Navinchandra Mafatlal Sadguru Water And Development Foundation

The Sadguru Foundation has made water resources development a core program for the past four decades, pioneering this effort within the NGO sector. The organisation is renowned nationally and internationally for its expertise in small-scale water resources development, using appropriate technology to benefit underprivileged regions and communities. They prioritise robust technical designs, effective project implementation, and post-project management with full community participation. So far, Sadguru has completed over a thousand water resources development projects, benefiting more than two million people, with numerous studies, reports, and success stories attesting to their impact. Their programs encompass community lift irrigation schemes; community masonry check dams, well development and recharge, drinking water schemes, and micro watershed development. They also offer guidance, training, and consultancy services to other NGOs operating in this field.

Sadguru has been working to improve the living conditions of tribal households by introducing better agricultural practices and providing irrigation solutions through appropriate technology. This program aims to enhance both forest- and agriculture-based production, focusing on environmental, technical, economic, and social responsibility. Over 65,000 tribal households were engaged in agricultural development during the Kharif and Rabi seasons, resulting in significant yield increases for many farmers. Sadguru has also promoted vegetable cultivation, with around 3,000 farmers participating, and their success has spurred broader adoption of vegetable farming, making Dahod district a burgeoning vegetable hub.

Sadguru aims to empower its community to become self-governed and self-sustained. They achieve this by organizing and supporting community-based organizations (CBOs) and federations, which play a vital role in implementing various programs related to natural resources management. Over the years, Sadguru has helped set up more than 2,500 CBOs with over 80,000 members and established 26 federations to facilitate coordination and knowledge sharing among these groups. CInI, a partner organization, has been instrumental in strengthening these village institutions and improving agriculture development through them, leading to substantial progress in areas like seed production and the adoption of enhanced farming practices.

Under this program, Sadguru provides education and basic training to stakeholders, mainly uneducated, poor, and tribal farmers, to ensure the success of natural resources management (NRM) interventions. The organisation consistently prioritises training and capacity enhancement for both its internal and external groups, mainly focusing on NRM-related topics. These training and capacity-building efforts occur at their Training Institute and in villages, benefiting thousands of participants from various states and NGOs. Each year, they conduct over 300 training programs, with more than 15,000 participants, including external groups, NGOs, village functionaries, and village partners, in addition to continuous education and training for their own members.