Story perspectives

Funding Cuts Shrink NFDW to South, Boost Dalit Digital Safety

4/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

NFDW faces a massive funding crunch that forces program concentration in four southern states after donor cuts and tighter foreign-funding rules.
Priyanka Samy leads NFDW, adapting to the cuts while expanding digital-safety and education initiatives for Dalit women.
Ruth Manorama, who founded Women’s Voice in 1985 and NFDW in 1995, now sees the organization prioritize digital safety, education, mental-health support and online harassment over earlier land-access goals.

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Story summary

NFDW faces a massive funding crunch that forces program concentration in four southern states after donor cuts and tighter foreign-funding rules.
Priyanka Samy leads NFDW, adapting to the cuts while expanding digital-safety and education initiatives for Dalit women.
Ruth Manorama, who founded Women’s Voice in 1985 and NFDW in 1995, now sees the organization prioritize digital safety, education, mental-health support and online harassment over earlier land-access goals.