Established in 1980 during the emerging wave of gender studies, ISST has been consistently working towards bringing social change with a focus on the livelihood, work, and well-being of vulnerable communities. It attempts to make visible/bring to the center stage and address gendered dimensions of labor through a critical public-spirited inquiry and a gender transformative approach necessary to build a just and equitable society, especially on issues concerning women, children, and other marginalized communities. It does so through empirical research as well as community development programs.   

Presently, ISST is engaged in a range of macro and micro-level research directed toward the social and economic empowerment of women, adolescents, and children.  

The community development programs of ISST are executed through the two community centers- Saathi Centre and Yuva Saathi Centre, located in the Kalyanpuri neighborhood of East Delhi, India. While the Saathi Centre’s core work is around the overall development of children in the age group of 3-15, the Yuva Saathi Centre works with Young Adolescents on issues of education, gender, and violence. Both centers aim to provide a safe space and an enabling environment for a brighter future for children and adolescents.