Social Action for Knowledge Building and Awareness Raising (SAKAR) was founded by Ms. Nitika Pant and Ms. Shilpi Agarwal, who, after extensive deliberation and drawing from their experiences in resource agencies, decided to move from theory to practical implementation.

Their journey was significantly influenced by a pivotal conversation with Dr. Rajesh Tandon, President of Participatory Research in Asia, who encouraged them to persevere despite the challenges. This motivation led to the formal registration of SAKAR with a seven-member board and marked the beginning of their impactful work.

SAKAR strategically chose Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh as its operational base due to the presence of numerous partner organizations in the region. Despite the existence of over 3000 registered organizations in Bareilly, there was a glaring lack of initiatives addressing violence against women and girls.