Born from the belief that every child born in rural India deserves the same opportunities as any child born in a city โ we've been working for that promise since 2003.
Dr. Sudha Rane
Founder & CEO
Founder's Message
I grew up in a small village near Satara. I was the first girl in my family to finish school โ because one teacher cared enough to come to our home and convince my father. That one conversation changed everything.
Twenty years ago, I returned to Maharashtra with a simple question: how many other girls like me are out there, one conversation away from a different life? Prayas is my attempt to answer that question โ at scale.
Today, our team of 280 staff and 1,200 volunteers are that one conversation for thousands of families every year.
โ Dr. Sudha Rane
Our Journey
Dr. Sudha Rane registers Prayas with โน80,000 of personal savings and three volunteers. First programme: a tuition centre for 40 children in Hadapsar slum.
Prayas enters Nashik and Ahmednagar districts. Mobile education vans begin operating. 2,400 children enrolled in support programmes.
Partnership with Tata Trusts enables launch of mobile health clinics serving 18 villages. First maternal health camp reaches 600 women.
120 Self-Help Groups formed across Maharashtra. Microfinance programme launches with seed capital of โน40 lakhs.
50 community digital centres opened. 8,000 adults and youth trained in basic digital skills. FCRA registration obtained.
Prayas receives GiveIndia's highest transparency rating. International partnerships established with UNICEF India and UN Women.
Prayas now operates in 12 districts across Maharashtra with 320 villages directly served and 280 full-time staff.
Leadership
Founder & CEO
COO
Head of Education
Head of Healthcare
Head of Women Empowerment
Head of Finance
Partners & Supporters