What we do
Eklavya exists to improve access to quality higher education among first-generation students from marginalized communities through awareness, mentoring and coaching interventions.
VISION
Every students should get equal opportunity to access quality higher education and realized their potential through career.
Goal 1: Improve access to higher education among first generation learner.
Goal 2: Bring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in university campuses and workplaces.
Goal 3: Build Grassroots Leadership in different sectors and Enable Social Mobility among marginalized Communities through means of higher education.
MISSION
We are on the mission to impact 5000 first generation students in next five years through their admission into quality higher education and development fellowships by 2027
Target group
First-generation learners from rural and tribal poor families which largely consisting of Dalit, Adivasi, Nomadic Tribes and OBCs who are educationally deprived, geographically remote and economically weaker students.
Target group
First-generation learners from rural and tribal poor families which largely consisting of Dalit, Adivasi, and OBCs who are educationally deprived, geographically remote and economically weaker students.
Problem
Marginalized communities are historically deprived of particularly higher education and its benefits. According to NSSO 2014 data enrolment in college education (18–21-year) for Dalits (Scheduled Caste) it is 20.8% and for Adivasi (Scheduled Tribes) it is 15.7 % while for privileged forward castes it is 39.5%. Their situation is even worse in premier universities as out of 10 top universities in India students from Dalit and Adivasi groups are underrepresented in 7 universities (recent survey of Department of Higher Education). According to the recent Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (GMPI), among these groups 33.3% of SC, 50.6% of ST, 27.2% of OBC are living in multidimensional poverty. Education is one of the three dimensions of GMPI where these communities are significantly lagging, and which contributed to their poverty.

Solution
To reduce this inequality and improve the participation of marginalized students in premier universities, we are working with students by providing them information, mentoring, and coaching through our Youth Resource Centers (YRCs). YRCs are located in underdeveloped districts and are operated in partnership with local organizations. We incubate those students in our YRCs to prepare them for admissions of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in universities in India and Abroad. We provide mentoring throughout their transition to higher education and career. In a nutshell, the solution is to democratize access to quality higher education and leadership opportunities by working with rural and tribal students through information, coaching and mentoring interventions.

Founders

Raju Kendre, Founder CEO,
TISS | SOAS University of London | Chevening Scholar | Forbes 30 under 30
Prashant Chavan, Co-Founder,
TISS | 5+ years of experience in development sector
Smita Tatewar, Co-Founder,
Young Women Leaders Fellow at Red Doors | Aspire Leaders Finalist 2022 (Harvard University) | SBI Youth For India
Akash Modak, Co-Founder,
Gandhi Fellow | 2+ years of experience in development sector
Follow us on Our Social Media Accounts
Reaching out to more students in need and also volunteers, mentors is key to this movement. Follow us on different social media and help us reach out to more agents of change.
LinkTREE
We also have all important links compiled at LinkTree. You can access it here.