Akam Foundation

Akam Foundation - Towards Equality is a registered not-for-profit organization under Section 8 of the Company Act, 2013, registered in 2022. Akam means equality in the Mising language, spoken by the second largest tribal group in Assam. Equality & justice are the core values that drive Akam Foundation’s activities, which are largely in 2 focussed initiatives:

Project Kitape Katha Koi: Founded in April 2020, it emerged from the journey of our founder Rituparna as a storytelling & community library platform. This initiative envisions about right to read for all by enabling free community library space. Project Kitape Katha Koi Community Library located in Ahatguri Village of Jorhat District started in August 2021.

Drishti: A Queer Collective: Started through a community meet-up at Jorhat in April 2021. The collective envisions bringing gender justice in Assam focusing LGBTQIA+ community, particularly from rural Assam, small towns with an intersectional feminist approach. Drishti A Queer Collective is governed by an executive council of 15 youth members as core group members from different parts of Assam.

As the work progressed, people involved in both initiatives came together and gave birth to the Akam Foundation.