Shikshagraha belongs to everyone who believes every child deserves an excellent public education. Change will not come from the centre alone — it will come when schools, communities, and systems move together.
our story
How can we improve 1 million public schools and shift public perception of them? How can we view India as 806+ thriving districts? How can Samaaj-Sarkaar-Bazaar-Sanchaar partnerships drive change at the grassroots level? These questions sparked the creation of Shikshagraha — rooted in the belief that lasting change in education comes from collective action with those closest to the child.
Movements such as the Indian Freedom Movement, Women's Rights Movement, Chipko Movement, Swachh Bharat, emerge when people recognise that the way things are is not the way they should be — and choose to act together.
Lasting change in public education happens when all four parts of society move together. No sector can do it alone.
Shikshagraha is the connective tissue that makes this possible.
Shikshagraha is rooted in four core values that shape who we are — and six principles of Societal Thinking that guide how we work in the world.
Shikshagraha takes a holistic yet targeted approach — building
the new alongside dismantling the old.
*tap on the cards to shift the norms
Government schools are only for families without other options
Government schools that every family is proud to choose
by demonstrating vibrant government schools through district transformation
Education is mainly the school's responsibility, not the community's
Communities that share responsibility for every child's learning
by equipping and engaging parents, youth, and local leaders to participate meaningfully
Good education means getting good marks
Education that values agency, confidence, curiosity, and real learning
by celebrating stories that show learning for life: well-being, agency, and participation
Teachers are expected to manage everything without support or community
A culture where teachers lead and grow with support and respect
by supporting teachers through micro-improvement and feedback loops
Decisions about education are taken from the top, far from children
Local voices that shape decisions and solutions
by co-creating programs and implementation pathways with state and district leaders
Over 340 districts fall below national averages in foundational learning. Shikshagraha focuses on districts where the need is clear, trusted partners are present, and the government is ready to co-create and go deep.
Low NAS performance in foundational learning — districts where the gap between potential and reality is widest.
Trusted civil society partners on the ground with the state and at the district level — already building relationships.
Government openness to co-create and go deep — not just pilot, but embed change that lasts beyond a project cycle.
