Shashwat Sahbhagi Sansthan

Shashwat was founded in 1996 to put into practice concept of people-centred sustainable development. Its journey began with strengthening panchayats in a small area in Mishrikh development block of Sitapur district, which happens to be among 100 least developed districts of India and is close to Lucknow.  A few years prior to the formation of Shashwat, 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India had been enacted and panchayats were the natural medium to begin the work.

While working with panchayats attention of the organisation was drawn to a few basic issues that were staring in the face. In rural areas of Sitapur district literacy rate of females was less than 30 per cent, a large number of people were unable to access health services and livelihood options before people were very few. The situation was particularly grim as almost 32 per cent population of the district was of Scheduled Castes. Shashwat could take up these issues one by one and today it is addressing all the three issues.

Over a period of time the operational area of the organisation has expanded from Sitapur district to neighbouring Kheri and Hardoi districts. Very recently its area of operation has expanded to include Firozabad, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, Rae Bareli, Gonda, Bahraich, Shrawasti, Kannauj and Farrukhabad districts.

Shashwat is registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It is also registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 1976, and Section 12 A of the Income Tax Act, 1961.