Industry and Former Government Leaders Unite to Reimagine Pathways for India’s
Girls and Women in the Wake of Educate Girls’ Ramon Magsaysay Win
New Delhi, September 11, 2025 | In the wake of Educate Girls, a leading non-profit organisation, becoming the first-ever Indian organisation to be recognised with the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award last week, former government, academia, and industry leaders gathered to chart the way forward in linking schooling, skills, and opportunities for girls and young women. The roundtable, held at the Civil Services Officers’ Institute (CSOI), New Delhi, hosted distinguished leaders, including Ms. Stuti Narain Kacker, IAS and Ex-Chairperson – National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Shri. Rakesh Ranjan, IPS and Former Mission Director – NITI Aayog, Shri. Jagdish Mitra, NSDC Board Member, Prof. Amarnath Kalle, Associate Professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), Prof. Venita Kaul, Emeritus – Ambedkar University – Delhi, and Ms. Safeena Husain, Founder – Educate Girls.
The proceedings were initiated with a keynote from Shri. Rakesh Ranjan, IPS and Former Mission Director – NITI Aayog, who said, “India has made visible strides in reducing dropouts and improving
school infrastructure, but the real challenge lies in learning outcomes and last-mile delivery. Where female literacy is higher, entire systems function better, schemes run smoother, and their impact is greater. The most powerful change we are witnessing is social: when a girl from an underserved village now introduces herself by her own name rather than as someone’s daughter or sister, it signals a shift in identity and aspiration. With our strong base of self-help groups, progressive frameworks like the NEP, and grassroots organisations like Educate Girls, even small improvements can translate into transformative impact.”
Following his address, the NSDC Board Member, Shri. Jagdish Mitra emphasised that the kind of model Educate Girls has developed — people-powered and rooted in communities — could be easily scaled to benefit a larger population. “In such cases, collaborations between NSDC and organisations like Educate Girls present a significant opportunity to advance education and skilling together,” he added.
The event also hosted a panel discussion moderated by Abhishek Chaurasia, NSDC, focused on “the Convergence of Education and Skilling Policies – Civil Society as a Bridge to Last-Mile Inclusion.” It featured Shri. Rakesh Ranjan, Shri. Jagdish Mitra and Prof. Amarnath Kalle highlighted how civil society plays a crucial role in integrating education with life skills and aspirations, particularly for India’s large population of invisible female youth. The opportunity for girls to overcome educational and social barriers and see true progress requires the convergence of education and skill development policies backed by data-driven approaches and shared objectives. Together, the panellists called for collaborative action among government, civil society, and academia to ensure no girl or young woman is left behind on India’s path toward a skilled, inclusive workforce.
“Our work is really for the thousands of girls and communities who have shown immense courage to reclaim their right to education,” noted Ms. Safeena Husain, Founder – Educate Girls. “The Ramon Magsaysay Award shines a spotlight on these voices, on the possibility of change led from the grassroots, and on the idea that when we educate girls, we change the very fabric of society.”
The Ramon Magsaysay Award celebrates “Greatness of Spirit” and transformative leadership across Asia. Awardees are chosen annually by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation from nominations submitted through a confidential, global pool of experts, undergoing a rigorous and independent evaluation process. Educate Girls made history by becoming the first Indian non-profit organisation to receive this honour. The organisation dedicated the award to India’s collective efforts towards ensuring that no girl is left behind when it comes to education.