Community empowerment

As part of Optum Presents The Better India Showcase, supported by M3M Foundation, meet five Social Impact Changemakers who are breaking barriers and building a more equal, inclusive India.

Kerala is now India’s first fully digitally literate state, empowering every citizen with digital skills.

In Kumbalgarh’s challenging terrain, distant schools make education difficult for young children. The Saajhi Shiksha Project bridges this gap by empowering communities with locally managed solutions. Using everyday materials like vegetables, clay, and utensils, it fosters sustainable, community-driven learning environments.

In Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district, Aadiwasi Janjagruti is helping tribal communities document issues in their native languages — bridging the gap between villagers and governance through the power of mobile journalism.

Plastic Odyssey, a 40-metre floating lab, is on a global mission to combat plastic pollution by recycling waste into valuable resources. Docking at ports worldwide, it empowers communities with sustainable recycling solutions and innovative technologies to fight plastic waste at its source.

Naman and Vipul Gupta's Code Effort Private Limited is transforming cigarette butts into eco-friendly products using V bins and an innovative recycling process. Their venture is also creating sustainable livelihoods for ragpickers and artisans, empowering communities along the way.

Naseema Khatoon, born and raised in Chaturbhuj Sthan, a red-light district in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, experienced the harsh stigma faced by sex workers and their children first-hand. Determined to create change, she founded Jugnu in 2004, a publication that amplifies the voices of the marginalised. The first edition, a heartfelt four-page photocopy, was made with local support.

Discover the inspiring journey of Kotinaga Manikanta and Naga Venkata Durga Pavani, a couple who left their successful corporate careers to empower farmers and provide healthier food to the community through ‘Sreshte’. From building relationships with local farmers to offering chemical-free, sustainable products, their commitment to health has turned Sreshte into a thriving business with a mission.

From Karan Aujla’s luxe concert packages to Narayana Murthy’s romantic serenade, the world loves a good viral moment. But stories like Govind Bhati and Sharon Genevive’s work to preserve Rajasthan’s folk music, and Aryan Nangia’s platform for youth digital skills, are shaping a better future for generations to come.

Discover how the Pathak family transformed their lives and community through innovative pearl farming and sustainable practices in Narayanpur, Uttar Pradesh.