Exploring the Transformative Impact of Women’s Empowerment

Community Spotlight: Harsha Poluju, Mountain View, CA | Goonj Fellow

At Goonj, we often speak of the ripple effects of empowering women. Harsha Poloju, a valued member of the Goonj US community, has beautifully captured this in his latest work, published by the Centre for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP). The paper investigates the impact of women’s workforce participation at Goonj. It explores barriers to work, highlights the importance of inclusion, and proposes ways to enhance opportunities for women in grassroots settings.

Harsha’s journey with Goonj began as a fellow, where he later led program implementation in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. His firsthand experiences shaped his deep understanding of the critical role women play in household decision-making and community development. These experiences also inspired his paper, which explores how empowering women contributes to sustainable development through its influence on household decision-making and broader societal change.

Key Themes of the Paper

The paper highlights:

• The pivotal role women play in driving community-led development.

• The interplay between women’s empowerment and household decision-making.

• Broader implications of women-led change for achieving sustainable development.

  
  

Harsha also brings a unique perspective, enriched by his recent fellowship in Climate Action and his work as an educator in Mountain View, California.

This work is a testament to how Goonj’s grassroots-driven model is not just about addressing immediate needs but also creating long-term, systemic change. Harsha’s insights are a powerful reminder of the untapped potential of women as changemakers in their communities and beyond.

Read and Reflect

We invite you to read Harsha’s paper and explore how the Goonj model has inspired impactful research on women’s empowerment and sustainable development.

Read Harsha’s Paper Here

About Harsha Poluju

Harsha Poluju

Harsha Poloju is a Social Impact professional with experience in social innovation, community mobilization, and public policy. He began his career with Goonj as a fellow and later led program implementation in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Following a two-year fellowship with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, he took on the role of leading Social Innovation at the Telangana State Innovation Cell. Recently, Harsha completed a fellowship in Climate Action and is now working as an educator in Mountain View, California. Harsha is deeply interested in exploring the interplay between women’s empowerment and household decision-making, aiming to understand their broader contributions to sustainable development.