OUR JOURNEY
OUR JOURNEY
The journey of Saahas began in 2001 with registration as a non-profit under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960. Wilma Rodrigues, a former journalist, founded Saahas to promote waste management practices in alignment with the very progressive Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. In 2001, having the courage to found a non-profit organization to work on solid waste management with focus on resource recovery was indeed an act of courage, and hence the name ‘Saahas’. Headquartered in Bangalore, we have since grown and are now operational pan-India across multiple states, working both in urban and rural areas. Over the years, Saahas has been innovating, incubating and propagating best practices related to solid waste based on principles of Circular Economy. In 2013, Saahas Waste Management Pvt Ltd, a socio-environmental enterprise also known as Saahas Zero Waste, branched out of the non-profit Saahas with an aim to provide end-to-end waste management services based on the principles of circular economy. Both organizations exist as independent entities working towards holistic solid waste management based on principles of Circular Economy.
Vision
Enable India to become a leading Circular Economy where Nothing is Waste.
Mission
Pilot innovative resource management programs. Collaborate closely with communities, administrators, businesses and lawmakers. Evolve next practices for adoption of the Circular Economy.
Values
Integrity
Being true to our values and being ethical
Solution Driven
Working towards creating long term solutions that achieve real outcomes
Ownership
Being committed and accountable for our actions, decisions and the accompanying impact, whether towards our work or towards the organisation
Equity
Creating an organisational environment where individuals irrespective of their background, education, class, caste, religion, gender, ability, etc. feel they are free to bring their best selves to engage and contribute towards the objectives of the organisation. Being consciously diverse, inclusive and fair in all our programs, interventions and solutions that we work on.
Collaboration
Working together as individuals or as an organisation, while building long term relationships with stakeholders in the ecosystem such as the community, partners, Govt administrative bodies to achieve the vision of the organization
Earth for Generations
Protecting the environment in our thoughts and actions for our future generations; leading the way to find workable ways of living gracefully and lightly on earth
Key Milestones In Our Journey
2023
Initiated work in the North-East with a projects in Jorhat and Majuli, Assam Carried out large scale promotion of home composting and community composting; Ran campaigns promoting switch to sustainable menstruation products Enhanced incomes through repair campaigns
2022
Set up the first decentralized community waste management center, EcoGram and a learning center, ArthShala in Gurugram Started work to address the problems of construction & demolition waste and bulky waste in Bangalore Set up decentralized biogas plants to demonstrate economically viable models while closing the loop locally.
2021
Bagged the HCL Foundation Rs.5 Cr grant under Environment category, first for any organization working on solid waste management Scaled our work in rural solid waste management to more states like Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand
2019
Received the first-ever Circular Economy Award instituted by FICCI in not-for-profit category Expanded work to Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat Provided support to Govt. of Karnataka in drafting rural sanitation policy, strategy and by-laws
2017
Gurugram office established with initiation of Alag Karo – our first large project addressing source segregation in apartments, schools and offices bE-Responsible, e-waste project addressing awareness and regular collection from non-bulk consumers started in Bangalore
2015
Initiated our first rural SWM project in 6 villages of Ballari Dist., Karnataka
2013
Social Enterprise wing, Saahas Waste Management Pvt Ltd (also known as Saahas Zero Waste) formed
2009
First decentralized community waste processing unit, Kasa Rasa, set up at Ejipura, Bangalore
2004
Set up the first-ever on-site waste management system set up at SBI, Bangalore
2003
First e-waste project with HAWA, KSPCB and Max Mueller Bhavan, awareness drives across Bangalore
2001
Saahas founded in Bangalore, registered as a Society (Ideated by Wilma and her ex colleague Zia Sahu)
Meet the team
Archana Tripathi
Chief Executive Officer, Bengaluru
Sonia Garga
Chief Strategy Officer, Gurugram
Sunitha Jayaram
Director, Programs, Bengaluru
Rajbir Singh
Director, Programs Gurugram
Shailesh Gupta
Director, HR & Admin, Gurugram
Aarti Sachdeva
Program Manager, Gurugram
Hetal Jalad
Program Manager, Gurugram
Preetha R K
Program Manager, Bengaluru
Shraboni Chowdhury
Manager Partnerships, Bengaluru
Wilma Rodrigues
Founding Member | CEO, Saahas Zero Waste
Prof. Sourav Mukherji
President | Professor, IIM Bangalore
Pranay Lal
Member | Public health professional
Huda Jaffer
Treasurer | Director, SELCO Foundation
Deepa Deo
Solution Consultant, Sahaj Software | Consultant and Coach, Organization Development
Bindiya Nagpal
Social Impact Consultant
Archana Tripathi
Chief Executive Officer, Bengaluru
Satish Sinha
Associate Director, Toxics Link
Ankur Bisen
Author and Senior Partner, Technopak Advisors
Madhur Singh
Communications consultant
Awards and Recognitions
FICCI’s Indian Circular Economy Award
Winner of FICCI’s Indian Circular Economy Award 2019 under the category Not for Profit.
