EMPOWERING FUTURE GENERATIONS
BRIDGING HEALTH AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN
Citizens Association For Child Rights (CACR) is a Section 8 non-profit organization established in June 2013. CACR works with children from underserved communities, primarily those studying in government schools, to implement programs aimed at fostering positive behavior change.
Our focus areas include Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Menstrual Health and Hygiene, adolescent anemia and nutrition, life skills for boys and girls, gender sensitisation, and plastic waste management in schools and communities across urban and rural Maharashtra. A significant aspect of our work includes promoting waste segregation and recycling to build sustainable communities.
CACR was co-founded by Nitin Wadhwani, who serves as the Director and CEO, with the support and guidance of Co- Directors Mrs. Indrani Malkani (Chairperson of VCAN and an Ashoka Fellow) and Mr. Mohinder Pal Singh (a businessman and former president of the Rotary Club of Bombay, Bandra). An esteemed Advisory Committee, led by Chairperson Mr. V. Ranganathan (former Chief Secretary of Maharashtra and Municipal Commissioner, BMC), along with other experienced professionals, continues to guide our journey.
The inspiration for CACR began with Nitin Wadhwani’s transition from a career in power electronics to full-time social work. Initially a small donor to Child Rights & You (CRY), his involvement deepened as he volunteered with children living on the streets from the Gajra-making community in Khar, Mumbai.
This experience, coupled with his leadership of the “Mumbaiites for Child Rights” initiative, sparked his passion for improving education in municipal schools. His belief in every child’s right to free, quality education—both in terms of infrastructure and learning opportunities—prompted a life-changing decision to dedicate himself fully to the social sector and establish Citizens Association for Child Rights (CACR) in 2013.
The path has not been without challenges. On one hand, we’ve worked closely with children from lower-income families and their parents, many of whom are daily wage earners with limited time to support their children’s education. On the other, we’ve collaborated with government officials to address systemic hurdles in implementing policies like the Right to Education (RTE) Act. This includes ensuring timely provision of educational kits, upgrading sanitation facilities in line with Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya guidelines, and establishing School Management Committees and Child Cabinets.
COLLABORATION HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF CACR’S APPROACH.
We firmly believe that sustainable change requires the active involvement of all stakeholders, including parents, school staff, and government authorities. By fostering strong partnerships with communities, CACR encourages parents to take an active role in their children’s education and well-being.
From participating in discussions about school needs to attending workshops on health, nutrition, and sanitation, parents are empowered to be change agents within their families and communities. This collaborative effort strengthens trust, builds ownership, and ensures the long-term success of our programs.
CACR has always focused on working within existing systems to drive change. By piloting solutions in schools, engaging with infrastructure authorities, and building partnerships with education departments, we aim for continuous, incremental improvements. Our approach avoids creating parallel systems, instead strengthening government mechanisms, adding value through innovative programs, and fostering trust and collaboration for long- term sustainability and impact.
In the early days, gaining support from donors and corporate partners was an uphill task. Our focus on gradual behavioral change and navigating the complexities of working with government departments initially deterred some supporters. However, our association with UNICEF marked a turning point. Their support—both financial and technical—helped CACR demonstrate its impact, attract new donors, and eventually connect with organizations like ONGC and BPCL. These partnerships have enabled us to move forward with resilience and determination.
However, even today, funding remains a challenge, as grants and CSR funding often come with programmatic and geographic restrictions. Yet, we see every challenge as an opportunity for growth. Scaling up core programs like menstrual health, adolescent anemia awareness, and plastic waste management remains a priority, and we continue to adapt and learn to enhance our reach and effectiveness.
Innovation is as critical in the social sector as it is in technology. CACR integrates affordable tools to monitor behavioral change and assess the social impact of our programs, ensuring both quantitative and qualitative outcomes. Transparency with funding partners and donors remains a cornerstone of our credibility, and a dedicated team of program managers, coordinators, and field officers ensures our programs are implemented effectively and with care.
We believe that teamwork, collaboration, and a positive workplace environment are essential to organizational success. At CACR, we are fortunate to have a passionate and committed team that consistently delivers high-quality outcomes while fostering a culture of mutual respect and shared goals.
Our mission is to bridge the gap between policies and communities, ensuring children’s rights through impactful programs in education, hygiene and sanitation, nutrition and adolescent health, gender equality, and mental health.
Over the years, we’ve achieved milestones that reflect our collective efforts. These include significant improvements in municipal school infrastructure, such as better WASH facilities, digital classrooms, and timely provision of resources. We’ve worked with government departments to provide free sanitary pads and disposal facilities in Mumbai’s municipal schools, and for the first time, we facilitated the distribution of dictionaries to school children.
As part of the Anemia Mukt Bharat initiative, CACR has provided hemoglobin meters and testing strips to all primary health care centres of the BMC Public Health Department, conducted awareness sessions with children, parents, and teachers on anemia prevention through better nutrition.
Our leadership team brings a wealth of experience from the social sector. Over the years, they have become trusted trainers and collaborators, frequently invited by other NGOs to implement programs and conduct training sessions. Together, we are working towards a shared vision of empowering children and communities through meaningful change.
