Aatapi draws its name and inspiration from a Pali word derived from Buddhist’s teachings,
‘diligent hard work’.
Aatapi Seva Foundation strives to facilitate the holistic and sustainable development of the community through need based interventions voiced by the community.
Established in 2009, Aatapi Seva Foundation evolved in response to the needs that emerged in the course of a baseline study conducted in four villages of Gajera, Piludara, Kareli and Vedach villages in Jambusar taluka of Bharuch district, Gujarat. These needs emerged from a dynamic engagement between the founding corporate and the local community. Aatapi’s field of activity is now concentrated in 53 villages of Jambusar and Ankleshwar blocks in Bharuch District.
Aatapi’s interventions stress Financial Inclusion, with emphasis on women’s empowerment. Natural Resource Management and conservation, encouraging scientific practices to enhance traditional sources of livelihood such as agriculture and animal husbandry and developing Alternative Sources of Livelihoods.
Aatapi believes that the journey from disempowerment to empowerment is a process of negotiating, redefining and pushing boundaries to claim a dignified space in society for the underprivileged and the marginalised.
Geography and Outreach
Starting with activities in four villages covering 300 families in 2008-9, the Foundation today reaches out to more than 7500 small and marginal farmers, socio-economically marginalised women, and single women, Persons with Disabilities and adolescent and children in 53 villages in Jambusar and Ankleshwar blocks of Bharuch District, Gujarat.
1200
Persons with Disability
2500
Small & Marginalised Farmers
2800
Socially and Economically Deprived Women
300
Adolescents
450
Single Women
450
Children
The Community Based Organisations
Ujaas Mahila Bachat and Dhiran Grahak Sahakari Mandli–a Women’s Cooperative
Vivekanand Khedut Mandali–a Farmers’ Producer Organisation
Viklang Parivartan Sangathan– a Federation of Persons with Disability
Four Women’s Milk Cooperative Societies
VISION
We envision an inclusive, empowered and just society, enabling equitable opportunities and a life of dignity for the most marginalised.
MISSION
- 2008-2009
- 2009-2010
- 2010-2011
- 2011-2012
- 2012-2013
- 2013-2014
- 2014-2015
- 2015-2016
- 2016-2017
- 2017-2018
- 2018-2019
- 2019-2020
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2008 – 2009
- Baseline survey conducted in 4 villages in Jambusar district by Kutch Navnirman Abhiyan to comprehend needs and dynamics of the community
- Findings of the survey shared with the community through Bhavai, a folk theatre form
- Key organisational interventions identified with participation of community leaders
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2009-2010
- Registration of Aatapi Seva Foundation under Section 25 of Company’s Act 1956
- Intensive focus on individuals in the community. Dialogued with farmers, women, children and community adults and youth to understand their thoughts, needs and aspirations and their willingness to engage with Aatapi in interventions for community development
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2010-2011
- Community development initiated in four villages (Piludara, Vedach, Kareli and Gajera)
- Formation of community groups to partner in the development of their community:
- 25 small and marginal farmers’ groups
- 25 self-help groups of women
- 6 groups of Persons with Disabilities
- Community groups nurtured and empowered through capacity building programmes to partner effectively
- 10 single women linked with Bank of Baroda to obtain loans under Joint Liability Scheme
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2011-2012
- Need based geographical expansion from 4 villages to 15 villages
- Focus on quality of interventions rather then spread
- First level capacity building of community leaders identified from the formed groups
- Rights and Entitlements, Livelihood, Leadership Building were common threads-the backbone of all programmes
- Emphasis on enhancing technical knowledge
- 26 Persons with disabilities participated in Khel Mahakumbh for the first time
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2012-2013
- Formation of first women led milk dairy – The Kamboyawaga Mahila Dudh Sahakari Mandli in Vedach village
- Strengthening community leadership and setting operational systems within groups
- Strengthening networks and building creditability with government departments
- Several models of Livelihood tested
- Preparing the ground and experimenting with various models for community-based organisations.
- Kharashvistarotthan Yojana project started with Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell in 4 villages
- Initiated interventions to make water for irrigation available with Gujarat Land Development Corporation.
