Dr Mala Bhandari, Founder
Mala is Ph.D. in Sociology from University of Delhi. Her area of research has been Women, Work and their Quality of Life. She has had a three years Post-Doctoral research experience in Gender and Development from University of Pune, Maharashtra.
Coming from a Punjabi family, she was born and brought up in the multi-cultural environment of Delhi. With a liberal upbringing, she had the freedom to choose her career. A restless and an odd one out in the family, she raised questions on existing socio-cultural practices particularly those related to women and young girls. She opposed the social customs, rituals, traditions and the male powerhouse that she felt around. The school gave her an opportunity to lead a youth rally against the mush ashamed, practice of Dowry. She led the young students with chants of Dowry Nahi Lenge Nahi Denge.
The study of Sociology in college was a turning point of her life. She related to the basic concepts of Sociology very well. It was like this particular subject gave an expression to her thought, views and perspectives. She decided to pursue the subject as a full time career option. The travel across the country gave her the first hand experience of the on-ground social realities. She worked with diverse communities in different regions. She conducted research in various social issues with the cross cutting theme of gender. She wrote many research papers and made presentations at conferences and seminars. She travelled outside for training and paper presentations on issues of child rights & basic education, child protection, family life research and women empowerment.
In the year 2004, she decided to work through the not-for-profit sector with a personal commitment to work for women and children. With a strong urge to change the existing realities of life for women and children, she, together with other development professionals, founded a Not- for- profit organization, Social and Development Research and Action Group (SADRAG) with an overall vision of Equality of life for all. She envisioned a life of dignity and self respect for women and children through self-reliance and capacity building through basic education, health, skill development and access to livelihood opportunities.
True to self, since 2004, she has been building the organisation brick by brick. During the initial years, she faced a lot of criticism and ridicule from people around. However, faith in self kept her going. Today, SADRAG is bringing a positive change in the lives of thousands of people through direct interventions in Districts Gautum Budh Nagar, Hapur and Ghaziabad in the state of U.P. In line with the vision and mission of the organization, the major areas of intervention are Child rights & Basic education, Child Protection, Skill development & Livelihood, Rural community development, Health, Violence against women and safe city. Besides the direct community intervention, the organization works through several district working committees constituted for basic education, bonded labour, child labour and women.
SADRAG emphasizes on- ground work based on personal values of honesty, commitment and passion. It follows development programming for a sustainable impact on the quality of life of people.
Dr Bhandari is the nominated member of several district level committees and Sexual Harassment Committees constituted under The Sexual Harassment for Women at Workplace Act, 2013.