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🌍 Building an Inclusive Future: DEI at the Core of Samagra Foundation

At Samagra Foundation, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) isn't just a policy—it’s a lived reality. Our journey toward social justice and empowerment is grounded in actively embracing diversity, creating equitable opportunity, and nurturing an inclusive environment for all stakeholders—from beneficiaries and staff, to partners and communities.

1. Why DEI Matters

DEI isn’t just socially essential—it fuels innovation, creativity, and resilience. Diverse teams unlock multiple perspectives, leading to better problem-solving and deeper community connection. In the nonprofit sector, DEI reinforces credibility among communities we serve, aligning us with UN Sustainable Development Goals like SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

2. Samagra’s DEI Principles

Diversity: We value all identities—gender, caste, disability, LGBTQIA+, rural vs urban, socioeconomic and neurodivergent—and continuously expand representation in our staff, volunteers, and programs.

Equity: Tailored support ensures persons facing systemic barriers receive the tools they need. Our Saksham initiative specifically helps persons with disabilities access training, government schemes, and livelihood opportunities.

Inclusion: Everyone must feel valued. Our organizational culture encourages open dialogue, psychological safety, and allyship across all levels and communities.

3. How DEI is Practiced at Samagra

Recruitment & Engagement

• Proactive outreach in underserved geographies and minority groups
• Bias-aware screening: anonymized applications and diverse interview panels
• Inclusion champions and allies within each team reinforce belonging

Onboarding & Training

• Structured induction that addresses unconscious bias, power dynamics, and DEI ethos
• Continuous capacity building: workshops on equity, differential access, LGBTQIA+ sensitivity, disability, and mental health

Program Design

• Co-created interventions with local communities
• Disability-friendly formats, translation into local languages, and accessible materials
• Special program frameworks like Saksham, which support disabled youth across spiritual, intellectual, and livelihood dimensions.

Governance & Decision-Making

• DEI committee: voices from women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, tribal leaders actively shaping strategic direction and policy
• DEI goals reflected in annual reporting and accountability frameworks

4. DEI & Samagra’s Program Ecosystem

Our flagship initiatives such as Pathsala, Jidnyasa, Ayurai, and Vinaya embed DEI by:

• Reaching school drop-outs, tribal girls, differently-abled youth, and LGBTQIA+ groups
• Ensuring access to education, health, financial support, and safe learning spaces
• Addressing intersectional inequities via customised outreach and support structures

5. Real Stories of Impact

Through Saksham, Samagra has enabled youth with disabilities to transition into careers—from artisan entrepreneurship to digital literacy—empowering marginalized identities with dignity and agency. One program report indicates that over 70% of PWD participants acquired stable livelihoods post-intervention 

Success stories like Anand Raundale and Nilesh Garud reflect how inclusive design transforms both lives and communities. DEI isn't an add‑on; it's how impact becomes lasting and meaningful.

6. Overcoming Challenges in DEI

India's social and historical context—including caste, entrenched norms, and stigma—demands culturally nuanced approaches. Recognizing this, Samagra’s DEI framework evolves with sensitivity and local engagement.

Even as corporate and NGO sectors scale CSR, equity often lags. Samagra commits to genuine equity-based collaboration with marginalized communities, ensuring resource-sharing, agency, and decision-making power resides with those impacted

7. Looking Ahead: DEI as a Strategic Compass

DEI isn’t a checklist—it’s Samagra’s north star:

• Continual refinement of policies and training
• Strengthening allyship and inclusive leadership
• Transparent impact metrics and DEI-focused social audits

Should you collaborate with Samagra—be it as a partner, donor, or volunteer—you’re stepping into a movement that doesn’t just serve communities, but listens, respects, and represents them too.

🔎 In Summary

Samagra Foundation stands at the intersection of social justice and inclusion, building programmes where DEI isn’t auxiliary but foundational. From recruitment to program design, from governance to on-the-ground delivery, DEI defines how we think, learn, adapt, and grow.

Join us in making inclusion not just an aspiration, but a reality—for every individual, in every community we serve.