< Back Bhavisha Goswami Social Mobilizer

< Back C.F.Joseph Executive Secretary-Administration

< Back Babu Rathod Technical Associate

< Back SUGHAD Clean, Green and Healthy Villages The Sughad Project is a comprehensive initiative designed to improve Solid Waste Management (SWM) and sanitation through the construction of toilets in underserved communities. With increasing industrialization and urbanization in rural areas, the definition of villages has evolved. This shift has resulted in greater waste generation and more complex sanitation challenges. Effective SWM has become crucial to maintaining cleaner environments and better public health in rural settings, where the demand for sanitation solutions and waste management systems has risen dramatically. The Sughad Project seeks to address these challenges, not only by improving hygiene but also by fostering a healthier, more sustainable environment. The Sughad Project uses a community-driven approach to tackle the dual issues of SWM and sanitation. Central to the methodology is the active involvement of women and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), who are key to ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the project. By equipping local women with the necessary knowledge and skills, the project empowers them as leaders in waste management and sanitation. This approach ensures that both SWM and toilet construction initiatives are effective, sustainable, and well-supported by the communities. Key Components: Solid Waste Management (SWM): The project encourages waste segregation at the household level, focusing on separating dry, wet, and hazardous waste. Women and SHGs are trained as sanitation leaders and workers, taking on responsibilities for waste collection, segregation, and transportation. Through capacity-building workshops, women gain practical skills in waste management and assume leadership roles in organizing waste collection in their communities. This process not only empowers women economically and socially but also ensures cleaner, healthier environments. The integration of the HARSH project, which focused on empowering sanitation workers and enhancing waste management infrastructure, further strengthens the SWM framework in Sughad. HARSH's tools, such as worker training and waste processing systems, complement the Sughad approach, making waste management more efficient and sustainable. Toilet Construction and Sanitation: The Sughad Project facilitates the construction of individual household toilets and community toilets, addressing the issue of open defecation. Women are involved in raising awareness about sanitation and hygiene, educating families on the importance of maintaining clean and safe sanitation practices. SHGs play a critical role in mobilizing resources for toilet construction and ensuring proper usage and maintenance. Women’s involvement fosters a sense of ownership and strengthens community-driven sanitation improvements. Through these efforts, the project not only addresses waste management but also contributes to improved public health and quality of life in the targeted areas. Methodology: Committees and Decision-Making: A key component of the Sughad Project is the formation of Swachhata ane Swasthya Samitees (SSS) at the village level. These committees are formed through active participation of women and SHGs and are tasked with planning, implementing, and overseeing both SWM and sanitation activities. The committees are trained in leadership and project management, ensuring a participatory approach to decision-making. Regular meetings enable members to discuss local waste management challenges, prioritize interventions, and develop sustainable solutions tailored to their community’s needs. Decisions are made collectively, ensuring inclusivity and addressing the unique needs of each village. Exposure Visits for SWM: Exposure visits are a vital part of the Sughad methodology, providing Swachhata ane Swasthya Samitees (SSS) members with real-world examples of successful SWM systems implemented in other communities. During these visits, members, particularly women and SHGs, have the opportunity to observe effective waste management practices firsthand. By interacting with local leaders, sanitation workers, and other stakeholders, SSS members gain practical insights into waste segregation, collection, and recycling strategies that can be adapted to their own villages. These visits empower the committees with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions, encouraging them to adopt innovative solutions and improve their own waste management systems. Exposure visits foster collaboration and enhance decision-making by broadening perspectives and showcasing practical, scalable solutions. The Sughad Project’s methodology is designed to promote community ownership, with a strong focus on the involvement of women and SHGs. Through the establishment of committees, capacity-building initiatives, and exposure visits, the project ensures that decision-making is inclusive, informed, and grounded in local context. This approach guarantees the sustainability of both SWM and sanitation initiatives, making the Sughad Project a model for community-led development and empowerment. Project Gallery Partners The Sughad Project has achieved success through valuable partnerships and funding from a range of governmental and non-governmental organizations, ensuring its impactful and sustainable outcomes. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Impact of the Initiative The Sughad Project has brought about significant improvements in public health, environmental cleanliness, and community empowerment. One of the key outcomes is the noticeable increase in cleanliness within the communities, with waste segregation practices now widely adopted at the household level. Communities have shown greater readiness to segregate waste to avoid pile-ups, which has reduced environmental pollution and improved public health outcomes. Waste management has become more organized and efficient, leading to cleaner surroundings and a significant reduction in waste accumulation in public spaces. The project has also strengthened grassroots institutions, notably through the formation of Swachhata ane Swasthya Samitees (SSS) at the village level. These committees, consisting of women and marginalized groups, ensure the sustainability of waste management practices. Women from marginalized communities are now actively involved in decision-making processes, which has helped reduce inequalities and foster a sense of empowerment. With equal representation in the SSS, women have gained a stronger voice in the community, contributing to more inclusive and effective waste management solutions. This empowerment has led to women becoming champions of sanitation, with many now striving for the first rank in Swachh Survekshan, reflecting their growing confidence and leadership in managing sanitation standards. Furthermore, the Sughad Project has effectively leveraged government funds and collaborated closely with the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), ensuring long-term sustainability and enhancing the project's reach and impact. Through these efforts, the Sughad Project has contributed to both social and environmental transformation, promoting cleaner environments, stronger institutions, and greater gender equality. 1/1

