Yugantar

What Yugantar does

Yugantar is a Hyderabad-based not-for-profit organization founded in 1980 that operates at the intersection of civic technology, financial inclusion, and community-based service delivery for marginalized populations in India. Its portfolio spans a pan-India digital platform (YouRTI.in) that simplifies and anonymizes Right to Information filings, a physical Queer-Trans Wellness & Support Center (QT Center) offering shelter and mental health services, and a suite of community programmes covering financial literacy (Budget Rani, Digital Budget Rani, Digital Pay Patashaala), government-scheme access (Yojana Saathi), youth rehabilitation (Small Voices, Small Victories), and migrant-worker support. The technology stack is built around accessible digital infrastructure—a self-serve RTI platform with public application archive, IVR-based payment integrations for feature-phone users, digital tracking systems for government-scheme applications, and interactive learning tools—rather than proprietary AI/ML systems.

The organization is funded primarily through foundation grants and foreign contributions under India's FCRA regime, with named institutional backers including Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and IDRC. Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries through a hybrid model combining direct community resource centers (Kishan Bagh, Habsiguda headquarters), on-ground facilitators trained as community cadres, and digital self-serve channels. Yugantar's customer base spans five primary segments: women from low-income households, queer-trans individuals, at-risk youth, inter-state migrant workers, and citizens seeking government transparency—each addressed through distinct programme structures. Beneficiary outcomes documented include 1,498 women trained in skill development (2016-2018), 60 community facilitators trained in digital finance (2023-2025), 49 youth supported through CBT-based rehabilitation, and 4,000+ RTIs filed pan-India.

Yugantar is governed by a board (President Sashi Kumar, Treasurer K. Lalitha, CEO/Secretary Tejaswini Madabhushi) with no parent company or external equity ownership. The organization also generates a modest revenue stream through external consulting and assessment services offered to other NGOs. With 73 employees, multiple concurrent programmes, and 45 years of continuous operation, Yugantar functions as a mature mid-sized Indian development organization transitioning from a film/research collective into a multi-vertical civic-tech and service-delivery platform.

Name

Yugantar

Legal name

Yugantar

Website

https://yugantar.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Yugantar is a Hyderabad-based non-profit founded in 1980 that operates digital platforms (YouRTI.in) and community programs spanning civic transparency, queer-trans welfare (QT Center), financial inclusion, and government scheme access for marginalized communities across India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Community Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Inclusion & Public Tech Access Training (Device/Internet/Basic IT) (EDAAAFAE), Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

Keywords

• Civic technology platform
• Community development programmes
• Financial inclusion services
• Right to information filing
• Queer-trans welfare support

Headquarters

HQ city

Hyderabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Donations: Yugantar operates as a not-for-profit organization primarily funded through grants from international development organizations, foundations, and charitable donations. The organization publishes FCRA audited accounts demonstrating compliance with foreign contribution regulations.
2. Consulting and External Assessments: The organization offers external assessment services for financial and administrative systems, governance practices, and organizational development to other NGOs and organizations in the development sector.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Yugantar is a non-profit organization that operates digital platforms (notably YouRTI.in for anonymous RTI filing) and runs community-based programmes focused on financial inclusion for women, queer-trans welfare, government scheme access, youth development, and migrant worker support. Its work combines research, technology, and grassroots partnerships to address equity and development challenges across India, primarily in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Product overview

Yugantar is a multidisciplinary NGO founded in 1980 that operates a portfolio of digital platforms and community programmes spanning civic technology, financial inclusion, queer-trans welfare, youth development, and migrant support. Its primary digital product is YouRTI.in — a platform enabling anonymous online RTI filing across India. Supporting digital inclusion programmes include Digital Pay Patashaala, Digital Budget Rani, and Budget Rani, which together form a continuum of financial literacy offerings progressing from analogue budgeting tools to digital payment skills. The Queer-Trans Wellness & Support Center (QT Center) and Yojana Saathi provide direct community services. Completed programmes include COVID-19 response, vocational training (Tech M SMART Center), skill development for women, migrant worker support, food security advocacy, and documentary-research projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YouRTI.in: A digital platform that simplifies filing RTI applications, enabling individuals to access information from public authorities easily, anonymously, and at scale across India.
• QT Center
• Yojana Saathi
• Digital Pay Patashaala

Products and services

• YouRTI.in A digital platform that simplifies filing Right to Information (RTI) applications, enabling individuals across India to access information from public authorities easily, anonymously, and at scale. Features include anonymous filings, request tracking, application routing, and a publicly accessible archive of RTI applications and responses.
• Queer-Trans Wellness & Support Center (QT Center) A community-led safe space in Hyderabad offering shelter, mental health support, counselling, helpline services, skill development, and essential services for queer-trans individuals, focused on dignity, safety, and long-term wellbeing.
• Yojana Saathi A community-based initiative supporting residents in Hyderabad to access government schemes, documentation, and essential services through on-ground outreach and digital tracking systems.
• Digital Pay Patashaala A financial literacy and digital inclusion programme equipping women from low-income households with skills to use banking services, digital payments, and safely navigate financial risks.
• Digital Budget Rani A digital financial inclusion programme bridging the digital divide through community-led training on UPI, digital banking, and online financial safety for women in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
• Budget Rani A financial literacy initiative supporting women from low-income households in building confidence to manage money, access banking services, and engage with formal financial systems, using interactive tools including a Snakes & Ladders-based learning module.
• COVID-19 Response Initiatives A series of community health interventions supporting vulnerable communities through COVID-19 awareness, healthcare access, vaccination drives, and essential services across 21 low-income communities in Hyderabad.
• Small Voices, Small Victories A youth engagement project combining research, media, and capacity-building to prevent violence and support civic participation among at-risk youth in Hyderabad, featuring the Do Raahein programme with CBT-based interventions.
• Skill Development for Women from Marginalised Communities (Mahila Sanatkar) A training programme building livelihood skills in tailoring and design for women from marginalised communities, implemented in partnership with Mahila Sanatkar cooperative, training 1,498 women over two years.
• Tech M SMART Center A vocational training initiative supporting urban youth from disadvantaged backgrounds with employability skills including English communication, computer literacy, Tally accounting, office assistance, and career guidance in Koti and Kukatpally, Hyderabad.
• Inter-state Migrant Support Project (SDTT-Katedan) An initiative improving access to healthcare, financial services, and social security for inter-state migrant workers in the Katedan industrial area through health camps, documentation support, financial literacy, and skill development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,000 RTI applications filed pan-India through YouRTI.in
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mahila SanatkarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016A cooperative society of craftswomen located in Charminar. Partnership for skill development training programs in design and tailoring, also established skill development center for migrant women in Katedan.
• QT CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA group of queer individuals based in Hyderabad with diverse caste, gender and sexual identities. Together with Yugantar, they form the core team of QT Center, providing lived experience leadership and community representation.
• Pause for PerspectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA group of queer-affirming clinical psychologists, counsellors and educationists who offer group and individual counselling sessions at QT Center, providing mental health support services.
• Nirmaan FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA registered NGO offering skill development, education and entrepreneurship programs at QT Center, supporting economic empowerment and livelihood opportunities for queer-trans individuals.
• Bhumika Women's CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith expertise in running a successful helpline for women since 2006, Bhumika hires and trains dedicated personnel to manage a helpline for queer people at QT Center.
• Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in organizing health camps across migrant settlements for healthcare access and support.
• Telangana Police Women Safety WingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on conceptualization and creation of 'Pride Place: Transgender (LGBQIA+) Persons Protection cell', continuing to work on sensitizing and training Police Officers.
• Telangana State Government's Welfare Board for Transgender PersonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTashi Choedup, Programme Manager of QT Center, served as member of the state's welfare board for transgender persons.
• Radio CharminarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on 'Do Raahein' program, a structured intervention for at-risk youth broadcast through community radio.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Internet Freedom Foundation: An Indian digital rights nonprofit working on transparency, internet freedom, and civic technology. Highly comparable to Yugantar's YouRTI.in platform given shared focus on government transparency and RTI-related advocacy.
• Nazariya: A Queer Feminist Resource Group: An Indian queer feminist organization providing LGBTQ+ support, research, and advocacy. Closely aligned with Yugantar's QT Center work on queer-trans community support.
• IT for Change: An Indian NGO working at the intersection of digital rights, gender, and governance with community-based programs. Comparable to Yugantar's combined focus on civic technology (YouRTI.in) and women's digital inclusion.
• Humsafar Trust: An Indian LGBTQ+ community organization providing health, support, and advocacy services. Most directly comparable to Yugantar's QT Center for queer-trans individuals in terms of community-led wellness and shelter.
• CREA (Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action): A feminist human rights organization based in India working on gender equality, sexuality, and women's rights. Comparable to Yugantar across its feminist research, advocacy, and queer-trans community programs.
• Aajeevika Bureau: An Indian organization addressing migrant worker livelihoods, documentation, and social security. Directly comparable to Yugantar's Inter-state Migrant Support Project at Katedan.

Others

• HasGeek: An Indian technology community platform hosting civic-tech and social impact discussions. An ecosystem peer relevant to Yugantar's YouRTI.in civic technology positioning and open-source platform approach.

Broad incumbents

• Pratham Education Foundation: One of India's largest education NGOs with extensive community-led literacy and skills programs. Comparable to Yugantar's financial literacy and skill development programs (Tech M SMART Center, Digital Budget Rani) but at much larger scale.
• VANI (Voluntary Action Network India): An umbrella body supporting NGOs and voluntary organizations across India on governance, FCRA compliance, and capacity building. Comparable in organizational context to Yugantar as a registered NGO operating with FCRA compliance.

Emerging players

• Nyaaya: An Indian legal-tech and civic information platform simplifying access to laws and government processes. Comparable to Yugantar's YouRTI.in for digital civic access, though Nyaaya focuses more on legal information than RTI filing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/qtcentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yugantar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Yugantar