India @ 75: A Threefold Growth Story

In 2022, during the 75th year of India’s Independence, a group of civil society organizations and leaders came together as Coalition CSO@75, with the aim of measuring the quantitative and qualitative contributions of civil society organizations (CSOs) to India’s developmental milestones. 

As part of Coalition CSO@75, Dasra has authored three reports to reflect on and commemorate civil society’s contribution to nation-building in the areas of education, public health, and social justice.

These reports shine a light on landmark interventions by civil society organizations, consequent transformations, and ground impact across diverse landscapes and timeframes since 1947 – contextualizing India’s growth story as an outcome of unflinching and tireless collaborative efforts anchored by civil society organizations. 

While the exercise is not exhaustive in its documentation of the varied and brilliant CSO interventions over the past 7.5 decades, it provides a humble glimpse into some interventions and tries to archetype their work and practices for today’s sector practitioners – bearers of the non-profit legacy. 

This 3-part report is an extension of the larger Non Profit Sector Report by the Coalition, titled “India’s Million Missions: 75 Years of Service Towards Nation Building” launched in January 2023 at the Jaipur Literature Festival.