Seeking and consolidating partnerships is a key aspect of GCDW’s work. This includes but is not limited to partnering with local and regional civil society organizations, community based organizations, national and international advocacy groups, academic institutions, media houses,
