About Us

Tinka Samajik Sanstha is a non-profit organization based in Timarni, registered in 2017. It seeks to empower young and adolescent girls and boys through the medium of sports. We promote gender equality in rural areas through a systematic intervention of free karate and self defence training, coupled with awareness workshops with the children and community about constitutional rights, gender inequality, caste discrimination, sexual harassment and violence. We have empowered over 76264 youth and children in which 50597 are girls. We believe promoting sports education, higher education and having meaningful dialogues in grassroots communities can lead to raising confident and responsible youth who can play a vital role in creating a safe society with equal freedom and opportunities for all.

Our Vision

Our vision is to promote gender equality through sports while also building a civilized and safe society.

Our Mission

Tinka's mission is empowerment of young and adolescent girls through the medium of sports. We promote gender equality in the rural areas through a systematic process of karate training and awareness about women and child rights which in turn, increases mental and physical agility of girls,increased confidence, articulation of their opinions and increases their assertiveness within the society to fight against discrimination and violence.

THE PROBLEM

Pervasive gender inequality in India, driven by a patriarchal mindset, hampers the progress of women and girls. Child marriage, school dropouts, and gender-based violence limit their opportunities, impacting self-esteem, confidence, health, and social interactions. This perpetuates a cycle of poverty and inequality, necessitating urgent action to break these barriers and create a more equitable society.

1 in 3

of the world’s child bride lives in India

40%

Almost 40% of girls between the age group of 15-18 dropout of schools in India

1/3

of the women in India have experienced physical and sexual violence in their lifetime

United Nations Children’s Fund, ‘Ending Child Marriage: A profile of child marriage in India’, UNICEF, 2019.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Report, 2018.

National Family Health Survey - 5, Report 2021.

Our Solution Framework

Tinka promotes gender equality through sports, especially karate, judo and Kushti. We teach Karate coupled with weekly and monthly sessions on gender discrimination, constitutional rights, importance of education, patriarchal mindset, its impact on gender inequality and violence against women. Our program aims to build confidence in girls and women, to increase their will power, change their mindset and to increase their inclination towards completing the education, voicing their opinion against sexual violence, gender inequality and pursue economic empowerment through sports and other means. After learning Karate and undergoing the weekly sessions it increases the confidence and ability of girls.

a. To represent themselves in state, national and international sports championships.
b. Understand the importance of higher education and pursue higher education.
c. Voice their opinion and defend themselves against violence at home and outside.

We promote sports education and engage in meaningful dialogues with grassroots communities to advance women's safety and empowerment.

(1) Providing training and internship opportunities for economic growth and development

(2) Community Engagement workshops on sports, gender equality, rights, safety and building resilient youth

(3) Set-up martial arts after school training centres

(4) Prepare players for state,national and international championships

Our Implementation Model

We set up no-cost, accessible karate/community centers for all the children in different villages. Teaching karate, gender equality, agency and life skills.

Along with karate, we conduct weekly sessions for girls and boys and quarterly with the wider community along with social awareness drives for spreading awareness about gender equality, child safety, rights, constitution and life skills.

After rigorous and regular training sessions, some of our students become trainers and leaders and open new Tinka centre to teach Karate and also drive awareness on gender and constitution among children ,youth and community.

Our Implementation Model

The trainer then conducts summer camp in different schools in their villages. This helps in identifying promising players, trainers and also a platform for community children to showcase their potential and skills.

We also work with private and government schools and non-profit organisations by teaching martial arts and conducting awareness workshops on gender equality for school children.

We organise Tinka annual karate tournament to provide a platform for local children to showcase their talent, build confidence. We also prepare high potential children and youth to compete at state, national and international level competitions.

Our FOUNDER’S JOURNEY

Ritesh Tiwari is a 4th Dan Black Belt, International Karate player, referee and a social worker from Timarni, Madhya Pradesh. A doer at heart, who faced extreme bullying in childhood and a keen observer of the social subjugation and violence faced by women of his community, he co-founded Tinka Samajik Sanstha to empower girls and rural youth through sports, enabling them to pursue higher education, be self-reliant,voice their opinion and earn livelihoods. He received the TEACHERS INNOVATION AWARD 2019, the INDIA BOOK OF RECORD for teaching 45267 students Karate for free and the National Martial Art Award 2022.

Mana Mandlekar, known as the "iron girl" in her community, is the first graduate woman in Alampur. She is a 1st Dan Black Belt gold medalist, representing India in International Karate tournaments.
In her journey of fighting for her right to education, to give a voice to young girls, she has transformed the lives of more than 76000 girls and youth by providing them with free karate training in rural Madhya Pradesh. As a co-founder of Tinka Samajik Sanstha, Mana wants to create a network of sustainable community leadership, who impart vital life skills and sports programs to empower girls and youth to transform their communities.

Governing Body

Ritesh Tiwari

Co-Founder/President

Mana Mandlekar

Co-Founder/Secretary

Anish Kahar

Vice President

Shivani Kumar

Joint Secretary

Anil Malhare

Treasurer

Mona Khare

Arun Chourey

Karan Ramtek

Ram Verma

Our Team

Ritesh Tiwari

Co-Founder/President

Mana Mandlekar

Co-Founder/Secretary

Khushi Rajput

Second Line Leader

Raja Kushwaha

Finance & Accounts

Jigyasa Onker

Social Media Assistant

Pooja Ahirwar

Reporting Officer

Anupam Sangule

Master Trainer

Pooja Raghuwanshi

Office Management

Our Trainers

Anil Malhare

Deepak Khare

Vikas Verma

Rohit Kharatkar

Radhika Gour

Nidhi Ahirwar

Deepa Jaat

Anjali Saini

Aarti Yadav

Shalini Chauhan

Bhavna Farkale

Divyanka

Nandini Chouhan

Payal Onker

Pooja Ahirwar

Rohit Chouhan

Salina Kumre

Shikha Kushwaha

Shivani Mehra

Shivani Sawle

Awards and Recognition

Goonj Junoon Award 2024
Nari shakti samman 2023
National Martial Award 2022
India book of record 2021
CII Foundation Woman Exemplar 2019 New Delhi
Sandvik India Gender Award winner 2019 Pune Maharashtra
We The Woman Award 2019 Bhopal M.P.
Woman of the future Award 2019
Teacher innovation Award 2019

Our Achievements

Achievement, Recognition and Awards, rewards received from 2017 till date

Awards Received

Goonj Junoon Award 2024
Martha Farrel Award finalist New Delhi 2023
Martial Arts Award New Delhi 2022
CII Foundation - Woman Exemplar - 2019 in New Delhi
Sandvik India Gender Award Winner 2019 in Pune Maharashtra
We the Woman Award 2019 in Bhopal Madhya Pradesh
Woman of the Future Award 2019 in Jaipur Rajasthan
Teacher Innovation Award 2019

Tinka played an instrumental role in producing

1 Gold medal 2022, gold medal in 2023 and 2 time Khelo India bronze medal [judo] ( Amisha Kale) since 2019 and 2021
258 trainers in Madhya Pradesh including 94 girls
Total number of national national players till date: 289
Total number of international players till date 64
4 India book of record holder player till date: 4 (Ritesh tiwari ,Mohit Ukiey, Akul Sharma, Jigyasa Onker

Tinka has received Grants and donations from