Shiksha Samvaad Debuts in the North East, Amplifying Local Voices for Education Equity
From Bengaluru to Patna, Shiksha Samvaad now brings transformative dialogues to Assam, fostering collaboration for systemic change in education.
Guwahati, Assam – April 25, 2025: For the first time, Shiksha Samvaad, a flagship initiative of Shikshagraha, a people’s movement towards education equity, reached the North East, opening up a powerful space for dialogue, collaboration, and community-led action on public education. Held in Guwahati, Assam, this edition builds on the momentum of previous gatherings in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Patna, and marks a pivotal step in ensuring that the voices and realities of the North East shape India’s journey toward education equity.
A Platform for Dialogue and Collaboration
The Guwahati edition of Shiksha Samvaad featured a series of thought-provoking conversations and powerful perspectives rooted in the region. The event opened with a fireside chat between Dr. Pradeep Ramavath Jayanaik, Professor, TISS, Guwahati; Vikash Kumar, Regional Head- Northeast and Central, CSR, HDFC Bank; and Kevi Sato, Co-Founder, NagaEd, reflecting on a shared vision for education in the North East.
A panel discussion on ‘Childhood in Crisis – Challenges and Solutions’ brought together frontline voices, including RK Paul Chawaney, Co-Founder, Aamya; Sreya Rakshit, Principal, The Hummingbird School, Majuli; Kishore Kumar Das, DIET Principal, Morigaon; and Dr Nironjon Islary, Specialist Education, Bodoland Territorial Council who explored critical issues faced by children in the region and proposed collaborative pathways forward.
At the dialogue, Vikash Kumar from HDFC Bank unveiled several assets of the Shikshagraha movement – a District Governance Handbook and Collective Action Playbook, highlighting its growing impact at the grassroots level. These tools are designed to help organisations and district officials work collaboratively, ensuring education initiatives are well-planned, locally rooted, and scalable. Launched in 2023, the Shikshagraha movement aims to improve 1 million public schools across India by 2030 by encouraging leadership at every level and collective action among diverse actors to create inclusive learning environments that value and enhance the potential of all children in the country.
“Movements like Shikshagraha are not just transforming schools, they’re reshaping how we work together for change in the public education system. At HDFC Bank, we’re proud to support efforts that empower communities to lead the way in reimagining education,” Kumar said.
Impact and Direction
Under the movement, the School Improvement Program supported by HDFC Bank aims to enhance infrastructure and learning conditions across four districts in Nagaland and Meghalaya, impacting 1.15 lakh children. This three-year initiative focuses on upgrading classrooms, sanitation, and learning spaces to provide students with an enabling environment.
The movement also brings together government, civil society, and community actors across the region to collaboratively address the challenges in the public education system. In Assam, Northeast Centre for Equity on Integrated Development (NEAID) is improving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) outcomes through the development and effective use of Teaching Learning Materials (TLMs). Through public-private collaborations, NagaEd in Nagaland works in the areas of digital learning, teacher training, AI in education, and systems strengthening towards bridging the digital divide and equipping both educators and learners with the requisite skills. The Literacy and Numeracy Fest (LNF), co-created by the Department of School Education, Nagaland, and ShikshaLokam, has engaged over 5,000+ educators in enhancing foundational learning. In Meghalaya, collaborations between the Department of Educational Research and Training (DERT) and Mantra4Change have led to the launch of the Class Readiness Program, easing students’ transition between grades. IFET in Arunachal Pradesh is helping improve student outcomes through building teacher capacity, targeted academic interventions and performance tracking, and infrastructure development.
Looking Ahead
Shiksha Samvaad Guwahati serves as a catalyst for continued dialogue and collaboration in the North East. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the event has laid the groundwork for sustained efforts towards education equity in the region.
Santosh More, Co-Founder, Mantra4Change, said, “Shiksha Samvaad is proving that when local voices take centre stage, real change follows. These dialogues are stitching together a powerful narrative of hope and action across regions. The North East region, with its rich diversity and dynamic grassroots efforts catalysed through collective action between Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar, and Sanchaar, is crucial to reimagining the public education system in India.”
About Shikshagraha
Shikshagraha is a people’s movement aiming to improve 1 million public schools in India by 2030, ensuring every child has access to quality education and the opportunity to dream and succeed. The movement brings together government, civil society, markets, and media—to collaboratively address the challenges in the public education system through the micro-improvement approach. By promoting decentralised decision-making in the education system, enabling leadership across levels and fostering collective action, Shikshagraha aims to create an inclusive learning environment where every student, regardless of background, gender, or abilities, can thrive in the 21st century.
