Rajendra Joshi—Saath
The Impact
Health awareness training and discussion at the Maninagar Centre Photograph courtesy Dr. Neeta Shah
Saath serves some of the most marginalized groups in Ahmedabad. 85% of the stakeholders are Dalits, with the second largest group being Muslim slum dwellers. It has created access to basic services to 71,900 households and directly impacted 22,500 individuals. The transformative impact is clear. A new migrant visits the Urban Resource Centre of SAATH to determine where he or she may start looking for employment and shelter. The migrant can start learning employable skills through UMEED. Upon employment, the stakeholder purchases a small housing unit with electricity, running water, and sanitation for a smalluser fee. After collecting more earnings and microfinance loans, residents purchase upgraded lowincome housing structures, develop a savings mechanism or access capital for launching enterprises—all this outside of the net of exploitative money lenders. Thus, after a couple years of arrival, migrants or slum residents have the financial mobility to go where they please.
On a macro-level, the slum residents have an increased self-esteem and pride in their neighbourhood.
The Entrepreneur
“At Saath, we are creating opportunities to make our cities inclusive.”
Rajendra Joshi
Rajendra Joshi initially started his professional life in the private sector. He went on to become an educationist in the slums of Ahmedabad and was influenced by a Jesuit priest Ramiro Erviti. In 1989, Rajendra created Saath. Initially, he organized youth as change agents and to gain their trust, did simple things like playing volleyball. He soon realized the needs for interventions around sanitation and in 1993, the Integrated Slum Development Program was created.
Rajendra operates with single-minded focus on accelerating impact for his stakeholders. He is always ready to drive change but takes a backseat when it comes to recognition to all partners and his team.
