We are committed to ensuring rural communities have access to safe drinking water through a tap in every home, along with household toilets and irrigation facilities, creating healthy, open defecation-free villages. In schools, we strengthen WASH infrastructure by providing safe drinking water, handwash stations, and gender-segregated toilets to create an inclusive learning environment
In Swades villages, water-conscious behaviour is a way of life. Through a community-driven water conservation initiative called Swajal, local committees take charge of managing and protecting their water resources. From trench digging and stream cleaning to soak pits and building farm ponds to catch rainwater, these communities lead the change. Across 800+ hamlets in Raigad alone, over 7,000 recharge activities have collected more than 400 million litres of water, thanks to strong community ownership.
More than 2.3 lakh people in rural Maharashtra now have access to clean drinking water
and a sanitation facility at home, supported by Swades WASH programme.
received access to
clean drinking water
through 763 drinking
water schemes
received access to safe,
individual toilets at home
Individual household toilets
built in rural homes
supported with WASH facilities
declared open defecation free (ODF)
received access to
clean drinking water
through 763 drinking
water schemes
received access to safe,
individual toilets at home
Individual household toilets
built in rural homes
supported with WASH facilities
declared open defecation free (ODF)
We believe clean drinking water is a basic human right. Our goal is to ensure every household receives up to 200 litres of safe, potable water daily—delivered through a tap at home. To achieve this, we implement robust water systems that source water from natural sources or borewells, store it centrally, and distribute it through a durable village-wide network.
Our household sanitation program provides every rural home with a clean, functional toilet, creating open defecation-free villages that prioritize hygiene. Built on a sustainable twin compost pit model, the toilets safely process fecal waste into nutrient-rich compost for farming.
Our School WASH program ensures access to clean drinking water, hand-washing stations, and separate toilets for girls and boys—enabling a healthy, inclusive environment for learning. By promoting hygiene and reducing infections, it supports better attendance and overall student well-being.
We enable farmers to diversify beyond traditional paddy cultivation by tapping nearby water sources and deploying solar-powered drip irrigation. This reliable, year-round water supply expands arable land and boosts farm productivity. Our sustainable, climate-smart solutions increase incomes while promoting resilient, environmentally responsible agriculture.
Our waste management program functions at the Development Centre level, ensuring every form of waste is put to good use. Wet waste is directed to composting and biogas plants, promoting organic farming practices. Dry waste is handed over to partner organizations for recycling—some of it creatively repurposed into furniture such as chairs and tables, later distributed to schools and community spaces across villages. Faecal waste is treated and converted into safe, nutrient-rich manure.
Our NRM programme focuses on restoring and conserving water, soil, and forest resources through community-led actions. From constructing farm ponds and contour trenches to promoting afforestation and soil conservation, we adopt integrated watershed approaches that not only enhance groundwater recharge but also foster collective stewardship of commons, enabling villages to thrive amidst growing climate uncertainties.
Our solar initiatives bring decentralized, renewable energy to rural spaces, lighting up streets, powering schools and anganwadis, running drinking water systems (DWS), and fueling solar-based irrigation (WFI- Water for irrigation). By replacing diesel and grid-dependency with solar power, we reduce carbon footprints, lower energy costs, and ensure uninterrupted essential services.
Behind this smile there has been a lot of struggle and pain. Sagibai Maruti Mahable, living in Chachkond (in rural Raigad) has been spending about 10 – 12 hours daily fetching water for her household needs. This everyday tussle, since decades, was not only the plight of Sagibai but for 22 other households in Chachkond.
SUnclean water often led to a lot of people in the village falling ill. Sagibai in particular, was frustrated with constant illness and resulting weakness. She was no longer able to physically manage the drudgery. This pain and struggle lasted too long but in 2018, after the water intervention all households in the village received potable Drinking Water in homes through taps – Clean water in homes was nothing short of a dream come true for them.
Incidence of water borne diseases reduced drastically, people had more time at hand and many engaged this new found free time in some or the other economic activities. Sagibai, herself started #dairy business and also now helps her husband in #farming.
“Everything for us in life revolves around water. We were overjoyed to see our dream come true. ” – says Sagibai.
Behind this smile there has been a lot of struggle and pain. Sagibai Maruti Mahable, living in Chachkond (in rural Raigad) has been spending about 10 – 12 hours daily fetching water for her household needs. This everyday tussle, since decades, was not only the plight of Sagibai but for 22 other households in Chachkond.
SUnclean water often led to a lot of people in the village falling ill. Sagibai in particular, was frustrated with constant illness and resulting weakness. She was no longer able to physically manage the drudgery. This pain and struggle lasted too long but in 2018, after the water intervention all households in the village received potable Drinking Water in homes through taps – Clean water in homes was nothing short of a dream come true for them.
Incidence of water borne diseases reduced drastically, people had more time at hand and many engaged this new found free time in some or the other economic activities. Sagibai, herself started #dairy business and also now helps her husband in #farming.
“Everything for us in life revolves around water. We were overjoyed to see our dream come true. ” – says Sagibai.
Join Swades Foundation in creating
thriving rural communities across India
Join Swades Foundation in creating
thriving rural communities across India
