About Us
30
Years Experience
About Mahiti Trust’s
A Journey towards Development with Justice
Our Story and Vision
Born out of the aspirations of Gujarat’s rural poor in the delicate Bhal region, Mahiti Trust evolved from grassroots initiatives in the 1970s and 80s into a dynamic force for equitable and sustainable development. Formally established in 1994 by local leaders and dedicated professionals—including our guiding Managing Trustee, Ms. Devuben Pandya our organization believes that authentic development must be rooted in justice. This justice spans the intersecting realities of gender, caste, class, and ecological vulnerability, ensuring that every initiative is designed not only to transform lives but also to empower communities to shape their own future.
A People-First Approach
Our strategy emphasizes community ownership. Rather than imposing external solutions, we build local capacity by nurturing institutions / initiatives such as Farmer Producer Organizations, women’s savings and credit cooperatives, family counselling center and Community Help Desk Centres. These frameworks support initiatives from legal literacy and land rights advocacy to women-led microfinance, ensuring that development is participatory, inclusive, and resilient.
Transformative Interventions in Action
Over the years, Mahiti Trust has expanded its scope while honouring its roots in justice and equity:
Women’s
Empowerment:
Our district-level women’s cooperatives have empowered
over 11,700 rural women by providing financial autonomy, leadership
training, and an
escape from exploitative lending practices.
Grassroots
Healthcare:
In 72 remote villages, more than 100
local health
workers and traditional birth attendants provide critical maternal care and
emergency support, making healthcare accessible even in the most isolated
communities.
Natural Resource
Management:
By restoring landscapes—through watershed development,
mangrove restoration, and installing 8,500+ rooftop rainwater
harvesting tanks—we
have secured safe drinking water for over 59,000 people and
promoted sustainable
agricultural practices.
Legal and Social
Justice:
Our Legal Aid and Family Counselling Centre, along with
grassroots social action groups, offer support against domestic violence, land
disputes, and discrimination—ensuring that justice is a daily reality for
underprivileged groups.
Sustainable Agriculture &
Livelihoods:
With over 14 Farmer Producer
Organizations reaching
7,000+ farmers, and initiatives such as organic cotton farming spanning 36 villages,
we promote climate-smart agriculture that enhances both food security and income
stability.
Youth and Digital
Inclusion:
Gender-sensitive vocational training in emerging sectors
like renewable energy and dedicated efforts to connect more than
26,000 vulnerable
individuals with essential government schemes pave the way for a progressive,
inclusive future.
Innovating for a Just Future
At Mahiti Trust, our work transcends traditional development. We combine cooperative models with legal literacy and skill-building to enable communities to reclaim their agency—creating a robust, climate-resilient model of progress. Even as industrialization and modern challenges mount, our commitment remains clear: true development must integrate social justice with sustainable practices.
Our Enduring Impact
Today, our programs reach across more than 180 villages, led by 23 dedicated staff members and countless local change-makers. Each initiative—from women’s financial groups to youth training centres—reinforces our belief that development is not imposed but built together. Mahiti Trust is proud to walk alongside the people of Bhal, forging a path where justice is not merely idealistic rhetoric but a lived, transformative experience.