Mahesh Doke

Naandi Foundation

Naandi, which in Sanskrit means a new beginning; is one of the largest and fastest growing social sector organisations in India working to make poverty history. Founded in 1998; our aim is to eradicate poverty . We also have a research arm that takes up action researches and other field based trials to check out innovations and their potential to positively influence policy. Our ideology revolves around building sustainable models within the social sector that deliver critical services efficiently and equitably to underserved communities. It is our belief that in a globalised world for any social activity to be effective the involvement and contribution of all stakeholders direct or indirect plays an important role in making it responsive, responsible and sustainable for the communities in question. In this effort we work together with governments, communities, corporates and civil society institutions to channelise their collective resources – financial, technical and human – into creating new approaches to solve widespread poverty-related issues across the country. The aim is to make the most efficient and equitable use of every rupee spent in the sector. This has been our journey since 1998 from when these public-private partnerships have helped us create sustainable, affordable solutions to long-pending development problems of the country: elementary education with a positive discrimination for girls, skilling and employment for the youth, sustainable livelihood opportunities for the underserved and safe drinking water & sanitation to rural households and so on. Naandi with a team of 300 + employees and hundreds of community workers is presently working in 16 states, touching the lives of more than 1million underserved people.