< Back Vikram Rathod Technical Associate

< Back Anandi Dodiya Community Worker

Get in touch with VIKAS Centre for Development. Call us at vikas cfd contact number for queries or volunteering opportunities. Let's talk Talk to us if you would like to volunteer, know more or contribute to our initiatives. Phone Rajesh Shah, Managing Trustee 9824029180 Email info@vikas-cfd.org First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting! Join Us Volunteer With Us Donate Visit Us Address VIKAS Centre for Development Ishavasyam, Opp. Lajpatnagar, Eeshita Towers Road, Navrangpura, Navjeevan, Ahmedabad-380 014, Gujarat Opening Hours Mon - Sat 10:30 am – 6:00 pm

VIKAS CFD is a small, independent and accountable public charitable trust. The organisation has Core and Finance Committee Groups which look after Programme and Financial areas of the organisation through monthly and quarterly meetings respectively. Home: Welcome Improving the environment is the key to improving the livelihoods, and vice versa Our Governance Our Philosophy Our Pillars Our Board Rajesh Shah Architect Founder Trustee of VIKAS, Since 1978 A founder Trustee of VIKAS Centre for Development. He is presently heading the organisation as Managing Trustee(Hon.). The major development programmes of VIKAS in the rural areas are in the field of Human Resource Development through Education, Training and Capacity Building and Support to Organisations of the Poor. In Urban areas the emphasis is on setting up Micro Credit and Social Security Systems. MS. NEETA HARDIKAR Development Practitioner Trustee of VIKAS, Since 2014 An alumnus of M.S. University, Vadodara, India (1988-90 batch), currently based in Devgadh Baria. She worked with Mahila Samakhya Gujarat and Janvikas prior to setting up ANANDI - Area Networking and Development Initiatives. Prof. Indira Hirway M.A., PhD. Founder Trustee of VIKAS, Since 1978 A Founder Trustee of VIKAS Centre for Development. Doctorate in Agricultural Economics from University of Mumbai. She was associated with Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research and Mahatma Gandhi Labour Institute as Professor of Economics. She is now the Director of Centre for Development Alternatives, an Academic Research Centre, Ahmedabad. Mr.Somnath Bandyopadhyay Independent Research Consultant Trustee of VIKAS, Since 2024 Dr Somnath Bandyopadhyay is an independent Development Ecologist based in India. His core education in aquatic ecology (both freshwater and marine) was supplemented by Environmental Economics and Policy Analysis training from Harvard University (USA) and Market Systems Development from Springfield Centre (UK). Through international non-profit organizations such as the Aga Khan Foundation and Safe Water Network, he has worked on community institutions, strategies and programs in rural livelihoods, poverty reduction, and social enterprises. Through national government agencies such as Gujarat Ecology Commission and the National Mission Clean Ganga, he has worked on restoration planning, State-level environment strategies, and the rejuvenation of river systems. Most recently, he was a founding faculty at the School of Ecology and Environment Studies at Nalanda University. He crafted an interdisciplinary curriculum for post-graduate studies, managed an international research project on groundwater management for small farmers, and participated in various government commit-tees to conserve biodiversity. He is presently an independent consultant based in Vadodara, working on interdisciplinary programs related to surface and groundwater and related policies. He tends to adopt sustainable market approaches to address the problems of ecology and development, particularly in the context of livelihoods in stressed and degraded ecosystems. Alka Palrecha Architect Trustee of VIKAS, Since 2014 Dr. Alka Palrecha Rawal, Director People in Centre Consulting Services, Ahmedabad, India has studied M.L.A. (Master of Landscape Architecture) at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. G.D. Arch. (Government Diploma in Architecture),Academy of Architecture, Mumbai. Has been Advisor, Natural Resource Management Programmes Ambuja Cement Foundation, Executive secretary, Coastal Salinity Cell, A joint initiative of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) and Government of Gujarat, Coordinator, Coastal Management and River Basin Management, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Harinesh Pandya Development Practitioner Trustee of VIKAS, Since 2014 Mr. Harinesh Pandya, a secretary of ‘Janpath’ a Network of Voluntary organisations in Gujarat. He is a founder and active member of ‘Jan Sangharsh Manch’, Civil Liberty Organisation working on human rights violations issue, housing rights of marginalised sections, issues of displacement due to industrial growth etc. He is actively associated and promoter of various people’s movements in Gujarat, (such as Jan Andolan, Movement against pota etc.) He has worked with Shreyas Foundation, Ahmedabad, from 1982 to 1986 and also worked actively in trade union movement of Gujarat from 1986 to 1999. Guiding Principles We believe in staying small and focused while creating a meaningful and lasting impact. Being a small organisation allows us to adapt quickly to the needs of the communities we partner with. It also helps us stay grounded, working closely with people to co-create solutions that truly reflect their realities. Our creativity drives us to think outside the box, finding innovative ways to address challenges in housing, waste management, health, and education. We believe in partnerships and collaboration—working hand-in-hand with local communities, governments, and other organisations to multiply the impact of our efforts. Together, we can achieve more than we ever could alone. Accountability is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to being transparent, sharing our progress, and learning from our experiences. By empowering local communities to take ownership of initiatives, we ensure that our work remains relevant and sustainable over time. Instead of growing bigger, we aim to deepen our impact, spreading ideas and solutions that inspire others to create change. For us, it’s not about size, it’s about staying true to our values and making a difference where it matters most. The center will remain small, but its ripples will keep growing... Disclosures Vikas - Centre for Developemnt is registered as Public Charitable Trust under Bombay Public Charitable Trust Act 1950 Trust Registration No : Date of Establishment : Income-Tax Certificate u/s 12 A : Income-Tax Exemption u/s 80 G : FCRA Registration No. : FCRA Designate Bank : CSR1 Number : FC Contribution Statement : Auditors : E 3183, Ahmedabad 4th January 1978 No.III/32/V-75/71-70/VI dated 16/02/1978. DIT(E)/80G(5)/1084/2008-2009 dated 20/07/2009 041910016 dated 10/01/1985.(Renewal Certificate dated 01/11/2016.) State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch(NDMB), New Delhi – 110001. FCRA Savings Account – 40030079307 (Account Open Date: 23/2/2021) FCRA Financials (F.Y. 2019-2024) H. Rustom & Company, CA Ahmedabad A. S. Shaikh & Company, CA Ahmedabad Download Download 2023-24 2022-23 2021-22 2020-21 2019-20 Organisation Structure Our organisational structure is designed to ensure community ownership, effective decision-making, and seamless knowledge transfer. The leadership of the Core Working Group and Finance Committee drives key decisions, while local community-based organizations (CBOs) play a crucial role in empowering and involving the community. Through peer learning and exposure visits, we continuously strengthen our knowledge base and improve project outcomes, creating a collaborative environment for sustainable development. * CBO - Community Based Organisation

