From inception, Astitva has successfully implemented various development programs in the areas of agriculture & micro - watershed, water conservation and NRM based livelihoods, drought relief and mitigation, health and education, women’s empowerment & gender equality besides mobilization of government programs and policies for the poor. Presently Astitva has programs in over 115 villages of Sangola, Mangalvedha and Pandharpur blocks of Solapur district and Jat, Kavthe Mahankal and Aatpadi blocks of Sangli district which are categorized as drought prone and rain fed areas of the state of Maharashtra. The area also falls under semi-arid zone of India popularly known as drought prone Maan valley – a sub valley of River Krishna Basin.

Legal Framework: Registered under following laws and with government agencies:

i. Bombay Public Trust Act 1950
ii. Indian Societies Registration Act 1860
iii. Income Tax Act 1950 - under sections 80G and 12 A. Also posses PAN and TAN numbers.
iv. Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010 and have Darpan ID.
v. Niti Aayog (Planning Commission) Government of India
vi. Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR – 1 under Ministry of Company Affairs (MCA) New Delhi, Govt. of India.
vii. CSR – 1 under Ministry of Company Affairs New Delhi, Government of India).

Thematic Areas of Operations:

i. Natural Resource Management for livelihoods of rural people
ii. Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality
iii. Girl child development
iv. Health and Education of poor and marginalized communities
v. Drought Relief and Mitigation
vi. Disaster Management especially

Major projects implemented up till now in following areas:

Food security programme in two villages for small and marginal farmers through soil & water conservation measures, group wells, dry land horticulture, grain banks, Low External Input Agriculture (LEISA), Organic Farming, Kitchen garden, Women empowerment were the components of the project.

Well recharging & desilting for water conservation and micro-irrigation promotion

Desilting of small check dams, Water tanks, Kitchen Garden, Income generation activities for women SHGs, Health camps, Gender equality programmes, Trainings for Youths, MGNREGA awareness camps and mobilisation to reach to needy rural people.

Special focus on promoting dry land horticulture with special reference to Pomegranate amongst small and marginal farmers due to assured good returns.

Agriculture credits, Bicycle bank, Climate change adaptation measures-awareness, Drought Conference etc. have been implemented in the villages of Sangola and surrounding blocks.

All project work through strict adherence to gender equality and women’s participation

Women’s socio-economic empowerment, legal rights and help them access government schemes and programs.

Girl child development

Relief and livelihood restoration after Western Maharashtra floods 2019 and Corona Pandemic 2020 and 2021 (ongoing during 2021)

Constructive dialogue with government policy makers for implementation of welfare/development and empowerment programs and policies.

Social action research and studies to highlight issues of vulnerable communities such as dalits, nomadic and De-notified Communities and Women and girls.

Awards and rewards:

1. 1. President Mr. Shahaji Gadhirere received prestigious award titled ‘Bharatratna C Subramaniam Award’ for ‘Outstanding Contribution in Voluntary Sector’ (February 2014, New Delhi, India).
2. 2. An Appreciation cum Acknowledgment Letter for Astitva from Sangli District Council (Zilha Parishad) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for extensive involvement in flood relief and livelihood restoration after July/August unprecedented floods that hit Sangli and Kolhapur districts very severely.
3. 3. Shri Shahaji Gadhire also received a prestigious ‘Maharashtra Bhushan Puraskar’ from Maharashtra Foundation USA through kind hands of senior social worker and ex – IAS officer Ms. Aruna Roy and President of Maharashtra Foundation Shri Sunil Deshmukh. The award was given in recognition of Shri Gadhire’s contribution in social sector (19th January 2020, Pune).

Partners in Development:

UNFPA, New Delhi,

AWO, e.V. Germany (Through AFARM, Pune)

Department of Science & Technology GoI through AFARM, Pune

Terre Des Hommes, Germany

Narottam Sekharia Foundation, Mumbai

Swiss Aid, India Coordination Office, Pune

CSR donations: Tech Mahindra Foundation Pune, Atlas Copco India Pvt.Ltd.Pune, L and T Financial Services, Mumbai (through AFARM Pune). Persistent Foundation

AEIN Luxemburg

National Rural Health Mission, Ministry of Health, Government of India

Brooks India, New Delhi (UK Donor agency for animal welfare)

Swedish Chamber of Commerce, India, New Delhi.