The CSC is excited to bring you the first new Case Study of 2023, continuing its series of published in 2022, as part of our ongoing work exploring the individual trajectories of Commonwealth Alumni, the wide-ranging impact that they are having, and the contribution their Commonwealth Scholarship has made to their developmental work.
This case study, featuring 2013 Alumnus Jalpa Bipinchandra Sukhanandi looks at her work across four of the CSC Developmental Themes: Strengthening health systems and capacity; Promoting global prosperity; Strengthening global peace, security and governance; and Access, inclusion and opportunity.
As a firm advocate for human rights, Jalpa has been instrumental in leading advocacy work to create awareness amongst the slum residents in Gujarat on their rights to adequate housing, which led to halting of illegal evictions in the slums and the rehabilitation of 1,045 affected families in India. In the health sector, she has enabled access to life-saving bone marrow donations for 80 patients with fatal blood disorders. Moreover, she has successfully led the empowerment of rural women to create long-term income-generating activities to improve their livelihoods. Jalpa has developed projects focused on improving access to education and health; promoting environmental sustainability; and community development in Gujarat.
To achieve her development outcomes, Jalpa often draws from the skills and knowledge honed during her Master’s Degree in Development and Human Rights, which she studied at Swansea University on her Commonwealth Scholarship:
‘The Scholarship helped me to develop practical and utility-based knowledge, critical thinking, and analytical skills, along with the creative ability to start my second inning. These have equipped me to do intensive research on policy, government resolutions, government notification, as well as to support verdicts or judgement of the High Court and Supreme Court in favour of vulnerable groups, such as the slum residents who are prone to forced evictions.’
‘By nature, I am an introvert, but my stint in the Scholarship program has helped to make me confident and very clear in my communication. I have received feedback about my transformation from people who interviewed me after my Scholarship program. I have become assertive at my workplace and learnt to reach out and make an impact. This confidence has helped me gain media support in my state and helped me in my life saving cause and in presenting my work and thoughts about the betterment of the society.’
