Our Work

Unlocking Potential: Empowering Women with Skills for Success

Saath Gramin Trust is committed to empowering rural women by providing them with alternative and non-traditional livelihood skills and nurturing their entrepreneurial spirit.

The Saksham Women Empowerment Livelihood Project, launched by Balmer Lawrie as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations, was implemented by Saath Gramin Trust in collaboration with the District Panchayat & NRLM Silvassa, Dadranagar Haveli, in Sayli and Khadoli villages. 75 disadvantaged tribal women were trained in dairy and poultry farming, tailoring, and bakery, equipping them with essential skills to create sustainable income opportunities. By fostering entrepreneurship, the project helped these women achieve financial independence and empowered them to drive positive change in their communities.

As part of the “Empowering Women/Girls by enhancing their skills and increasing their income” project, funded by Coromandel International Limited:

In Ankleshwar, 50 women were equipped with diverse employment-ready skills, transforming their lives. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Saath Gramin Trust, all participants achieved a 100% placement rate, unlocking opportunities to earn steady monthly incomes ranging from INR 8,000 to 10,000 per month. This initiative provided financial stability and opened doors to new aspirations, sparking personal transformation and economic empowerment. These women are now leading the way toward brighter, more prosperous future for themselves and their respective communities.

In Sarigam, 40 tribal girls and women were trained in advanced tailoring skills to promote economic independence. This led to the creation of the women’s cooperative, “SarigamNariPahal,” which focuses on bulk production and marketing of garments. The cooperative provides a platform for these women to showcase and sell their products while empowering them to manage operations, enhance entrepreneurial skills, and secure sustainable livelihoods. Women were able to earn between INR 5,000 to 15,000. The goal is to ensure financial stability and help these women thrive as business leaders within their communities.

Saath Gramin Trust’s financial literacy training program has transformed the lives of over 500 women by focusing on critical areas like emergency preparedness, smart expense management, budgeting, and understanding savings schemes and government services. This in-depth training has equipped women with the tools to take control of their household finances, make informed financial choices and steer clear of debt traps. The ripple effect has been profound—participants now enjoy greater economic stability, enhanced confidence in their financial decisions, and a solid foundation for long-term financial independence and empowerment.

Pathways to Wellness: Promoting Health, Hygiene & Nutrition

Clean and Safe Drinking Water Initiative: In partnership with Ford Motors, Saath Gramin Trust installed 150 RO units in 70 Anganwadi centers and 6 schools in the Sanand block of Ahmedabad district. This initiative provided clean and safe drinking water to over 2,500 children, significantly enhancing their health and well-being in educational settings.

Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Campaign: As part of the Unipad menstrual hygiene initiative, Saath Gramin Trust conducted awareness campaigns in Dholka (Ahmedabad), reaching 350 rural women. The campaign focused on educating women about menstrual health, breaking societal taboos, and distributing sanitary pads to promote proper menstrual hygiene management. In Silvassa (Dadra Nagar Haveli), health education sessions were conducted for over 500 students, with a focus on hygiene and nutrition. Special attention was given to menstrual hygiene education for young girls, empowering them with accurate information and practical resources.

Health and Wellness Program for Adolescents: This program reached 650 adolescents from villages of Sanand, Ahmedabad, both school-going and dropouts, and addressed critical health issues, including nutrition, physical well-being, and menstrual health management. The initiative adopted a holistic approach by involving parents and encouraging family participation to promote healthier lifestyles among adolescents.

COVID-19 Awareness and Vaccination Campaigns: Saath Gramin Trust launched widespread COVID-19 awareness campaigns across Gujarat, reaching 3,000 rural women with essential safety information. With support from Milaap, 6,000 masks were distributed to enhance community protection during the pandemic. Additionally, Saath Gramin Trust implemented the ‘Stop the Spread’ campaign through a partnership with the United Way of Mumbai. This initiative increased awareness about COVID-19 vaccinations in rural and remote areas, facilitated access to government vaccination centres, and successfully vaccinated over 9,000 individuals from the Dholka and Viramgam blocks of the Ahmedabad district.

Growing Resilience: Adapting to Climate Change with Sustainable Practices

In partnership with Coromandel International Limited Ankleshwar, SaathGramin Trust launched an initiative to empower 65 farmers, including women, to address the challenges of climate change through sustainable farming. This project focused on equipping farmers with vermicomposting and organic agriculture skills, enhancing their resilience to climate-related risks.

Beyond promoting organic farming, the initiative strengthened their collective power by forming the SAHAJIVAN KRISHI FARMERS PRODUCER COMPANY LIMITED, enabling improved market access.

Building on this success, the project expanded with support from FWWB to reach 500 farmers across 12 villages in Viramgam (Ahmedabad) and Mansa (Gandhinagar). Community agronomy leaders will be trained to set up vermicomposting units and demonstration plots. Collaborating with agricultural experts and local institutions, these farmers will gain access to the knowledge and resources needed for sustainable, resilient livelihoods. Financial assistance for equipment and seeds further enhances food security and long-term agricultural success, positioning these communities as leaders in climate-smart farming.

Empowering Futures: Scholarship Program for Rural Girls

Saath Gramin Trust’s scholarship program is breaking barriers to education for rural girls, empowering them and their families to prioritize learning despite financial challenges. The trust identified girls from vulnerable backgrounds—especially those with single parents or parents affected by HIV—ensuring they didn’t lose out on opportunities due to economic hardship. With the support of INTAS and Radio Mirchi, the initiative reached over 350 girls across Ankleshwar, Sanand, and Bavla, providing each with a Rs. 7,500 scholarship. These scholarships help keep them in school and open doors to brighter future and more significant opportunities.

Building Better Communities Through Research

Saath Gramin Trust continues to empower communities by leveraging data-driven, informed development strategies that build sustainable futures. We have played a pivotal role in delivering valuable insights through various studies, addressing unique community challenges, and informing impactful development initiatives. Some of our key research which we were part of include:

Stakeholder Perception Evaluation: Conducted a comprehensive study with over 25,000 participants from the residential, commercial, and transport sectors, shaping strategies to meet the diverse needs of these communities.

City Distribution Round 11 Survey: Led an extensive survey across 14 state areas, as published by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, covering sectors such as residential, commercial, transport, and industry.

Family-Based Micro-Plans: Developed tailored micro-plans for 7,500 Project Affected Households (PAHs) in Kanpur, Auraiya, and Etawah districts, fostering sustainable livelihoods through customised solutions.

Needs Assessment Surveys for CSR: Conducted needs assessment surveys for 2,848 households across 50 villages in Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh), Nagpur (Maharashtra), and Sambalpur (Orissa), focusing on demographics, socio-economic conditions, and access to services to ensure that future development programs align with community needs.

CSR Impact Assessment: Assessed the impact of CSR activities through surveys involving 3,570 households across 151 villages in Tiroda (Maharashtra), Kawai (Rajasthan), Raipur and Raigarh (Chhattisgarh), Sahibganj and Godda (Jharkhand), and Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh).

Gender and Land Ownership Survey: Supported a network in Surendranagar district to survey women’s land ownership, identifying critical issues around gender and property rights.

Study on Childcare and Women’s Work: Partnered with Mobile Creche to study the impact of childcare on women’s participation in paid work, through the project *”An Evidence-based Campaign for Creches to Enable Women to Join Paid Work.

Through these diverse research initiatives, Saath Gramin Trust has provided essential data and insights that drive sustainable community development and enable long-term, informed strategies that truly make a difference in people’s lives.