In 1978, the Government of Gujarat (GoG) launched a scheme to survey backward areas of the state. Professionals from Utthan (Ahmedabad-based NGO) took the responsibility to survey drought prone areas of Dhandhuka Block of Ahmedabad District, Gujarat State, India, which is part of the Bhal region. They collected information on the prevailing socio- economic and political conditions. A detailed report was prepared reflecting serious backwardness of the area and submitted to the GoG. Successively Utthan launched Mahiti Trust Project to disseminate information on various development activities and programs. Local groups and committees were formed to undertake various activities such as drinking water, social afforestration, wind energy, mangrove plantation etc.

The focus was on empowering oppressed rural communities with a special emphasis on the women. In the early stages itself the project team realized that women are an inevitable part of development process. Their courage, patience and hard work put them ahead of men. They have had no inhibitions to confront exploitative caste structure. In the early stages Mahiti Trust project initiated two saving and credit groups of women in Bhangadh and Mingalpur villages of Dhandhuka Taluka.

Later on, the Mahiti Trust project concentrated on diverse issues and one of the basic issues was that of drinking water. Women are the first victims to drinking water crisis. Mahiti Trust Project team successfully took up this issue at Government and Non-Government forums. With continuous efforts, several changes were made to Government’s Policy for drinking water. As part of the efforts, 21 Rainwater Harvesting Plastic Lined Ponds were constructed in Bhal region having capacity to meet drinking water needs of more than 45250 families. ‘Agriculture Films’ (HDPE Plastic Sheets) used as layer in the construction of these village ponds. Successively the Mahiti Trust has constructed more than 8500 Roof-Top Rainwater Harvesting Structures (RRWHT) for remotely located households in Bhal region.

In 1994, recognizing the strength of Mahiti Trust Team, Utthan decided to withdraw from the Bhal region and establish Mahiti Trust as an autonomous organization. On 9th August, 1994, it is formally registered under Bombay Public Charitable Trust Act 1950. Mrs. Devuben Pandya took the leadership of the organization who hails from Bhangadh village and a senior member of the team as well as member of Bhangadh Village Self Help Group. She took charge to build Mahiti Trust as an independent and committed organization to fight the causes of marginalized sections especially women. Sooner Mahiti Trust spread its activities to more villages. During the formative years, Mahiti Trust addressed various issues of poverty and underdevelopment of the Bhal region. Mahiti Trust adopted cooperation as approach to organize communities / groups to retain formal status. Two district level Micro Finance Cooperatives of Women – the “Bhal Women’s Saving and Credit Cooperative Society Limited” of Ahmedabad and the “Bhal Women’s Jagruti Saving and Credit Cooperative” of Bhavnagar were formed to curb exploitation by moneylenders. Till the date, more than 11600 women joined these cooperatives so far where the recorded annual turnover of more than Rs. 1.92 Crores. Apart from micro financing these women savings and credit cooperatives support women groups in various social and economic activities.

Community Health Intervention was promoted by Mahiti Trust to develop the village level health system and link it up with the primary health centers (PHCs) run by the Government. This is successfully promoted in more than 72 villages. Sanitation, childcare, maternal health, emergency services are some of the activities that Mahiti Trust continuously supports and strengthens. Whole cadres of volunteers were developed in the remotest corner of earth such Mahiti Trust has trained 130 Traditional Birth Attendants (Dais) and 105 Village Level Women Health Workers in 72 villages of Bhal region.

Mahiti Trust undertook Soil & Water Conservation Activities by Watershed Development Approach in 22 villages with the financial assistance from Department of Rural Development, Government of Gujarat and Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India in Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar districts covering more than 18000 hectares land. Various activities under this intervention helped in improving soil fertility, minimizing salinity affects on crop productivity and augmenting fresh water in saline tracks of Bhal region. Mahiti Trust also promoted and implementing Integrated Wasteland Development Programs (IWDP) in 06 villages in Dholka block of Ahmedabad district to improve natural resource condition.

Mahiti Trust has been implementing this alternative since its beginning. After making presentations in this context to many levels we could convince government that collection of rainwater is the only alternative for mitigation of water scarcity in Bhal region. After discussing the issue with government through PRAVAH (a state level network of organizations and individuals working on drinking water issues) and other organizations at last Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB) has accepted this scheme as a permanent scheme. At present this scheme is being implemented in all the districts of Gujarat state.

Moreover, Mahiti Trust has so far implemented Swajal Dhara – Sector Reform Scheme for decentralized drinking water systems in coastal villages as well as Coastal Area Development Program Phase I and Phase II for ensuring drinking water security and sanitation in 75 villages Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar districts supported by Water & Sanitation Management Organization and Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell. Mahiti Trust also implemented the Swajal Dhara Sector Reform Scheme in 30 villages of Dhandhuka and Dholka block of Ahmedabad district. This scheme is supported by State Government - Water & Sanitation Management Organization, Gandhinagar (WASMO). Under this scheme, various activities have been implemented such as strengthening of Water Committees, in village water distribution system, water resource management activities like hand pump and well repairing / recharging, construction of cattle trough, soak pits, and construction of community water storage tanks etc.

Mahiti Trust also promoted 30 villages in more than 500 hectors of land along the coast of Bhal through ‘land cooperatives’ with the financial assistance from Gujarat Ecology Commission. Gandhinagar (GEC). Mangroves so far checked the salinity ingress in coastal villages and protected farmland from turning saline. Their depletion is now going to be a threat for marginally productive lands. This initiative faced setback from State Government decision to withdraw the activity in light of proposed ‘Kalpasar’ project in Gulf of Cambay.

Mahiti Trust has been implementing Organic Cotton Farmers’ Training Program in Dholera, Dhandhuka Blocks of Ahmedabad District, Barwala and Ranpur Blocks of Botad District for 4,000 farmers since 2015. This program is being supported by Cotton Connect South Asia Private Limited & Arvind Limited in achieving its Organic Cotton Farmers’ Training Program’s programmatic objectives by imparting quality farmers training. Under this program, 4000 farmers with 15000 Hectares land have been registered with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority’s (APEDA) NPOP and NOP standards.

Promotion of Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs): Since 2016, Mahiti Trust is Producer Organizations Promoting Institute (POPI) for National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for implementing project on promotion of farmers producers’ organizations. Since then, Mahiti Trust has successful to form, nurture and strengthen 4 farmers producer’s organization (FPOs) in Dholera, Dhandhuka, Barwala and Ranpur block. Approximately more than 1700 small and marginal farmers have been mobilized into FPO. Right now, these FPOs are in the phase of business expansion and increasing equity base.

Community Help Desk Centers for Linkages of vulnerable families with Government Schemes: Presently, Mahiti Trust is implementing Community Help Desk Centers Project with the help of Gujarat CSR Authority. The purpose of the project is to strengthen the utilization of Government schemes and services by facilitating the process of application to the various schemes and creating awareness about the existing schemes programs. It is envisaged that ensuring overage under the Government safety net programs will ensure attainment of the sustainable development goals. The project interventions are designed to be applied in settings with poor utilization of existing Government schemes by effectively addressing the bottle necks that impedes the utilization of health and nutrition services and mars the improvement in health indicators. The integrated approach entails the following:

To strengthen the existing Government schemes by ensuring 100% utilization of Government safety net programs & schemes

Under these interventions, Mahiti Trust has established 6 Community Help Desk Centers in the village e.g., Mingalpur, Hebatpur and Rahtalav (Dholera), Iyava, Modasar (Sanand), Charanka & Dhokawada (Santalpur). Till the date more than 16500 beneficiaries were linked up with various government schemes.