Driving Social Impact
Articles and research examining how CSR, social enterprise, and policy can shape sustainable livelihoods and systemic change.
Interview with Alka Talwar
In this interview, Alka Talwar— former Chief CSR and Sustainability Officer at Tata Chemicals—shares insights into how the company navigated CSR work during the COVID-19 pandemic and why greater flexibility in the use of CSR funds can improve project impact. She discusses pivoting to digital engagement in rural areas, supporting vulnerable communities, and emerging opportunities in skilling and circular economy initiatives. Talwar also emphasizes collaborative CSR efforts across corporates and the need to focus on the efficacy, not just the mandated 2 % spend, to drive sustainable community development.
Alka Talwar’s Research Profile on ResearchGate
The ResearchGate profile of Alka Talwar provides an overview of her role as Chief CSR and Sustainability Officer at Tata Chemicals and highlights her academic contributions, including work on social entrepreneurship and sustainability management. It showcases her expertise in areas such as social entrepreneurship, empowerment, and organisational embedding of sustainability practices, reflecting the interplay between corporate initiatives and broader social impact.
Linking Social Entrepreneurship and Social Change: The Mediating Role of Empowerment
This academic article examines how social entrepreneurship can drive broader societal change by empowering individuals, particularly women, within constrained social and cultural contexts. Using evidence from a rural social enterprise in North India, the study shows that empowering business processes not only enable economic participation but also contribute to shifts in social norms, suggesting that strategic social entrepreneurship can be a catalyst for both individual agency and community transformation.
State of India’s Livelihoods (SOIL) Report 2025
The 18th State of India’s Livelihoods (SOIL) Report presents a comprehensive analysis of contemporary livelihood challenges and opportunities across India. It highlights how economic growth and structural changes have shaped employment patterns, with persistent concerns over informal work, rural household income security, climate pressures on agriculture, and the need to expand non-farm and urban livelihoods. The report situates these trends within broader national goals for inclusive growth and sustainable development, underlining how policy and institutional responses must evolve to improve livelihood outcomes.
Locked Homes, Empty Schools: The Impact of Distress Seasonal Migration on the Rural Poor
seasonal migration by poor rural families in India disrupts children's education and perpetuates poverty. The book focuses on families who leave their villages for several months each year to work in sectors such as brick kilns, sugarcane harvesting, construction, quarries, and salt pans.
Distress Seasonal Migration and its Impact on Children's Education
How poverty-driven seasonal migration in rural India disrupts children's education. The study finds that many migrant children experience irregular attendance, learning gaps, or school dropout because education systems are designed for settled populations rather than mobile families. While migration can improve household incomes, it often limits educational opportunities, especially for children from marginalized communities. The report argues that flexible measures such as seasonal hostels, mobile schools, and worksite learning centers are essential to ensure that migrant children are not excluded from education.