- Two community ponds renovated
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2013-2014
- Formation and strengthening of community-based organisations
- Ujaas Women Savings Credit Consumer Cooperative Society
- Morwaga Mahila Utpadak Mandali
- Viklang Parivartan Sangathan
- Farmer Producer Organisation
- Khel Mahakumbh for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) organised by Aatapi at block level. 111 persons with disabilities participated
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2014-2015
- Registration of Ujaas Women’s Credit Cooperative Society
- Registration of Kamboyawaga Mahila Dudh Utpadak Mandali
- Kharashvistarotthan Yojana project in collaboration with Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell expanded to 10 villages
- First women’s Garima Utsav organised in Vedach village in which 400 plus women participated
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2015-2016
- Asmita project for women’s empowerment initiated in 5 villages of Jambusar with PI Foundation
- Formation of Viklaang Parivartan Sangathan (VPS) initiated
- VPS organised Khel Mahakumbh for the first time with record online registrations, 190 PwDs participated
- Sneh Dhanush training for 75 leaders organised, creating base for strong leadership
- Registration of Laljipura Mahila Dudh Utpadak Mandali, Uchhad Mahila Dudh Utpadak Mandali, Morvaga Mahila Dudh Utpadak Mandali
- Kharashvistarotthan Yojana project in collaboration with Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell encompassed 20 villages
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2016-2017
- Aatapi intervention expanded to 45 villages
- Asmita project expanded to 10 more villages of Jambusar block
- Independent office of VPS in Jambusar
- Health and Well-being programme initiated in 15 villages
- Best Secretary of Women Dairy Award to Jamnaben of Kamboya Waga Mahila Dudh Utpadak Mandali
- Rapid Rural Appraisal of 45 villages conducted
- Evaluation of Women’s Empowerment Programme
- Integrated Rural Development approach shift, four pillars of development defined – Livelihood and Economic Development, Health and Well Being, Inclusive and Holistic Education for Children, Water and Environment
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2017 – 2018
- Received Certificate of Merit from FGI for Women’s Empowerment
- Ujaas received Best Mandali award from Gujarat Rajya Sahakari Sangh
- Five women of Self-Help Group received certificates of appreciation from GNFC for Limbodi Collection
- Vivekanand Farmer’s Sangathan – Farmers Producer Organisation Sanghthan covers 17 villages, strength 427 members
- 11 women leaders elected in Gram Panchyat elections from leadership groups nurtured by Aatapi
- Kharashvistarotthan Yojana project in collaboration Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell implemented in 30 villages
- First Khedut Garima Utsav organised – 600 plus men and women participated
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2018-2019
- Ujaas spread expanded to 45 villages,
- Sahiyaru Prayan Tool Bank with 17 tools initiated with support from Excel Crop Care Ltd (Now SUMITOMO Chemicals)
- Baseline and need assessment survey of Persons with Disabilities undertaken in 5 villages of Vagra block in collaboration with Hindalco, Aditya Birla Group
- Health and Well-being and Education programmes initiated in 15 villages
On the Path to Empowerment: The Journey with Aatapi
2019-2020
- Asmita women’s empowerment project expanded to 5 villages in Ankleshwar block
Awards and Recognitions
Mentors
Aatapi was founded in 2008 and mentored by TML Industries, a group Company among the Shroff Group of Companies.
The visionary leadership of Shroff Group of Companies emphasises People, Planet, and Profit as the credo for all enterprise – commercial or social. Aatapi was born from this deep conviction that social responsibility is the foundation of any endeavour.
Governing Body and Team
Mr. Tushar Dayal
Expertise: NGO Management, Professional Coach, Treasury Management and Audit
Mr. Sanjeev Mantri,
Expertise: Social Development, Education for Under Privileged, Corporate Management
Dr. Bhavna Mehta
Expertise: Social Work Educator and Researcher, Gender Expert, Corporate Social Responsibility
Dr. Nandini Srivastava
Expertise: Public Health and Nutrition, Population Studies, Programme Management
OUR TEAM
Dr. Nandini Srivastava
Dr. Nandini Srivastava
PHD
26 Years
Public Health and Nutrition Expert, Population Studies, Program Management
Chandrika Makwana
Chandrika Makwana
MSW & NGO MANAGEMENT
25 Years
Project Planning and Implementation, Capacity building, Community Based Organization,
Leadership development
Leena Vaidya
Leena Vaidya
MSW
28 Years
Sardarsinh Gohil
Sardarsinh Gohil
BRS & MSW
20 Years
Capacity building on agriculture practices, Monitoring and Evaluation, Agriculture and Bio inputs, government schemes and liaison, training, Awareness program, FPO Business
Ankit Rajput
Ankit Rajput
M.Sc
07 Years
Data Analysis and Visualization, Dashboard, Data Management
Bhupendrasinh Jadav
Bhupendrasinh Jadav
B.COM & M.COM
07 Years
Accounting and Documentation, Data Entry, Tally, GST, TDS
Meghna_Patel
Meghna Patel
Masters in Human Resource Management
15 Years
Human Resource Operations, including talent acquisition & retention, Organizational Structuring and Policy Development , Performance Management
Riya Panchal
Riya Panchal
M.B.A (Human Resource)
3.5 Years
Human Resource Management and Administration
Asmita Shah
Asmita Shah
MSW & NGO MANAGEMENT
13 Years
SHG strengthening, community relationship building, project implementation
Smita Pawar
Smita Pawar
MSW
09 Years
Trainer, Leadership, Field Communication ,Problem Solving
Jalpa Patel
Jalpa Patel
MSW
06 Years
Project implementation
Anjana Parmar
Anjana Parmar
B.A with Economics, PTC.
7 years
Community Mobilization
Dhananjay Patel
Dhananjay Patel
BRS & MSW
06 Months
Community liasioning and coordination
Mariya Padvi
Mariya Padvi
B. A
12 Years
Project implementation and community coordination
Mona Vasava
Mona Vasava
SSC
08 Years
Community mobilization and coordination