Authored by Parmesh Shahani, Head, Godrej
DEI Lab
The
true measure of a Viksit Bharat lies in how it uplifts all citizens, including those
from marginalised communities. Economic growth without inclusion only deepens
inequality. As India accelerates its development journey, equal attention to
social progress is essential to ensure that every individual, regardless of
gender identity or orientation, can thrive.
Since
the Supreme Court’s landmark 2018 ruling decriminalising homosexuality,
progress for the LGBTQIA+ community has been steady but uneven. The
government’s formation of a high-level committee for queer welfare in 2023 was
a welcome step, yet the journey toward equality remains long. Collaboration
between philanthropy, government and civil society organisations (CSOs) is
vital to improve the quality of life for queer people, extending beyond
healthcare and employment to include fundamental rights such as marriage
equality.
The
foundation for an inclusive Bharat rests on four key priorities. The first is
ensuring universal access to queer-affirming basic services. This means
sensitising medical professionals across rural and urban India, making
healthcare affordable and inclusive, and simplifying access to gender-affirming
documents. Strengthening anti-discrimination systems and cracking down on
harmful practices such as conversion therapy must also be prioritised.
Policymakers and philanthropic funders should work together to create informed
and compassionate healthcare systems while investing in grassroots initiatives
that promote awareness and behaviour change.
The
second priority is strengthening community-led crisis response mechanisms.
Shelters, legal aid, and peer networks are crucial for providing safety and
support to those in distress. Flexible funding for queer-led organisations,
along with government schemes like Garima Greh, can build stronger, more inclusive
infrastructure. When communities are empowered to design their own solutions,
they create models that are sustainable and rooted in lived experience.
Third,
meaningful change requires connecting policy reform with social transformation.
Behaviour change and public sensitisation must go hand in hand with legal
progress. Promoting participatory policymaking, queer representation in
governance, and hyperlocal outreach can help shift societal narratives. The
role of philanthropy here is critical, moving from short-term targets to
long-term, trust-based funding that allows inclusive mindsets to take hold
across generations.
The
fourth and final priority is building credible, community-centric data and
evidence. Including queer individuals in the national Census and other surveys
will help policymakers and researchers understand their realities and challenges.
Gender-disaggregated and culturally sensitive data can inform targeted
interventions, ensuring that efforts reach those who remain invisible,
particularly individuals from rural, Dalit, tribal, and low-income backgrounds.
Funders, in turn, can strengthen grassroots research and documentation to guide
inclusive decision-making.
Progress
on these fronts will require steady collaboration between government, CSOs, and
philanthropic partners. Earlier this year, the Pride Fund, a pilot initiative launched by Godrej
Industries Group, Radhika Piramal, and the Keshav Suri Foundation, marked an
encouraging step toward structured and sustained philanthropy for India’s
LGBTQIA+ community. Yet this is only the beginning. The transformative work of
queer-led organisations across India will need many more such long-term and
patient efforts to bring lasting impact.
Legal
reforms or isolated initiatives alone cannot achieve equality. Real inclusion
takes time, persistence, and collective action, addressing not just rights, but
everyday realities of access, safety, and dignity. As India marches toward Viksit Bharat 2047, progress will ultimately be defined by
how inclusively we build. A truly developed nation is one where every citizen,
visible or invisible, has the right to live freely, safely, and with pride.