SAATH Charitable Trust

Unlocking the Power of India’s Informal Economy

Over 92% of India’s workforce is informal.

Strengthening it is central to equitable, resilient and sustainable development.

For over 37 years, SAATH has partnered with informal workers, migrants, women, youth, and children to expand opportunity—advancing education and healthcare, building AI-ready digital skills, strengthening climate resilience, enabling dignified livelihoods, and deepening social and financial inclusion.As an ecosystem catalyst, SAATH works at the intersection of people, markets, and institutions—bridging grassroots realities with formal systems to create pathways from vulnerability to stability and from informality to economic strength.

Smart Cities

Breaking The Poverty Barrier

This inspiring book by Rajendra Joshi captures the 30-year journey of Saath, a pioneering organization working toward inclusive and rights-based urban development. More than a story of impact, it reflects on the challenges, learnings, and evolution of Saath as a resource and thought leader in the development space. With powerful endorsements from sector leaders, the book offers insights for practitioners, policymakers, and citizens striving to make cities more equitable. It invites readers to reflect, engage, and contribute to meaningful social change.

Mehnat Manzil

Celebrating Informal Workers and their contribution to our cities and lives

Saath has set up Mehnat Manzil – a Museum of Work that honours the lives of informal sector workers and sheds light on their everyday realities, including migration, livelihoods, housing, and infrastructure. Visitors to the museum journey through powerful stories of resilience, community-driven change, and remarkable ingenuity, offering a moving glimpse into the strength and spirit of those often overlooked.

Our Work

SAATH works across six interconnected thematic areas that address the root causes of vulnerability and improve overall quality of life.

Livelihood and
Circular Economy

Education

Healthcare

Livable Spaces/
Neighbourhoods

Financial and
Digital Literacy

Climate Resilience

At the heart of the approach is deep, sustained engagement with communities and all the stakeholders across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas—understanding their priorities and co-creating solutions that build local capacity and enable communities to shape their own development pathways.