Lucknow: A major step towards making girls’ education in Uttar Pradesh more equitable, inclusive, and transformative was marked with the formal launch of the Uttar Pradesh Transformation of Girl Education Alliance Network (UTGAN) in Lucknow. The alliance brings together civil society organisations (CSOs working in the field of girls’ education to collaboratively drive long-term and systemic change through gender-transformative education.
UTGAN has been envisioned as a collective platform to strengthen efforts aimed at addressing gender inequality in education and supporting government initiatives focused on adolescent girls’ education and empowerment across the state.
While inaugurating the programme, Vaibhav Kumar, Co-founder of Swataleem Foundation, traced the journey of UTGAN and described the coming together of diverse organisations as a “golden chapter” in collaborative action. He said that collective efforts by social organisations would reinforce government initiatives on girls’ education and gender equality, making this alliance a positive and impactful step towards sustainable change.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr Pawan Sachan, Joint Director, State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Uttar Pradesh. He emphasised that meaningful change in girls’ education cannot be limited to enrolment alone. “Real transformation in girls’ education requires simultaneous changes in curriculum, teaching practices, and social mindsets,” he said. According to Dr Sachan, only gender-transformative education can bring about long-term and systemic change in the education system, and platforms like UTGAN must play an active role in driving this shift.
A panel discussion on “From Theory to Practice in Gender-Transformative Education” was also organised during the event. The discussion explored the vision of building a gender-equal Uttar Pradesh through education, drawing on global best practices and research-based frameworks. Panelists deliberated on how these approaches can be contextualised for Uttar Pradesh and how collective action can help address gender inequality at its roots.
Participating in the programme, Pushpendra Singh, Deputy Director, Department of Women and Child Development, Uttar Pradesh, stressed that collaboration between civil society and government can significantly enhance the impact of ongoing initiatives. He noted that networks like UTGAN can play a crucial role in advancing government priorities and strengthening outcomes on the ground.
During the event, the UTGAN Charter was formally released, outlining the network’s shared vision and future roadmap. Addressing the gathering, Dr Ananya Tiwari, Co-founder, Swataleem Foundation, congratulated all partner organisations and said that the alliance presents a new direction and perspective for girls’ education in Uttar Pradesh. She added that in the coming years, UTGAN will focus on research, policy dialogue, and grassroots interventions to develop a collaborative model that can serve as an example at both state and national levels.
The UTGAN network comprises organisations including Swataleem Foundation, Piramal Foundation, UNICEF, Study Hall Educational Foundation, Educate Girls, ActionAid, Pratham Education Foundation, and Milan Foundation.
The launch event was attended by state government officials, national and state-level CSO representatives, educationists, and grassroots social workers actively engaged in advancing girls’ education across Uttar Pradesh.
