What is a Swades Dream Village?

Before we set out to create a ‘Swades Dream Village’, we asked our communities to describe a village of their dreams - what would it look like? What qualities would it embody? What role would they play in it? Almost unanimously, the communities described the villages to as clean, with access to water and toilets, quality education, affordable healthcare and livelihood opportunities, to mention a few, - but also a village united in its path to progress. Thus were laid down the cornerstones or the 5 Ss of a Swades Dream Village.

Swades 6S Framework

Driving transformation at the grassroots

Swacch

Each household has its own toilet, a functional drainage system, and follows mindful waste segregation and disposal, making the village open defecation-free. Additionally, every home has access to clean drinking water through a household tap.

Sundar

The village is equipped with well-maintained internal roads and sufficient solar street lighting, contributing to a clean environment and a sense of safety and security within the community.

Swasth

The community demonstrates health-seeking behavior, with access to primary healthcare through a trained community health volunteer, institutional delivery services, and awareness of timely, prescribed vaccinations.

Sakshar

Every child under the age of 16 has access to a quality and joyful learning environment and each school has functional water and sanitation facilities, ensuring that children and especially girls, do not drop out of school.

Samruddh

Every household in the village earns a dignified income of at least ₹2 lakhs annually by engaging in multiple sources of livelihood across on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm activities.

Shristi

Each village embraces climate-conscious living through integrated efforts in water and waste management, solar energy adoption, soil restoration, regenerative farming, and tree plantation.

Swacch

Each household has its own toilet, a functional drainage system, and follows mindful waste segregation and disposal, making the village open defecation-free. Additionally, every home has access to clean drinking water through a household tap.

Sundar

The village is equipped with well-maintained internal roads and sufficient solar street lighting, contributing to a clean environment and a sense of safety and security within the community.

Swasth

The community demonstrates health-seeking behavior, with access to primary healthcare through a trained community health volunteer, institutional delivery services, and awareness of timely, prescribed vaccinations.

Sakshar

Every child under the age of 16 has access to a quality and joyful learning environment and each school has functional water and sanitation facilities, ensuring that children and especially girls, do not drop out of school.

Samruddh

Every household in the village earns a dignified income of at least ₹2 lakhs annually by engaging in multiple sources of livelihood across on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm activities.

Shristi

Each village embraces climate-conscious living through integrated efforts in water and waste management, solar energy adoption, soil restoration, regenerative farming, and tree plantation.

Key Swades Dream Village Criteria

Where Vision Meets Measurable Impact

Every household is connected with taps at home for potable drinking water.

Every household has a toilet of their own and 100% usage.

Every child under the age of 16 is in school.

Every school has a provision of drinking water and separate toilets for boys & girls.

Every household has at least two diverse sources of income across agriculture and animal husbandry and earns at least INR 2,00,000 per annum.

Youth are skilled and employable.

Credit linkages available for business loans.

At Least 1 Swades Mitra (community health worker) in the village ensuring primary health care services.

1000 Dream Villages

A Transformative Vision with the Government of Maharashtra

On September 5, 2024, Swades Foundation and the Government of Maharashtra came together in a powerful public-private partnership to reimagine the future of rural Maharashtra. A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed to co-create 1000 Swades Dream Villages across the state—a milestone moment witnessed by Swades co-founders Zarina and Ronnie Screwvala, Hon’ble Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.|

This ambitious collaboration builds on the success of the first phase of the Dream Village initiative, launched in 2022, where 75 villages in Raigad district were the first to be recognised as ‘Swades Dream Villages.’

Rooted deeply in Swades Foundation’s mission of holistic, community-led rural development, the initiative now enters its second phase, with close to 250 villages already having earned the Dream Village title.

Washi Haveli Koliwada

A Dream Village that Turned the Tide

Washi Haveli Koliwada in Mhasla, Raigad, is one of Swades Foundation’s Dream Villages—a picturesque coastal hamlet with one of the most powerful transformation stories to tell. Once burdened by the stench of fishing waste and held back by community apathy, the village was long stigmatized for its unhygienic conditions.

But not anymore. Driven by the collective will of its people and a renewed spirit of change, Washi Haveli embraced ‘Swachh’—a key ‘S’ among the 5 that guide Swades’ holistic approach. What followed was nothing short of remarkable: a cleaner, healthier village that not only reclaimed its dignity but also secured an independent ₹10 lakh grant from the government under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

From being shunned to being showcased, Washi Haveli Koliwada now stands as a shining example of what’s possible when a community comes together with vision and purpose.

Number of Swades Dream Villages Celebrated Till Date – 230 (this number will change constantly)

1000 Dream Villages

A Transformative Vision with the Government of Maharashtra

On September 5, 2024, Swades Foundation and the Government of Maharashtra came together in a powerful public-private partnership to reimagine the future of rural Maharashtra. A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed to co-create 1000 Swades Dream Villages across the state—a milestone moment witnessed by Swades co-founders Zarina and Ronnie Screwvala, Hon’ble Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.|

This ambitious collaboration builds on the success of the first phase of the Dream Village initiative, launched in 2022, where 75 villages in Raigad district were the first to be recognised as ‘Swades Dream Villages.’

Rooted deeply in Swades Foundation’s mission of holistic, community-led rural development, the initiative now enters its second phase, with close to 250 villages already having earned the Dream Village title.

Washi Haveli Koliwada

A Dream Village that Turned the Tide

Washi Haveli Koliwada in Mhasla, Raigad, is one of Swades Foundation’s Dream Villages—a picturesque coastal hamlet with one of the most powerful transformation stories to tell. Once burdened by the stench of fishing waste and held back by community apathy, the village was long stigmatized for its unhygienic conditions.

But not anymore. Driven by the collective will of its people and a renewed spirit of change, Washi Haveli embraced ‘Swachh’—a key ‘S’ among the 5 that guide Swades’ holistic approach. What followed was nothing short of remarkable: a cleaner, healthier village that not only reclaimed its dignity but also secured an independent ₹10 lakh grant from the government under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

From being shunned to being showcased, Washi Haveli Koliwada now stands as a shining example of what’s possible when a community comes together with vision and purpose.

Number of Swades Dream Villages Celebrated Till Date – 230 (this number will change constantly)

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Be a part of
our dream to
empower rural India

Join Swades Foundation in creating thriving rural communities across India

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