Spiral
Innovative, community-centric models that bridge accessibility and affordability gaps, and improve primary healthcare

Sadhika – A community health entrepreneurship model

Urban low-income communities bear a disproportionate burden of livelihood insecurity, poor health, and inadequate nutrition compared to the broader urban population. These challenges are exacerbated by social identities, with women and LGBTQIA+ individuals facing compounded marginalisation. Limited economic opportunities, poor health outcomes, and systemic barriers for these groups demand urgent action, especially in the context of rapid urbanisation, rising healthcare costs, and emerging threats like climate change and pandemics.

Sadhika is a transformative community entrepreneurship initiative at the nexus of health and livelihoods. It aims to empower women from urban low-income communities and LGBTQIA+ individuals by creating sustainable economic opportunities while addressing the health needs of marginalised urban populations.

By tapping into the expanding home-based healthcare sector, Sadhika seeks to provide localised, home-based primary healthcare services in urban India. This will not only improve access to healthcare for underserved communities but also enable resilient livelihoods, offering a critical safety net for their families.

How We Operate

The programme is being implemented in urban and peri-urban areas of Lucknow, Mumbai (Mira Bhayander), and Pune (Pimpri Chinchwad). It aims to empower women and LGBTQIA+ individuals from urban low-income households by training, equipping, and supporting them to become Community Health Entrepreneurs (CHEs), also known as Sadhikas. The Sadhikas deliver essential services such as primary healthcare diagnostics, affordable health products, telemedicine consultations, and referral support, creating a sustainable income source while addressing critical health needs within their communities.

Our Partners

Urban health challenges are multifaceted and too complex for any single entity to address alone. To that end, Samyak builds transformative partnerships that help promote health equity.
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HSBC

In the News

Selection of Sadhika

Selection of Sadhika

Between November and December 2024, an extensive recruitment process was conducted to identify intervention sites in Lucknow and Pimpri Chinchwad. The project team engaged with community stakeholders to understand urban marginalized areas, promoted the program through advertisements, and connected with potential applicants.

The recruitment followed a two-step process: a digital online assessment to evaluate technical and digital skills, followed by a personal interview. During the selection process, Sadhikas shared their vision and motivation. As a result, 20 promising Sadhikas were recruited from Mohanlalganj, Banthra, and urban pockets of Lucknow, while 15 were selected from low-income urban areas of Nigdi, Chikali, and Moshi in Pimpri Chinchwad.
Sadhika Orientation

Sadhika Orientation

A one-day orientation for Sadhikas was held in Lucknow on December 25, 2024, and in Pimpri Chinchwad on January 4, 2025. The session aimed to foster connections among Sadhikas and the team, introduce them to the program journey, and celebrate its launch.

During the orientation, each Sadhika received a personalized name badge. As the agenda unfolded, three parallel engagement activities took place:

  • Sadhika’s Mera Sapna: One of the engagement activities invited Sadhikas to envision their aspirations two years from now and reflect on where they see themselves. They documented their dreams on a dedicated board or chart. Throughout the orientation, selected Sadhikas were invited to share their vision with the group.
  • Sadhika Sakhi: To foster long-term peer support, each Sadhika was paired with another from the same geography, ensuring a balance of strengths. This pairing encouraged mutual support, enabling them to address queries and navigate challenges together
  • Aaj kaisa lag raha hai: A feedback process was conducted to understand how Sadhikas felt throughout the orientation and gather their insights. They shared their thoughts and suggestions by writing on sticky notes and placing them on a dedicated chart.
Community Immersion

Community Immersion

As the Sadhikas embarked on their entrepreneurial journey, it was essential for them to understand the communities they would serve and establish their presence. To facilitate this, a three-and-a-half-week community immersion was planned, blending community meetings, interactions with local leaders, influencers, and families.

This process helped the Sadhikas build rapport, strengthen their identity within the community, and gain a deeper understanding of its needs and priorities. Additionally, it allowed them to generate demand for their services by engaging directly with community members. The immersion period took place in January 2025 across Lucknow and Pimpri Chinchwad.
Baseline Study

Baseline Study

The baseline study for the project was designed with the following objectives:

  • Assess the current health status of the target population.
  • Understand health-seeking behaviors, including how and where individuals access healthcare services.
  • Examine healthcare expenditures and financial challenges faced by the community.
    This data is crucial for designing effective, community-specific interventions, tracking progress, measuring project impact, and ensuring optimal resource utilization to improve health outcomes.

    To facilitate this, Sadhikas in Lucknow and Pimpri Chinchwad have been trained to conduct the baseline study in their respective areas.

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