Unignorable: Grassroots Leaders Serving India's Last Mile

Some of India's most pressing challenges—education exclusion, child labour, migration, livelihoods, and social discrimination—cannot be solved by policy alone. They require leaders who are deeply rooted in communities, who earn trust over years, and who continue showing up despite immense personal and professional challenges. In this powerful session from Mission Billion Summit 2026 by Change Engine, grassroots leaders working across education, migrant labour, and Denotified Tribe communities share their journeys, the realities of working at the last mile, and what it takes to build lasting change from within communities. Speakers: •⁠ ⁠Advait Dandwate, Founder, Vardhishnu •⁠ ⁠Anshu Kumar Jaiswal, Founder, Neev Ki Int Foundation •⁠ ⁠Sheshraj, Founder, Lahar Foundation •⁠ ⁠Madan Padaki, Founder & Managing Trustee, Head Held High Foundation (Moderator) Key Moments: 00:00 Session Introduction 02:33 Moderator Opens Discussion 03:28 Advait Dandwate — Grassroots Education 05:15 Anshu Kumar Jaiswal — Brick Kiln Workers 09:04 Shesh Raj — Pardhi Community 19:04 Audience Q&A 25:38 Panel Discussion — Trust & Loneliness 45:16 Collective Pledges & Closing Circle 57:47 Closing Remarks More than a panel discussion, this session became a candid conversation about resilience, belonging, and collective responsibility. Speakers shared personal stories of struggle and hope, while participants reflected on how they could support grassroots leaders and make them feel less alone in their journeys. The session concludes with a powerful reminder that meaningful social change requires not only funding and programs, but also trust, empathy, solidarity, and a willingness to engage with realities that are often overlooked. "Once you look into it, you cannot ignore it."