Title: i-Saksham: scaling voice, preserving soul

Authors: Mamta Singh; Shraddha Pandey; Rana Singh

Addresses: Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna, H4QJ+CRH, Mithapur Farm Area, Mithapur, Patna, Bihar 800001, India ' Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna, H4QJ+CRH, Mithapur Farm Area, Mithapur, Patna, Bihar 800001, India ' Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna, H4QJ+CRH, Mithapur Farm Area, Mithapur, Patna, Bihar 800001, India

Abstract: This case explores the journey of i-Saksham Education and Learning Foundation, a grassroots initiative founded in Bihar, India, to empower young rural women through education and community leadership. Established by former Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellows, i-Saksham began as a hyper-local response to systemic gender exclusion and educational inequity. Over the years, the initiative evolved into a structured two-year edu-leader fellowship, training over 800 young women to become educators, mentors, and social change agents in their communities. As the organisation begins scaling beyond its original geographies, i-Saksham faces a defining strategic dilemma: how to expand its impact without compromising the trust-based mentoring and intimacy that define its success. With growing pressure to digitise, decentralise, and reach more districts, the leadership stands at a crossroads. The case invites discussion on grassroots leadership, gender-responsive design, and non-profit scale strategies, making it suitable for courses in social innovation, development, and leadership.

Keywords: grassroots leadership; women's empowerment; social innovation; non-profit strategy; community-based education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2026.155423

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2026 Vol.16 No.3, pp.210 - 225

Received: 21 May 2025
Accepted: 02 Aug 2025
Published online: 31 Jul 2026 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article