CSRBOX India CSR Summit 2019
Winner of 6th CSR Impact Awards 2019 under “WASH – Small Projects” category at the CSRBOX India CSR Summit 2019.
3R Forum in Asia and Pacific
National level 1st prize at 3R Forum in Asia and Pacific for exemplary work in the area of waste management through 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) in 2018.
Best Practices in CSR Award 2020
Project Ashakirana-Orohalli is the winner of Best Practices in CSR Award 2020 organized by Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, Institute of Public Administration under the category “Environmental Sustainability”.
6th eNGO Challenge Award 2019-20
Project Kasa Kiosk is the winner of 6th eNGO Challenge Award 2019-20 organized by Digital Empowerment Foundation under “Environment & Sustainability” category. http://engochallenge.org/saahas/
Winner of VIth edition of HCL Grant under Environment category in Feb 2021
Saahas is the first NGO working on Solid Waste Management to win the HCL Grant under Environment category. HCL Grant is instituted by the HCL Foundation and aims to achieve sustainable rural development by supporting NGOs that are doing path-breaking work anywhere in India.
Best CSR Impact Award 2022
HDB Financial Services (HDBFS) won the 'Best CSR Impact Award' at the 5th Edition of Corporate Social Responsibility & Summit 2022, hosted by UBS Forums in Gurugram in recognition of its contribution towards introducing efficient & sustainable Waste Management practices in Udupi, Karnataka. This project was implemented by Saahas
ASSOCHAM CSR & Sustainability Award 2022
CGI was declared winner of ASSOCHAM CSR & Sustainability Award 2022 in the category Excellence in Waste Management for our biogas based projects funded by them
CSR Excellence in Sustainable Environment 2023
Saahas was awarded the CSR Excellence in Sustainable Environment category at the India CSR & Sustainability Conclave 2023 organized by BrandsGlobal Media.
NGO Leadership Award 2023
Saahas was recognized as one of the five awardees in the category of NGO Leadership at the 10th edition of National CSR Leadership Congress and Awards 2023 organized by World CSR Day. The award was presented on 15th Sept 2023.
6th Indian Chamber of Commerce Social Impact awards in March 2024
Our project Alag Karo won the Jury choice award and Sampoorna Swachata Abhiyan won special jury appreciation under Clean Water and Sanitation, at the 6th Indian Chamber of Commerce Social Impact awards in March 2024
FICCI’s Indian Circular Economy Award
Winner of FICCI’s Indian Circular Economy Award 2019 under the category Not for Profit.
CSRBOX India CSR Summit 2019
Winner of 6th CSR Impact Awards 2019 under “WASH – Small Projects” category at the CSRBOX India CSR Summit 2019.
3R Forum in Asia and Pacific
National level 1st prize at 3R Forum in Asia and Pacific for exemplary work in the area of waste management through 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) in 2018.
Best Practices in CSR Award 2020
Project Ashakirana-Orohalli is the winner of Best Practices in CSR Award 2020 organized by Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, Institute of Public Administration under the category “Environmental Sustainability”.
6th eNGO Challenge Award 2019-20
Project Kasa Kiosk is the winner of 6th eNGO Challenge Award 2019-20 organized by Digital Empowerment Foundation under “Environment & Sustainability” category. http://engochallenge.org/saahas/
Winner of VIth edition of HCL Grant under Environment category in Feb 2021
Saahas is the first NGO working on Solid Waste Management to win the HCL Grant under Environment category. HCL Grant is instituted by the HCL Foundation and aims to achieve sustainable rural development by supporting NGOs that are doing path-breaking work anywhere in India.
Best CSR Impact Award 2022
HDB Financial Services (HDBFS) won the 'Best CSR Impact Award' at the 5th Edition of Corporate Social Responsibility & Summit 2022, hosted by UBS Forums in Gurugram in recognition of its contribution towards introducing efficient & sustainable Waste Management practices in Udupi, Karnataka. This project was implemented by Saahas
ASSOCHAM CSR & Sustainability Award 2022
CGI was declared winner of ASSOCHAM CSR & Sustainability Award 2022 in the category Excellence in Waste Management for our biogas based projects funded by them
CSR Excellence in Sustainable Environment 2023
Saahas was awarded the CSR Excellence in Sustainable Environment category at the India CSR & Sustainability Conclave 2023 organized by BrandsGlobal Media.
NGO Leadership Award 2023
Saahas was recognized as one of the five awardees in the category of NGO Leadership at the 10th edition of National CSR Leadership Congress and Awards 2023 organized by World CSR Day. The award was presented on 15th Sept 2023.
6th Indian Chamber of Commerce Social Impact awards in March 2024
Our project Alag Karo won the Jury choice award and Sampoorna Swachata Abhiyan won special jury appreciation under Clean Water and Sanitation, at the 6th Indian Chamber of Commerce Social Impact awards in March 2024
FICCI’s Indian Circular Economy Award
Winner of FICCI’s Indian Circular Economy Award 2019 under the category Not for Profit.
CSRBOX India CSR Summit 2019
Winner of 6th CSR Impact Awards 2019 under “WASH – Small Projects” category at the CSRBOX India CSR Summit 2019.
3R Forum in Asia and Pacific
National level 1st prize at 3R Forum in Asia and Pacific for exemplary work in the area of waste management through 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) in 2018.
Best Practices in CSR Award 2020
Project Ashakirana-Orohalli is the winner of Best Practices in CSR Award 2020 organized by Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, Institute of Public Administration under the category “Environmental Sustainability”.
6th eNGO Challenge Award 2019-20
Project Kasa Kiosk is the winner of 6th eNGO Challenge Award 2019-20 organized by Digital Empowerment Foundation under “Environment & Sustainability” category. http://engochallenge.org/saahas/
Winner of VIth edition of HCL Grant under Environment category in Feb 2021
Saahas is the first NGO working on Solid Waste Management to win the HCL Grant under Environment category. HCL Grant is instituted by the HCL Foundation and aims to achieve sustainable rural development by supporting NGOs that are doing path-breaking work anywhere in India.
Best CSR Impact Award 2022
HDB Financial Services (HDBFS) won the 'Best CSR Impact Award' at the 5th Edition of Corporate Social Responsibility & Summit 2022, hosted by UBS Forums in Gurugram in recognition of its contribution towards introducing efficient & sustainable Waste Management practices in Udupi, Karnataka. This project was implemented by Saahas
ASSOCHAM CSR & Sustainability Award 2022
CGI was declared winner of ASSOCHAM CSR & Sustainability Award 2022 in the category Excellence in Waste Management for our biogas based projects funded by them
CSR Excellence in Sustainable Environment 2023
Saahas was awarded the CSR Excellence in Sustainable Environment category at the India CSR & Sustainability Conclave 2023 organized by BrandsGlobal Media.
NGO Leadership Award 2023
Saahas was recognized as one of the five awardees in the category of NGO Leadership at the 10th edition of National CSR Leadership Congress and Awards 2023 organized by World CSR Day. The award was presented on 15th Sept 2023.
6th Indian Chamber of Commerce Social Impact awards in March 2024
Our project Alag Karo won the Jury choice award and Sampoorna Swachata Abhiyan won special jury appreciation under Clean Water and Sanitation, at the 6th Indian Chamber of Commerce Social Impact awards in March 2024
FAQ
Yes, Saahas is a not for profit organization registered as a Society under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960.
Yes, Saahas has valid certifications required to receive FCRA and CSR funds. Refer Compliance tab for details.
Saahas works in urban and rural areas to help set up scientific and sustainable solid waste management systems through behavioural change, capacity building and providing technical handholding support. We work with all stakeholders and engage with communities, educational institutions, corporates and government authorities. We train and engage with informal waste workers to improve their work conditions and provide dignified livelihood opportunities in the waste management sector. We also undertake baseline assessment, situation analysis; monitoring & evaluation of solid waste management systems; research and document supply chains of different waste streams; design of waste processing systems like composting units, Material Recovery Facilities; pilot testing of specific waste processing/disposal technology apart for any other specific research/implementation requirement that might need our intervention and support. We provide customized trainings to meet the needs of elected representatives, executives of ULBs, Gram Panchayats, Government Functionaries, Corporate/PSU Employees and residential campuses and townships.
Saahas was founded in 2001 as a not-for-profit entity and works on behavioural change, capacity building and providing technical handholding support. We act as an enabler of the eco-system to help being about a change in how waste is looked at. Saahas Waste Management Pvt Ltd (aka Saahas Zero Waste) is an environmental and social enterprise founded in 2013. It branched out of the NGO Saahas in 2013 and is registered as a Pvt Ltd company. It provides waste management, EPR and consultancy services and promotes sale of upcycled products. Both the organizations are independent entities founded by Wilma Rodrigues.
No, Saahas doesn’t offer waste management services. These are provided by Saahas Waste Management Pvt Ltd.
Saahas works pan-India in rural, peri-urban and urban areas. We have no restrictions on geographies where we wish to work.
Yes, Saahas recognises the importance of engaging with the young citizens of the country to instil the ideas of sustainability and optimal usage of resources in them at a young age. We run customized programs for schools and educational institutions.
There are numerous opportunities for interested volunteers to engage with us. Refer to our page https://www.saahas.org/get-involved/volunteering-opportunities for details. We also engage corporate employees in the CSR projects funded by the Corporates.
As a large component of waste management involves behavioural change among the community and other stakeholders which takes time to show results, our projects are typically of a duration of 3-5 years. We typically work with budgets of Rs.20 Lakhs per annum and upwards per project. However, we also undertake short duration projects for baseline surveys, needs assessments, capacity building workshops etc.
No, the NGO Saahas does not produce or sell any recycled/upcycled products. However, we train women and men in making eco-friendly products / upcycled products as part of our interventions.
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