Skill Development & Community Awareness

Nirbhaya Ek Initiative – Women’s Safety & Skill Development (Mission Shakti)

Date: 20 November 2021
As part of the Mission Shakti program initiated by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Disha Seva Sansthan organized the “Nirbhaya Ek Initiative” in Hapur District. The program focused on women’s safety awareness, self-reliance, and skill development, reaching over 1000 women through the distribution of training kits. The event also provided sessions on gender rights, helpline access, and entrepreneurship development. This aligns with state and national efforts to empower women economically and socially.

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – Cultural Revival through Pottery Cluster in Bhagwanpur

Date: 14 January 2022
In celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Disha Seva Sansthan and the Pottery & Terracotta Cluster, Hapur organized a community event in Bhagwanpur village that featured cultural programs such as dance, rangoli, and mehndi competitions. Children and women actively participated, showcasing India’s rich folk arts and remembering the sacrifices of national heroes. The event emphasized the importance of community identity, cultural preservation, and youth involvement in national pride and grassroots development.

Hydroponic Horticulture Training Facility with DIMTS CSR Initiative

Partner: Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) Pvt. Ltd.
Location: New Delhi
Timeline: 2023–24

Disha Sewa Sansthan acted as the knowledge and training implementation partner for the DIMTS CSR-funded project to establish a Hydroponic & Natural Farming Training Facility in the urban landscape of Delhi. This project addressed the growing need for climate-smart, space-efficient food production systems.
Scope of work included:

• Curriculum design on hydroponics, vertical farming, and bio-intensive horticulture
• Establishment of demonstration units for leafy greens and herbs
• On-site training sessions for youth, urban gardeners, and agri-entrepreneurs
• Linkages with agri-startups for post-training support

Impact: 200+ urban trainees skilled, increased awareness of urban sustainability models, and strengthened employment pathways through green skills and modern agriculture techniques.

CBBO Support to 500+ Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)

Role: Cluster-Based Business Organization (CBBO) under central FPO promotion scheme
Coverage: PAN-India outreach, focus on Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi NCR
Timeline: 2022–present

Disha Sewa Sansthan has served as an empanelled CBBO working with over 500+ Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to build capacity, strengthen governance, and enhance market orientation.
Key areas of intervention:

• Institutional development of FPOs (governance, compliance, capacity building)
• Business plan development, crop planning, and aggregation strategy
• Training on agri-value chains, organic/natural farming, digital traceability
• Linking FPOs with e-NAM, processors, buyers, and institutional markets

Impact: Increased FPO turnover, improved price realization for smallholder farmers, and establishment of sustainable, member-led rural enterprises across horticulture, pulses, oilseeds, and livestock sectors.

Large-Scale Fruit Tree Distribution (Bhagpat, UP)

Partnership: Disha Sewa Sansthan in collaboration with SGI Foundation and Ecosia
Date: 31 January 2021
Location: Bhagpat District, Uttar Prades
Scope: Distribution and plantation of 100,000 fruit-bearing saplings, benefiting local farmers and communities

Overview
On 31 January 2021, Disha Sewa Sansthan served as the field implementation partner for a transformative agroforestry initiative, distributing 100,000 fruit tree saplings in Bhagpat, UP. This effort was part of SGI Foundation’s mission to empower marginal farmers through fruit tree agriculture and Ecosia’s commitment to tree-planting as a climate action.

Farmer Mobilization & Data Collection for 2.5 Lakh Plantation Drive (Meerut, Ghaziabad & Bhagpat)

Date: February 2021
Partners: SGI Foundation, Ecosia
Location: Meerut, Ghaziabad, Bhagpat (Uttar Pradesh)

Overview- In preparation for a large-scale afforestation campaign, Disha Sewa Sansthan, in collaboration with SGI Foundation and Ecosia, conducted a structured farmer engagement and baseline data collection drive targeting the plantation of 250,000 fruit trees. Through cluster-level meetings and field visits, farmers were educated on the economic and ecological benefits of fruit tree agroforestry. Land details, planting willingness, and species preferences were documented, laying the groundwork for successful and participatory plantation across three districts. This activity ensured farmer ownership, location mapping, and sustainability-focused planning for the upcoming green drive.

