Meet Sunil Anand from Uttarakhandāa Goonj volunteer who turned his wifeās wish into community action. From Joy of Giving Week cloth drives to promoting GBG products, his story reflects dignity, creativity, and purpose.
GOONJ UTTARAKHAND
State Report
Changing lives through dignity, sustainability and community empowerment
Healing in Himalayas: Circular Solutions in Uttarakhand
Set in the serene Himalayan foothills, Uttarakhand is a land of resilience and possibility. While the region faces environmental challenges, it is also home to inspiring community action and innovation. Goonjās journey here began after the 2013 floods, evolving from emergency aid into long-term, community-led disaster relief in Uttarakhand. Villagers are restoring farmlands, repairing bridges, and building rural infrastructure with pride through Cloth for Work. Rishikesh, now a hub of circular innovation, hosts our first large-scale Sujni Production Centre, driving cloth-based livelihood initiatives in Uttarakhand villages. Women are leading change through Goonjās menstrual health programs, reclaiming dignity and spreading awareness.
Deep Dive into Community Resilience
Read the full Goonj Uttarakhand State Report to discover how urban surplus and community action are changing lives.
UTTARAKHAND COMMUNITY IMPACT:
KEY HIGHLIGHTS (2014-2024)
The following numbers represent the collective power of communities in driving change
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
3,900+
tonnes of material repurposed to reach village communities.
EDUCATION
44,000+
school kits reached.
DISASTER RESPONSE
18,900+
families reached during ļ¬oods, extreme winter and fire
WATER MANAGEMENT
3300+
initiatives for rural water security.
MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
3.9 million+
MY Pads channelised for menstrual awareness.
INFRASTRUCTURE
3200+
infrastructure developed to improve access.
Wall of Do-Gooders
Volunteers/Individuals: Avritti Pokhriyal, Bimal Srivastava, Bhawana Bisht, Esther Jacob, Hema Rawat, Jagmohan Singhal, Kamla Rawat, KG Singh Rathore, L. S. Rawat, Madhu Garg, Madhu Goel, Mamta Dhoundiyal, Manisha Kashyap, Manu Panwar, Neetu Singh, Neha Malik, Pawan Verma, Prachi Gupta, Priyanka Pahwa Dobhal, Pushpa Agarwal, R. S. Murthy, Riddhi Panwar, Shakeel Ahmed, Shweta, Sanyogita Kedia, Shivani Rawat, Sumati Virmani, Sunil Anand, Sunny Bakshi, Tanu Rajput, Vandana Mittal, Vatsala Agarwal, Vijaylaxmi Kohli
Schools/Colleges: Baluni Public School, DAV Public School, Doon Girls School, Doon School, Edify World School, Indian Public School, KIDZEE, Clement Town, KIDZEE, Race Course, Maa Anandmayee Memorial School, Rishikesh, Maple Bear, Mondrian House, Nirmal Ashram Deepmala Pagarani Public School, Rishikesh, Olympus High School, Shri Ram Centennial School, Dehradun, Shikshankur, The Global School, Shivalik Academy, Selaqui, Dehradun, St. Georges Boys College, Mussoorie, The Doon International School, Welham Girls, Yogendra Public School, Rishikesh
Universities: DIT, Dehradun, Doon University, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Graphic Hill University, ICFAI, Dehradun, IGNFA, FRI Dehradun, Tulas Institute, UPES, Dehradun, Wildlife Institute of India
Societies & Other Entities: Acon Urban Apartments, Aditya Doonshire Apartments, Antara Purukul Senior Living Limited, AWWA, IMA Dehradun, BHEL, Dehradun, Cafe Commune, Capital Heights, Centrio Mall, CRPF, Kathgodam, Doon Divine, Doon Trafalgar, DSOI, Eye Health Care, Explorers Day Care, Gangapuram Residential Society, Greenview Blossom, GTM Forest Hills, IIP, Dehradun, MB Homes, NCR Residency, Pinnacle Residency, Race Course Valley, Senior Citizen Association, Mussoorie, Siddhartha Paradise, Siddhartha Race Course, Solitaire Avenue, Swabhiman Kendra, Cantt Board, The Eye Clinic, The Vasant Vihar Club, Tilak Memorial Library, Mussoorie, Vasant Vihar Club, Windlass River Valley, Yash Greens
IMPACT STORIES
Behind every statistic is a story of change and dignity-led development.
In Uttarakhandās Chamoli district, Pungaon villagers planted 500 native trees in a day to prevent landslides and address fodder scarcity. A grassroots initiative showing climate resilience in action.
Rooting Resilience ā How Pungaon Village Took on Fodder Scarcity and Landslide Risk
Surma Devi, a Goonj Didi from Uttarakhand, shares her journey with My Pad and NJPCāempowering herself and other women through cloth-based menstrual health education and livelihood.
Surma Deviās Story ā Stitching Dignity Through Cloth-Based Livelihood
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
This is our clarion call to people: Donāt just recycle, āGoonj.. itā instead!
Any surplus material you may haveāat home, in offices, or anywhereāis urgently needed to respond to climate change and climate emergencies across India. Goonj exponentially increases the impact of your material by deploying it to mobilize and enable people in both urban and rural India to drive climate action-led solutions.
Letās play a more active role in shaping a better world for ourselves and future generations.