CRY was born of a dream to ensure happier childhoods for all children.
In 1979, Rippan Kapur – an Indian Airlines purser – started CRY with 6 friends and just Rs. 50. Today, over 4 decades later, CRY works with 102 local NGOs across 19 states in India and has impacted the lives of over 4.7 million children.
In over 4 decades, CRY has received many awards in recognition of our work towards enabling better futures for underprivileged children.
Best non-profit campaign ET Shark Awards (Silver) – Don’t Help Children
2024
Best Campaign in Communication & Advocacy Category
2021
Best Campaign in Not-For-Profit (Silver)
2021
Social Media Brand Of The Year
2020
Most Trusted NGO
2018
One Of The Top 100 Nonprofits In The World
2018
Awarded to Puja Marwaha, CEO – CRY, For Social Innovation
2018
Best Multi Channel Campaign For A Cause (#YellowFellow)
2018
ICAI CSR Award for Best CSR Project In Health & Education
2014
CFBP Jamnalal Bajaj Award For Fair Business Practices
2014
RMI Roll Of Honor In Social Responsibility
2014
Quality Initiative Mission Award
2013
Citi Woman Leader Awarded To Puja Marwaha, CEO – CRY
2012
Fundraising Campaign Award
2011 & 2012
Lakshya Award
2009 & 2012
Indira Super Achiever Award
2003
Viewers Choice Most Effective Ad Of the Year
1996
Citizen Of Bombay Award For Rippan Kapur
1991
Our voice on children’s rights is regularly featured by leading newspapers and online mediums. Click to know more about our take on children’s issues and how they can be solved.
As a custodian of public funds, we ensure that all our financial statements and audited and all legal and statutory compliances are stringently adhered to.
Chief Executive
Puja believes that children are the foundation of every nation’s growth and development aspirations, and must be at the centre of any development discourse. It was this belief that inspired her to become a part of the social sector, after she completed her post-graduation in Human Resources from Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi.
Puja made the transition from the corporate to the social sector as she joined CRY in 1994. Today, she is the CEO at CRY, India’s leading child rights organization. The awardee of Olga Alexeeva Memorial Prize in 2018 for social innovation, Puja currently serves on the Academic Advisory Board for Masters in Human Resources at XISS, Ranchi; the Advisory Board for School of Sustainability at Xavier Institute of Management (XIM), Bhubaneswar; and the Advisory Board of Centre for Data Science and Social Impact (CDSSI) at Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), Noida. She is also a Member of the Expert Advisory Group of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry CSR Committee (BCC&I), Kolkata; and an active member of the Voluntary Action Network of India (VANI) in the endeavour to strengthen public mobilisation for social causes.
A prolific TEDX speaker and a published author of articles and opinion pieces in many leading Media Publications and Journals, Puja actively evangelises Child Rights and is a staunch advocate of the crucial role each individual can play in building the agency of children. Her working mantra is to seek a win in every setback and believe that each person has the potential to bring in social change.