Srinagar, Sept. 14 -- The idea of "development" has always appealed to those who are compassionate and deeply concerned about social justice. Many young people in India choose careers in social work, rural development, and related fields, not for money or status, but to change the lives of marginalized communities. Over the years, they have become the silent architects of some of India's most impactful social interventions.

From NGOs to National Missions

After Independence, India saw a wave of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) taking up causes the state could not fully address-literacy, women's empowerment, health, and poverty reduction. By the 1980s and 1990s, organizations like SEWA and Pradan had shown how community participation...