“Nonprofits are at the forefront of AI adoption,” stated Pragya Misra, Head – Strategy & Government Affairs, OpenAI India. “Despite facing resource constraints, they are leveraging AI to provide services to thousands, and in some instances, lakhs of beneficiaries. Our aim was to eliminate barriers and make these tools more accessible.”
The jam, organized in collaboration with Karya and Wadhwani AI, gathered social enterprises to investigate practical applications of AI—from enhancing internal efficiencies to addressing community challenges on a larger scale.
Haqdarshak Illustrates AI’s Impact on Social Programs
A notable case is Haqdarshak, a social enterprise co-founded by Aniket Doegar, which has spent over ten years facilitating access to government schemes for the public. India hosts nearly 20,000 government programs, frequently updated with new budgets, elections, and policies—presenting challenges for citizens and NGOs alike.
“From 2016 to 2020, we dedicated 4.5 years to creating a database of 7,000 schemes in 14 languages,” Doegar shared. “With AI, we can now refresh this information within 24–48 hours across all local languages. Any changes to eligibility or document requirements are instantly communicated to our field agents.”
AI is also aiding in the simplification of complex government documents, translating them from formal Hindi, Marathi, or English into accessible everyday language. This ensures that farm workers, gig workers, and construction laborers can comprehend and access their entitled benefits—without confusion or delays.
The Importance of Local Context
While AI adoption is on the rise, experts stress the significance of local context and cultural nuances. Aditya Nayan, Associate Director – Partnerships at Wadhwani AI, pointed out that while large language models like ChatGPT are powerful, contextualization is essential for tangible impact.
“Indian NGOs contend with local languages, cultural specifics, and varied communities,” Nayan remarked. “Fine-tuning AI models with local data fosters trust and guarantees that outputs are pertinent, usable, and effective for those they serve.”
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The Path Forward
The nonprofit sector in India is uniquely positioned to spearhead AI adoption, according to Misra. “Even with budget restrictions, these organizations are innovating at a rapid pace. AI enables them to amplify their impact, transforming service to thousands into outreach to millions,” she emphasized.
Doegar noted, however, that significant challenges remain. “Most of India’s population has yet to effectively engage with AI. Social enterprises need to allocate more resources to R&D to ensure AI truly reaches those who need it most.”
With initiatives like OpenAI’s nonprofit jam and innovative examples like Haqdarshak’s, AI is starting to bridge the gap between technology and social impact, reshaping how NGOs operate and serve communities across the nation.
Watch the accompanying video for the full discussion.
