About Us

About Organisation

PRIDE India (Planning Rural-Urban Development through Education) was founded in 1982 by Mrs Vipula Kadri in response to the socio-economic challenges faced by families affected by the mill workers’ strike in Bombay.

What began as an effort to support affected families gradually evolved into long-term work with communities, especially in rural areas.

One of the early initiatives was the formation of Maharashtra’s first successful women’s credit society, enabling women to build savings and financial security. Over time, the organisation expanded its work to include early childhood development, education, healthcare, livelihoods, and natural resource management.

In 1995, PRIDE India started Jeevanshala, a residential school for tribal Katkari children. This was followed by the establishment of SPARSH Hospital in Sastur in 1996, improving access to healthcare in underserved regions.

The organisation has continued to respond to emerging needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, PRIDE India worked with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation to support communities and strengthen local response systems.

After Mrs. Kadri’s passing in 2007, the organisation has continued under the leadership of the Kadri family, with Ms. Isha Mehra guiding its work.

Today, PRIDE India works across rural and urban communities, combining long-term village development with focused programmes in education, healthcare, and livelihoods.

Vision

A just society based on equal opportunities and human rights.

Mission

To facilitate the process of empowering the marginalised communities, to lead a life with dignity and self-respect.

Our Founder

Biography
Legacy

Mrs Vipula Kadri founded PRIDE India in 1982, at a time when she was working closely with families affected by the mill workers’ strike in Bombay.

Through this experience, she recognised that financial hardship was only one part of a larger reality. Health, education, livelihoods, and social exclusion were deeply connected – and addressing them separately would not lead to lasting change. This understanding became the foundation of PRIDE India’s approach.

Over the years, she expanded her work across Maharashtra, founding organisations such as Save the Children India (1988), now known as Vipla Foundation, and WISE (1992). Her work focused on supporting children, women, and vulnerable communities to live with dignity and stability.

She remained closely involved in the work until her passing in 2007.

Mrs Kadri contributed to several public institutions, including SNDT Women’s University and state-level social welfare bodies. Her work was recognised through awards such as the Mahila Shiromani Award (1990) and the Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Award (1997), among others.

Her legacy continues through PRIDE India’s work today – building systems within communities so they are able to lead and sustain their own development.

Approach

PRIDE India works with communities over the long term to build self-reliant villages.

In many villages, challenges are deeply connected. Poor health affects livelihoods, limited incomes lead to migration, and gaps in education reduce opportunities. Addressing these issues separately does not lead to lasting change.

Our approach is to work across these systems together – health, education, livelihoods, environment, and local governance – while strengthening community institutions. We work with women’s groups, farmer collectives, youth, and local leaders to build systems that communities can sustain over time.

In some contexts, we also work through focused programmes in areas such as education, healthcare, and livelihoods, particularly in urban and peri-urban settings.

Over time, this approach helps improve incomes, strengthen local services, and enable communities to respond better to challenges, including natural disasters.

Today, PRIDE India’s work spans over 1,100 villages and has reached more than 31 lakh people across Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Our 40+ Years Journey

Initiation of Child Sponsorship Program

In 60 villages of the Mahad block, supporting the holistic development of 2000 children and their families. To date, 12k+ children are directly impacted, along with 40k+ population.

1986

Establishment of Vipula Credit Cooperative

It was established in Mahad Block, Raigad district to meet the credit needs of rural women, started with 250 members and now benefits over 3000 women.

1989

Hospital and Residential centre setup

A 30-bed hospital set up in Dharashiv district. It is now a 50-bedded facility. Muktashala (now Jeevanshala) built for tribal children, enabling continuity in their education in Kothurde village, Mahad in 1997.

1996

Introduction of ECCD in Mahad

Created concept of innovative Child Development Scale for monitoring developmental parameters in ECCD initiated in Mahad Block.

2007

Launch of Mobile Medical Unit

For providing doorstep health services to 54 rural poor villages in Dharashiv district, since then, addition of few more units in 2015 covering 3 other districts.

2011

Support for People Living with HIV (PLHIV)

Care and support centre programme for PLHIV initiated in Dharashiv, Latur and Nanded districts.

2015

COVID Relief

Emergency Covid Relief efforts provided to support the marginalised with food, health kits medicines and livelihood support.

2020

Conservation efforts of Natural Resource

To ensure reliable water sources, conservation efforts by constructing soak pits, check dams, and farm ponds in drought-prone villages in 2 districts.

2025