FROM A VISION TO
A MOvement
In 1972, the world paused to reflect on the environment for the first time at the UN Conference in Stockholm, the concern regarding environment spread throughout countries including India. Among those deeply moved was Padma Vibhushan Shri Mohan Dharia. As he travelled through drought-stricken regions of Maharashtra, he witnessed firsthand the struggles of rural India; parched lands, shrinking forests, and broken hopes.
It was in those moments of reflection that Vanarai was born; not as an organization, but as a people’s movement. A movement to restore the ecological and socio–economic balance in India’s villages through participation, sustainability, and dignity.
THE
EARLY
DAYS OF
Transformation
When Padma Vibhushan Mohan Dharia envisioned Vanarai, his dream was simple yet powerful; to make India green again. The initial idea was rooted in afforestation; planting trees to heal a land suffering from deforestation, drought, and ecological neglect. This vision formally took shape in 1986, when Vanarai was established as a trust.
But as he walked through the fields, spoke to farmers, and listened to the struggles of rural families, he realized something profound: planting trees alone wouldn’t change lives.
The problem was deeper. The soil was eroding. The water was vanishing. The ecosystems that sustained agriculture and life were fractured.
That’s when Vanarai shifted from a tree–planting mission to a comprehensive model of Sustainable Rural Development.
When Padma Vibhushan Mohan Dharia envisioned Vanarai, his dream was simple yet powerful; to make India green again. The initial idea was rooted in afforestation; planting trees to heal a land suffering from deforestation, drought, and ecological neglect. This vision formally took shape in 1986, when Vanarai was established as a trust.
At the heart of this approach was the Ridge-to-Valley model of soil and water conservation; ensuring that every drop of water was captured, stored, and used wisely. Alongside came support for modern agricultural practices, Agri–allied activities, and community–led livelihood initiatives.
To empower communities from within, Vanarai introduced the Five–Pronged Program
Promotion of family planning
Ban on tree cutting
Ban on grazing
Shramadaan
(voluntary community labor)
Ban on liquor
These weren’t rules imposed; they were principles adopted, owned, and championed by villagers themselves.
Soon, watersheds came alive. Women formed self–help groups.
Farmers were trained in better practices. Villages once fading were thriving again. And in many places, the impossible
happened; reverse migration. People who had left in search of hope, returned to the soil they once called home.
where we
STAND TODAY
Four decades later, Vanarai continues to walk the soil; quietly, consistently, and with conviction. With a strong grassroots presence and credibility, Vanarai has impacted thousands of households, transformed acres of land, and strengthened the roots of sustainable development.
But numbers don’t tell the full story. Behind every statistic is a family like Suraj’s, a village like Gawade-wadi, a child who goes to school without walking five kilometres for water.
We are more than a team; we are the Vanarai Parivaar.
United by a belief that rural India deserves not just support, but solidarity.
And that development must be both participatory and permanent.
The Vanarai Ethos
We don’t build systems alone.
We build trust.
We build leaders within communities.
We believe in handholding, not handouts.
And we honour traditional knowledge
while bridging it with scientific solutions.
Vanarai is where policy meets people.
Where compassion meets capability.
And where hope turns into harvest.
Purpose
Enabling a Rural Renaissance through Leadership and Learning. Vanarai’s purpose is to position itself as a thought leader and enabler in rural development. We aim to catalyze a nationwide movement for regenerative, community-owned development by championing soil and water conservation, sustainable agriculture, and impact-driven rural empowerment. We bridge tradition with innovation, aligning government, corporate CSR, and local communities for scalable transformation. As a holistic rural development NGO, we partner in CSR projects across Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Gujarat, offering measurable outcomes in soil health, water conservation, and sustainable livelihoods.
Vision
To combat the challenges of climate change through People’s Movement for enriching the ecosystem to create clean, green, water-prosperous and socio – economically empowered India
Mission
To empower rural India by primarily focusing on Natural Resource Management, fulfilment of basic necessities, and capacity building through a participatory approach, while serving as thought leaders who inspire sustainable rural development.
Our Dream
FOR TOMORROW
Vanarai dreams of a future where rural landscapes become hubs of regeneration and resilience. We envision every watershed, especially those surrounding India’s largest dams, as zones of prosperity; where climate-smart agriculture, watershed restoration, and rural livelihood enhancement coexist.
We aim to lead national-scale CSR programs that bring together soil and water conservation NGOs, regenerative farming practices, and scalable community-owned models. By mobilizing larger ecosystems and applying measurable rural development strategies, we offer CSR funders result-oriented, impact-driven rural transformation opportunities.
Vanarai aspires to be the go-to CSR partner for REAL Village Transformation; linking big picture thinking with grassroots action. Our model combines agroforestry, watershed development, and farmer empowerment for holistic, climate-smart rural regeneration.
Trustees
SHRI. RAVINDRA DHARIA
PRESIDENT, VANARAI
SHRI. NITIN DESAI
TRUSTEE
SHRI. GIRISH GANDHI
TRUSTEE
SHRI. GANPAT RAO PATIL
TRUSTEE
SHRI. ROHIDAS MORE
TRUSTEE
SHRI. DHANYAKUMAR CHORDIA
TRUSTEE
SHRI. SAGAR DHARIA
TRUSTEE
Advisors
PADMA VIBHUSHAN
DR. RAGHUNATH MASHELKAR
Chairman – Advisory Board
PADMA BHUSHAN
DR. VIJAY KELKAR
ADVISOR
PADMA BHUSHAN
ADVISOR
PADMA BHUSHAN
DR. CHANDRAKANT PANDAV
ADVISOR
DR. BHUSHAN PATWARDHAN
ADVISOR
