Photography Promotion Trust

Bring about change. This is the objective upon which Photography Promotion Trust (PPT) was born in 2005. And why not? After all, its founder Sudharak Olwe has practiced bringing change to marginalized communities through his own photography for years. The stories of the underprivileged and oppressed compel Olwe to document their lives and tell their stories. From the conservancy workers, sex workers, and farmers, to maternal and child mortality, and atrocities against Dalits, Olwe persevered to get them attention, reveal their humanity, and earn them dignity.

PPT, a nonprofit organization, takes Olwe’s initiative and builds collaborations and community participation. PPT organizes photography workshops for children, students, and women living in slums or villages to raise awareness of issues through photography. PPT consistently organizes workshops for the children of sanitation workers in Mumbai, facilitated by a team of volunteers and photographers with PPT.

Photography On Wheels is a remarkable effort by PPT. The team travels by van across India, into small towns and villages where communities face hardship – like the Pardhi community in Maharashtra. The Pardhi became a denotified tribe and were branded criminals during British rule in India. PPT organizes exhibitions and workshops for groups that work with communities, like Pani Haq Samiti in the slums of Jogeshwari.

PPT is also initiating a Centre for Social Photography, which will foster talent and promote social photography. For his work, Olwe was bestowed with Padma Shri in 2016, the fourth highest civilian award in India.

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