In Nangda Pada, Banswara, Rajasthan, 57 villagers cleaned their only well under Goonj’s Cloth for Work initiative, restoring safe drinking water and building resilience through collective action.
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. Goonj’s 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 Goonj’s 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 floods, 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 Kaksaha village, South 24 Parganas, residents built a study centre through Goonj’s Cloth for Work initiative to prevent school dropouts and give children access to education.
A Study Centre Built with Hope: How a Village in West Bengal Turned Their Children’s Future
In Borselek village, Assam, Goonj’s Chuppi Todo Baithak empowered Mising women to openly discuss menstrual wellbeing for the first time. Discover how this NJPC session sparked a silent revolution.
Breaking the Silence in Borselek: Menstrual Health Awareness Among Missing Women in Assam
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
This is our clarion call to people: Don’t just recycle, ‘Goonj.. it’ instead!
Any surplus material you may have—at home, in offices, or anywhere—is 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.
Let’s play a more active role in shaping a better world for ourselves and future generations.