Organic Farming Awareness & Community Consultation (with SGI)

Date: January 2022
Partner: SGI Foundation
Location: Multiple villages, Western UP

Overview

In January 2022, Disha Sewa Sansthan, with support from SGI Foundation, conducted a series of community awareness meetings on organic and natural farming practices. Farmers were briefed on the health, soil, and economic benefits of going chemical-free, and inputs were collected for future agro-ecological training programs. The consultations enabled mapping of interest, existing practices, and readiness for adoption of sustainable farming techniques. This forms a base for scaling up regenerative agriculture across the region.

Tree Distribution Drive (2.5 Lakh trees)– Jhadoda Village, Meerut

Date: November 2021
Partner: SGI Foundation
Location: Jhadoda, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh

Overview

In a targeted agroforestry support initiative, SGI Foundation partnered with Disha Sewa Sansthan to distribute fruit-bearing tree saplings to smallholder farmers in Jhadoda village. The distribution included saplings of guava, mango, and jamun, chosen for their adaptability and long-term livelihood potential. Farmers were also provided with planting and maintenance instructions to ensure higher survival and productivity. The initiative supported both environmental greening and community nutrition security through participatory plantation.

Natural Farming Intervention under Namami Gange Programme

Partner: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
Location: Villages along River Ganga belt
Timeline: Multi-year program (Ongoing)

As part of India’s flagship Namami Gange Programme, Disha Sewa Sansthan played a pivotal implementation role in promoting natural farming practices across more than 100 farms situated along the Ganga river basin. The program focused on pollution abatement and sustainable agriculture to restore river health.
Key interventions included:

• Training farmers in chemical-free, regenerative agriculture
• Promoting native seeds, cow-based bio-inputs, and zero-budget farming techniques
• Preventing agrochemical runoff into the Ganga through farm-to-river buffer planning
• Monitoring and mentoring community-based natural farming champions

Impact: Reduction in non-point source pollution, increase in biodiversity, and promotion of eco-restorative livelihoods among riparian farming communities. This intervention aligns with SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• Rainwater Harvesting:
  Implementing rooftop and surface systems in schools, homes, and community buildings.

• Water-efficient Irrigation:
  Promoting drip and sprinkler systems, especially for marginal farmers.

• Wastewater Treatment & Reuse:
  Deploying decentralized systems; promoting greywater use for non-potable purposes.

• River & Lake Restoration:
  Community clean-up campaigns, lake revival projects, and awareness workshops.

Waste Management & Village Infrastructure Development – Bhagot Village, UP

Date: February 2021
Location: Bhagot Village, Uttar Pradesh

Overview

As part of its Clean & Green Villages mission, Disha Sewa Sansthan launched a rural waste management initiative in Bhagot village. Working closely with the Gram Panchayat and local youth, the project focused on waste segregation, organic composting, and minor infrastructure improvement for community cleanliness. Dustbins were distributed, and eco-awareness campaigns were held to sensitize residents on responsible waste disposal. The initiative served as a model for integrated rural sanitation and environmental action, in line with the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) goals.

• Clean Energy & Renewables:
  Solar panel distribution, public training on energy efficiency, and policy advocacy.

• Afforestation & Urban Greening:
  City forest programs, urban micro-gardens, and school tree plantations.

• Air Quality Awareness:
  Workshops, digital campaigns, and school competitions.

• Sustainable Lifestyle Awareness:
  Urban green living training, workshops on zero-waste households.

• Disaster Risk Reduction:
  Community capacity-building for floods, heatwaves, and droughts.

• Carbon Footprint Reduction:
  Tools and support for NGOs, corporates, and schools to audit and cut emissions.