Shelter Associates

Shelter Associates (SA), a registered NGO founded by architects and urban planners in Pune, has been dedicated to providing low-cost housing and sanit Read moreation solutions in urban slums across Maharashtra for the past three decades. Utilizing data and technology, SA has implemented innovative initiatives like One Home One Toilet (OHOT), which has facilitated the construction of over 26,000 individual toilets, significantly reducing open defecation for 150,000 people in seven cities. SA's focus on generating spatial data through Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing technology has helped local urban bodies (ULBs) identify critical gaps in sanitation delivery and other essential services, leading to improved governance and increased revenue. Through regular sanitation awareness campaigns and initiatives like vaccination drives and menstrual hygiene workshops, SA promotes community participation and ensures access to essential services for underserved populations. Recognized for her innovative use of Google Plus codes, SA Co-founder and Executive Director Ms. Pratima Joshi has been honored as one of the most powerful women in India by Forbes India in 2021. SA has also received several prestigious awards, including the Google Earth Hero award, Dasra Giving Circle award, HUDCO's Best Practices Award for Low-Cost Sanitation Solutions, and NASSCOM award in the environment category.