DHAN Foundation has been organizing Walkathon Annually Since 2007 with each year focusing on a unique development themes. so far, DHAN organized 18 Walkathon with 9 different themes. Every year, the community federations promoted by DHAN Foundation also organizing Walkathon on the same day and same theme. Walkathon 2025 is the 19th version of the series which carries the theme of “Development Partnership”
On 25th January, 2025, Walkathon 2025 happened in 30 places from 7 states with 24,000 participants comprises of DHAN Staff, People functionaries, communities, students and development partners. Along with that 2500 tree sapling plantations, Shramadhan, competitions for school and college students were conducted across the regions. About Rs.30 Lakh amount was mobilized during the Walkathon event by various regions collectively. Indian Bank, Canara Bank, Union Bank, ITC, LIC, Bank of India, Rotary Club, VMRDA and local philanthropies are the major partners for these contributions.
On March 7, 2002, with the auspicious presence and blessings from Padma Bhushan Anna Hazare, the Vayalagam Movement was launched. As we often admire the word `Water unites everyone’, the Vayalagam Movement Day and World Water Day 2025 celebrations have united entire colleagues and community in DHAN for celebrating water everywhere. A range of field actions were consistently continued not only for celebrations but also for taking the mission into next mile.
People Seminar and Awareness Event, Vayalaga Pongal, School competitions, Shramadan and Tree Plantations are the major events and celebrations happened from 7th – 22nd, March 2025. About 32 events with 1243 participants including farmers, women members, villagers and school students were happened across the Vayalagam regions.
As a part of these celebrations, a people conference on “Usufruct rights on Irrigation Tanks” was held at DHAN People Academy on 22nd March with the community leaders, members and DHAN Staff.
Every year, the DHAN Foundation celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD) with great fervor, uniting thousands of women and stakeholders to honor achievements and reaffirm their commitment to gender equality. The 2025 IWD theme, "For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, and Empowerment," resonated powerfully across DHAN’s community-based institutions. This year, celebrations unfolded across 25 regions, with a total of 113 chief guests from various development sectors, banks, academic institutions, and government agencies participating. Over 35,000 women, including SHG members, leaders, and community stakeholders, came together in diverse formats—group meetings, workshops, cultural events, health camps, livelihood trainings, and heritage walks—to celebrate the power, resilience, and leadership of women.
Regional IWD Celebrations: Beyond the central event, DHAN’s regional celebrations showcased the rich tapestry of local innovation, cultural heritage, and developmental action. In regions, women led health initiatives such as breast cancer screenings, maternity care camps, and de-addiction awareness programs. Over 1,600 women benefited from these health interventions, which included cancer screening, hemoglobin testing, and eye care.
Women’s economic empowerment was another cornerstone of regional events. In Dindigul, livelihood trainings inauguration included a Beautician Course and a moringa-based value addition workshop, equipping women with marketable skills. Simultaneously, educational celebrations gathered tutors from 38 evening tuition centers to present progress reports and participate in cultural expressions reinforcing girl child education. Special baby shower events were held, honoring over 55 pregnant women with nutritional support and health education, fostering holistic maternal care.
Competitions and Cultural Shows: Competitions and cultural showcases were vibrant highlights across regions. From rangoli and singing contests to food festivals and public pledges, the festivities celebrated talent, unity, and shared aspirations. In one memorable instance, a federation hosted a Heritage Walk and storytelling session at a women’s temple, deepening community roots and pride.
Among the many inspiring speeches delivered during the celebrations, Dr. Vijayashree from Basaveshwara Hospital in Kalburgi stood out. She called on women to focus on both physical and mental health, noting that while women are empowered, they often lack the space and support to realize their full potential. She stressed the need to break social constraints to give true meaning to empowerment. Equally moving was the address by Mrs. Vidya, Joint Director of Agriculture in Thanjavur, who spotlighted women’s entrepreneurship, health, and yoga as vital components of well-being and self-reliance. Her message, urging women to prioritize their health and pursue business opportunities, resonated deeply with attendees and set the tone for action.
Across every region, from coastal Odisha to rural Karnataka, from the hills of Idukki to urban Hyderabad, and Mysuru, DHAN’s Women’s Day celebrations created safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces. These events did more than commemorate a day—they amplified voices, nurtured leaders, and reaffirmed the organization’s deep-rooted commitment to building a just and equitable society for all women and girls.
The leaders and Associates of regions/ locations are intending to visit DHAN Collective programmes and witness its impacts for the aspirations. It is conceived as Yatra for Development. The visit to other locations/ regions on DHAN Collective initiatives will enable the leaders and associates to build the faith on the DHAN Collective ideology and enable them to connect their work with the purpose of Poverty Eradication. It may be like an exposure to DHAN Collective system and initiative.
Purpose of DHAN yatra
In the year 2024-2025, seven regions – Ramnad KF, Kanchipuram, Madurai rural, Solapur, Beed, Gundar Upper and Gundar Middle & Lower undergone this DHAN Yatra with 828 participants comprises of community leaders, associates, members and DHAN Staff. They visited various development works in Madurai, Dindugal, Sivagangai and Pudukottai districts. Pambar, Madurai Rural, Madurai Urban and Dindugal regions hosted the participants from various regions.
Between Jan-March 2025, Gundar Middle & Lower Region undergone DHAN Yatra from March 19th to 21st, 2025 and Gundar Upper region from March 25th to 27th, 2025.
