VAAGDHARA is a non-profit organization, registered under Rajasthan Societies Act 1958. The organization was founded in early 80’s and initiated its efforts at very small level. But from the year 2000 onwards it started functioning actively and professionally on a range of issues of tribal community. Thus it has completed about one and half decade of functioning. VAAGDHARA draws its name from its area of working i.e. Vaagad-the tribal area of Rajasthan adjoining Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh on banks of river and Dhara-stream of development. The core value of the organization is swaraj ‘self-reliance’ which is drawn from Gandhian philosophy, but at the same time, it believes in the use of latest technology for the development of tribal and poor.
During last decade and half, VAAGDHARA has impacted about 25000 tribal and poorest of poor families to bring change in quality of their life. It has implemented a number of interventions with support of government, national and international organizations like UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, Welthungerhilfe, NABARD, IGSSS, Save the Children, Plan India and so on. The main driver of the organizational philosophy is the ‘context and issues that tribal and poor face’ in southern Rajasthan. It has been adequately flexible in its approach and depending on the need of the situation, VAAGDHARA has played key role as activist to advocate for child rights, as facilitator in collaboration with mainstream (government) for betterment of school education and has also implemented natural resource management programs like Sustainable Integrated Farming. It has learned from its experiences and used the learning in designing new and improved interventions.
GOALS
"By 2022, 100000, families of Indigenous communities in tribal junction adapts participatory processes and join sustainable development pathway."