CEQUIN 2.0: Indian Gender Equality Pioneer Announces Major Multi-State Expansion

Last Updated:March 25, 2026, 22:15 IST

Since its inception in March 2009, the organisation has remained at the vanguard of addressing the structural barriers that restrict women and girls

Marking nearly two decades of transformative grassroots work, the Centre for Equity and Inclusion (CEQUIN) has officially announced a high-impact expansion phase designed to scale its unique gender-transformative models across India. Since its inception in March 2009, the organisation has remained at the vanguard of addressing the structural barriers that restrict women and girls, specifically focusing on the gendered nature of public spaces. What began as a focused gender resource centre in the conservative community of Batla House, Delhi, has blossomed into a multi-state movement that has touched the lives of over three million individuals across Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

At the heart of CEQUIN’s success is its flagship “Kickstart Equality" model, a holistic sports-for-development approach that utilises football as a strategic entry point. This model does more than teach a sport; it builds agency, confidence, and leadership while simultaneously engaging men and boys to dismantle deep-seated gender norms. The efficacy of this approach is backed by rigorous impact assessments conducted between 2023 and 2025, which reveal that 97% of participating girls report significantly increased confidence in navigating public spaces. Furthermore, 70% of these young women have expanded their career aspirations to include national-level sports representation, while 85% now actively reclaim public spaces for seven to ten hours a week.

The 2024-2026 roadmap sees CEQUIN entering new geographical and digital frontiers. A landmark partnership with the Jeevika and the Gates Foundation is set to take the “Kickstart Equality" model into Bihar, leveraging existing women’s collectives to embed leadership and male allyship within rural community systems. In Haryana’s Nuh district, the organisation is reviving a grassroots sports ecosystem that has enabled over 1,500 girls to participate in state-level competitions for the first time in a quarter-century. These physical expansions are complemented by digital innovation; following the viral success of the #MardonWaliBaat campaign—which reached 16 million people—CEQUIN is launching a second phase supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies to foster deeper peer-led engagement among young men.

The organisation’s contributions have garnered significant national and global accolades over the past year. Chairperson Sara Abdullah Pilot was recently honoured with the “Shakti Award" for her contributions to women’s empowerment, while the organisation itself was named the “Best Gender Equality Initiative of the Year" at the Indian Social Impact Awards 2025. Internationally, CEQUIN’s evidence-based approach was recognised by J-PAL and Aparajita, securing a competitive pilot project to address gender-based violence in Seelampur, Delhi. This global recognition underscores the strength of a model that successfully links sport with education, health, and employability.

As CEQUIN embarks on its fourth year of partnership with the Azim Premji Foundation through 2029, the focus remains on “scaling deep". This involves strengthening advanced leadership pathways and ensuring that shifts in girls’ agency are sustained by their families and broader institutions. Founders Sara Abdullah Pilot and Lora Krishnamurthi Prabhu emphasise that real change occurs when communities move in unison—when girls claim their rightful space and boys evolve into active allies. By bridging the gap between education and actual public participation, CEQUIN is not just implementing a programme; it is redesigning the social fabric to ensure every girl has the dignity and opportunity to shape her own future.

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