By Indira Sandilya
March 3, 2026: In a meeting room in Kishangarh, a city in the Ajmer District of the Indian state of Rajasthan, a group of women gather to tell their stories of combating gender-based violence. The conversation included the need for livelihood programs for women and the desire for support in building skills to start small businesses such as rug weaving, candle-making, and basketry.
Indira Sandilya stands with participants of Building a Coordinated Response to Prevent and Reduce Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kishangarh. Photo courtesy of Indira Sandilya.
My husband and I met these women on a trip to see the impact of the PTF-supported project, Building a Coordinated Response to Prevent and Reduce Gender-Based Violence (GBV). What I saw convinced me that with the right resources, the women of Kishangarh will continue to be catalysts for robust change and development in their community.
The change is desperately needed. In the first phase of the project, a study found the high school dropout rate for girls was three times higher than that for boys and that child marriages were common. The study also showed that while comprehensive programs for GBV victims existed, local authorities were not interested in implementing them. Only 13% of women in the community were aware of their legal rights and the facilities available to them. They were often reluctant to approach authorities when they needed help.
The Centre for Advocacy and Research, a PTF partner and the project implementer, set up a women’s forum to demand better service delivery. From the forum, ten young women were designated as Gram Sakhis (village friends) and trained to connect the community to both programs and to local authorities. They were also given basic paralegal training on GBV matters. They accompanied women when approaching the Sarpanch (village head), police or clinics.
Our conversations with the women in the project revealed two things. First, the project motivated them to seek improvements in safety infrastructure, such as lighting and CCTVs, and in the local government’s response to GBV incidents. Second, their concern over these matters has spread to other issues impacting them, including potholes, access to clean water, and, especially, livelihoods.
In addition to the women participants, the project has significantly impacted local government leaders. The community relations officer said dialogue between government and constituents, including women, was open and cordial. Even more important, she said the state government was so impressed with the project’s Gram Sakhis that some had been absorbed into local government roles. Over the next year, the volunteers will use their experience to train other volunteers to continue the work this project has started. The village medical officer says that based on interaction with women patients, GBV may well be on the decline.
I came away from this Kishangarh trip inspired by the work these women have done and excited about the potential for this project to expand across Rajasthan. The project succeeded because it hit a sweet spot—encouraging use and enforcement of government initiatives by promoting community awareness and “last-mile” coverage. When top-down, programmatic effort meets bottom-up, systematic activism the result is powerful.
To truly transform communities and ensure lasting progress, projects like this should expand to reach more women across Rajasthan and beyond. The momentum created in Kishangarh shows what is possible when we elevate local voices and direct resources to where they are needed most. By scaling and sustaining these efforts, we can build a future where women are safe, heard, and equipped to lead change in every corner of society.