VIKAS CFD has been working since 1978 to address environmental and poverty in urban and rural areas. Home: Welcome

Volunteer with us for meaningful collaboration with our organisation Come contribute with us! First name* Last name* Email* Phone* Start Date* Day Month Month Year Where can you contribute? Architecture Research Field Assisstance Documentation Data Analysis Other Why would you like to join us?* Link to CV/LinkedIn Apply

Discover how to improve village economy through women-led solutions and community-driven transformation. Learn more now. Annual Reports Baseline Study Impact Assessment Videos Annual Reports 2023-24 2022-23 2021-22 2020-21 2019-20 Baseline and Research Studies Charcoal Workers Study Charcoal Workers Study Need Assessment Study Need Assessment Pinch of Salt Describe your image Yet to be Free Describe your image Impact Assessment Drip Linked Solar System (DLSS) Pilot Revitalising Communities through Restoring Mangroves Describe your image Videos Play Video Play Video 00:22 National Symposium on Mangrove Replenishment #ggwg #mangrove #odisha #symposium Play Video Play Video 00:24 Exposure Visit of SHG for Enterprise Development #shg #enterprise #bananafibre Play Video Play Video 00:41 Awareness Rally #wastesegregation #wastetowealth #wastedisposal #garbagecrisis #solidwaste Play Video Play Video 04:20 Great Green Wall of Gujarat Play Video Play Video 07:15 Bioshield Play Video Play Video 07:04 Bio Shield (The green cover at coastal area)

Engage with us for meaningful collaboration with our organisation Come contribute with us! First name* Last name* Email* Phone* Position* Why would you like to join us?* Start Date* Day Month Month Year Link to CV/LinkedIn Apply