DHAN Foundation’s 29th Foundation Day was celebrated in 51 locations across all regions with vibrant participation from staff, leaders, and community members. At central level, DHAN Foundation celebrated the Foundation Day with a vibrant and meaningful programme at TNCCI, Hatsun Hall, Madurai, bringing together community leaders, government officials, development professionals, and people’s institutions from across the region. The event began with the traditional Mulaipaari–Kumbam procession, symbolising prosperity and community wellbeing, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Gandhi Jayanti. Key moments of the day included powerful self-declarations by community members who had moved out of poverty and reclaimed water bodies from encroachment, the release of the audio book “Virtues on Daily Reflection,” and the Foundation Day Address by Executive Director Shri M. P. Vasimalai, outlining DHAN’s vision for inclusive growth and strong people’s institutions.
The programme also featured a Graduation Ceremony welcoming new DHAN professionals, special addresses by Shri K. J. Praveen Kumar, IAS, District Collector of Madurai, and session on Ethical Lifestyle by Ms. Kabila Visalakshi, and the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to technology pioneer Shri C. S. Satish Babu. Community recognitions under the Kalanjiam, Vayalagam and Neithal People’s Movements, along with declarations by beneficiaries who had overcome anaemia and alcohol addiction, highlighted DHAN’s integrated development approach. The celebration concluded with Foundation Day addresses by Kalanjiam Foundation and DHAN Vayalagam Tank Foundation on the annual theme “Holistic Financial Inclusion,” reaffirming DHAN Foundation’s 29-year commitment to building people’s institutions, strengthening livelihoods, restoring ecosystems, and promoting ethical, inclusive development across India.
Regional Highlights
DHAN Foundation successfully organized its 28th Annual Retreat in 2026 at the campus of Mohandas College of Engineering and Technology, Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from 20th to 23rd, December, 2026. The Retreat brought together DHAN’s development professionals from across regions, programmes, and institutions, offering a powerful space for collective reflection, learning, and future planning. Rooted in DHAN’s long-standing culture of introspection and shared responsibility, the Retreat reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to poverty eradication through community-driven and partnership-based development
A Shared Theme: Advancing Development Partnership
This year’s Retreat was anchored on the theme “Advancing Development Partnership,” recognising that today’s complex development challenges cannot be addressed by isolated efforts. The programme highlighted the importance of collaboration among communities, government agencies, financial institutions, corporate partners, academic institutions, health systems, insurance providers, and international networks. Through dialogue and experience sharing, participants explored how partnerships built on trust, mutual respect, and shared purpose can create deeper, more sustainable social impact
Day One: Rediscovering the Institutional Self
The Retreat commenced with a deep focus on the “Institutional Self,” a signature process of DHAN’s annual gatherings. Participants were invited to move beyond targets and deliverables and reflect on their inner compass as development professionals. Through structured plenary sessions, small-group discussions, reflective instruments, and storytelling, participants examined how individual values and daily practices contribute to shaping DHAN’s culture, credibility, and moral authority. This process helped reinforce DHAN’s core values of Grassroots Action, Enabling, Innovation, Collaboration, Excellence, and Self-Regulation. Participants reaffirmed that the true strength of the institution lies not only in its programmes and systems but in the integrity, empathy, and commitment of its people
Day Two: Learning from the Kani Tribal Community
One of the most impactful components of the Retreat was immersion with the Kani tribal community living in the forest regions of Thiruvananthapuram district. Over 400 DHAN team members visited the Kani settlements in Vellanad and Perungadavila, engaging closely with families, elders, and community leaders. Participants learned about the Kani people’s rich indigenous knowledge systems, traditional livelihoods, medicinal practices, cultural identity, and close relationship with nature. The immersion encouraged practitioners to reflect on their own approaches to development, reminding them that genuine transformation emerges from humility, listening, and partnership with communities. This experience powerfully reinforced DHAN’s belief that communities are not beneficiaries but co-creators and equal partners in development
Building Strong Teams and Partnerships
The Retreat also focused on strengthening internal teamwork within DHAN’s nested institutional structure and expanding external development partnerships. Participants explored how cohesive teams inside the organisation create the foundation for effective partnerships with banks, governments, insurance providers, CSR institutions, markets, health systems, academic institutions, and international networks. Discussions emphasised that development partnerships evolve over time from simple collaboration into long-term alliances built on trust, shared responsibility, continuous learning, and mutual accountability. This understanding will guide DHAN’s engagement with partners across sectors in the coming years
Looking Ahead: A Renewed Commitment
As the Retreat concluded, participants collectively shaped a strategic roadmap for the year ahead. The learning, reflection, and dialogue strengthened DHAN’s institutional unity and renewed the commitment of its people to walk alongside communities with compassion, professionalism, and courage. The 28th Annual Retreat thus stood as a living expression of DHAN’s philosophy — that when individuals grow, institutions become stronger; when institutions collaborate, communities flourish; and when communities lead, development becomes truly sustainable.
43rd Vayalagam Movement Workers Training
DHAN People Academy (DPA) have successfully completed 43rd batch of Vayalagam Movement Workers Training. 28 Field Level Associates from the various Federations of Pambar, Gundar and Vaipar regions participated in 42 Days Movement Workers Training from 25th September to 31st December, 2026.
Water Immersion Programme
26 participants from Pazhayanoor block of Thirussur District, Kerla participated in the Water Immersion Programme from 26th to 27th November, 2026 with a field visit to Madurai CURE, Gangai Vattaram and Ponnamaravathi Vattara Vayalagam.
Kalanjiam Movement Workers Training
DPA has completed 106th and 108th batch of Kalanjiam Movement Workers Training Programme from September to November. About 35 participants from Dindugal, Ramnad, Dhar and Banswada region associates participated in the training programme.
