Strengthening Community Engagement and Partnerships in Rajasthan

As part of ongoing efforts to advance women-led development in rural Rajasthan, Dr. Bhavani Rao—UNESCO Chair for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality, Dean of the Amrita School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, and Director of AMMACHI Labs & CWEGE—visited the villages of Harsani and Girabh in the Sheo Constituency of Barmer District on December 18, 2025. The visit was conducted under the “Women at the Center: Skills Training and Community Capacity Building” initiative, a flagship program aimed at promoting empowerment, livelihoods, and community resilience.

During the field visit, Dr. Rao convened group meetings with both women and men in the two villages to reaffirm the purpose of the initiative, foster open dialogue, and gather insights into community needs and aspirations. She also toured the newly established solar-powered Women’s Empowerment Center in Harsani—a major milestone in the program—and assessed a potential site for a similar center in Girabh.

To strengthen partnerships and explore collaborative opportunities, Dr. Rao met with leaders from Cairn Oil and Gas (Vedanta Group): Dr. Vishal Agarwal, Head – CSR, and Shri Ayodhya Prasad Gaur, Head – Stakeholder Relations. Discussions focused on aligning efforts toward women’s empowerment, skill development, and community capacity building in the region.

Further, she held meetings with local governance representatives, including Ravinder Singh Bhati, MLA of the Sheo Constituency, and Ravi Kumar, CEO of the Zilla Parishad. Their support was recognized as crucial for ensuring the initiative’s long-term sustainability and impact.

With technical support from Esri, Amrita’s Center for Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality has been working over recent months to establish the program in Rajasthan. This visit marks a significant step forward in enhancing community engagement, forging strong institutional partnerships, and advancing a participatory, women-centered model for sustainable development.

This project contributes to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 5 – Gender Equality
• SDG 4 – Quality Education
• SDG 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth
• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities & Communities
• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals