Sudharak Olwe & NGO Ekjut

Ekjut is an Indian NGO that works in eleven districts of Jharkhand and Odisha, in underserved areas with marginalized populations. Their goals are to improve maternal, neonatal, and child health and nutrition, as well as to advocate for shelter rights through interventions at the grassroots and policy levels for urban homeless populations.

PhotoSouthAsia, a project of the MurthyNAYAK Foundation, supports the efforts of photographer Sudharak Olwe, who is working to shine a light on the work of Ekjut and the vital nature of what they do. Documentary photography is critical to show society truths about itself. This project is closely coordinated with Ekjut’s programs, showing what they do with quality, sensitive, evocative photographs that tell the story.

The photographic team is spending 3-4 weeks in the communities, shadowing the program team to become part of fabric of the intervention and capture frontline service providers as they impact lives. The photographs will provide evidence of the programs and their value in the communities as objective observers. They capture real life and are trained in the skills needed for photography of field work in villages and among tribals.

The result is a photo book on the themes: survive, thrive, and transform; which is to include photographs of all aspects of Ekjut’s work. Fifty individuals are being provided with photographic training, enhancing their skills to better capture images that are sensitive, powerful, and meaningful.