Grassroots Changemaker | Social Worker | Youth Leader from Kashmir’s Mountains
Kifayatullah Malik: The Grassroots Changemaker from Kashmir’s Mountains
Hailing from a modest farmer’s family in the remote village of Lawaypora, Bandipora in Jammu & Kashmir, Kifayatullah Malik has emerged as one of India’s most inspiring grassroots leaders. His early life, marked by poverty, a lack of resources, and education in an underfunded government middle school, shaped his unwavering commitment to uplift the forgotten corners of society—especially the tribal and marginalized communities living in Kashmir’s mountainous regions.
Creating Impact Where It’s Needed Most
Kifayatullah’s transformative journey began with a deeply personal mission: to ensure no child drops out of school due to poverty. What started as a humble effort to collect used books and stationery has now evolved into a sustained educational movement through initiatives like “School Wapsi” and “Har Ghar Taleem”.
- In 2024, his initiative supported 793 underprivileged students with basic stationery kits.
- By mid-2025, he had already reached 486 children, with an ambitious goal of impacting 1,500 tribal and remote-area students by year-end.
- His efforts include re-enrolling school dropouts, organizing creative engagement activities, and working closely with parents to promote education in economically weaker sections.
Feeding the Forgotten
Recognizing the harsh realities of hunger, particularly among widows and the poorest families, Kifayatullah mobilized community donations to distribute food relief kits. In 2025 alone, his initiative has already delivered 391 food kits, ensuring not just nutrition but also dignity and support for those most in need.
Championing Cleanliness and Environment
As a passionate supporter of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission), Kifayatullah regularly organizes cleanliness drives, identifies waste hotspots, and leads youth-led campaigns to inspire civic action. His use of before-and-after social media storytelling has become a powerful tool to instill pride and responsibility among local residents. For this work, he was honored with the prestigious Best Van Mitra Award by the Department of Social Forestry, Jammu & Kashmir.
Fighting Drug Addiction in Rural Kashmir
With drug abuse silently consuming the youth of rural Kashmir, Kifayatullah has taken a proactive stance against addiction. He and his team conduct awareness programs, community dialogues, and rehabilitation referrals, focusing not just on recovery but also on restoring dignity and purpose to the lives affected. His work has broken taboos, reduced stigma, and created a pathway for healing in neglected communities.
Breaking Taboos Around Menstrual Health
In the deeply conservative tribal belts of Kashmir, menstruation is often considered a taboo topic. Kifayatullah has worked courageously to normalize conversations around menstrual hygiene, conducting awareness sessions, distributing sanitary kits, and creating safe, inclusive spaces for dialogue. His efforts have brought dignity, health, and confidence to hundreds of women and girls.