Palghar’s Navaze Village Recognised Under Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan
Palghar, Maharashtra: Navaze, a tribal village in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, has been recognised under the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s ‘Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan’, an initiative of the state’s Environment and Climate Change Department, for its efforts towards sustainable development and community-led transformation.
The village has recorded progress in healthcare, nutrition, education, water conservation and environmental sustainability through community participation and collaborative efforts. Its development journey has been supported by Project Roshni, the flagship CSR initiative of Roche Diagnostics India, implemented in collaboration with the Society for Human and Environmental Development (SHED).
Launched in 2015, Project Roshni has positively impacted more than 1,000 beneficiary families in Palghar district. Navaze has a population of approximately 1,998 people across 435 households and nine padas, with around 80% of its residents belonging to tribal communities, including the Katkari community.
Before the intervention, the village faced challenges such as limited access to quality healthcare, anaemia among women, child malnutrition, inadequate educational resources and seasonal uncertainties in livelihoods. Project Roshni has addressed these concerns through healthcare and nutrition support, educational programmes, community awareness initiatives and sustainability-focused interventions.
Women’s health and nutrition have been among the programme’s key focus areas. Over the last 10 years, approximately 30% of women in the village have shown improvement in haemoglobin levels and are receiving regular treatment and nutrition guidance.
In education, the initiative has contributed to a reduction of 25% to 30% in the school dropout rate, encouraging more young girls to continue their education and pursue further studies.
Speaking about the village’s progress, Sarpanch Shri Damodar Sukarya Labad said, “In Navaze, we have laid the foundation for generational transformation. By integrating ecological water security, digital-first education, and holistic family healthcare, we are creating a sustainable, forward-looking village. Investing in our women’s well-being and our children’s aspirations doesn’t just address present needs—it secures an empowered, resilient future that will elevate our community for generations..”
Commenting on the vision behind Project Roshni, Priyadarshini Sharma, VP Communications and CSR, Roche Diagnostics, said, “At Roche, sustainability is anchored in our core purpose - doing now, what patients need next. Through Project Roshni, we bring this commitment to life by working closely with local governance and listening directly to community voices to ensure that their tomorrow is even better. Navaze village’s recognition under the Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan by the honourable Chief Minister is a boost to our collaborative efforts and reflects what responsive, grassroots collaboration can achieve. Roche Diagnostics India is extremely proud of the collective impact this project has created and we remain steadfast in driving lasting, community-led transformation.”
Rajendra Tawde, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), SHED, said, “At SHED, we believe that health and nutrition awareness is essential for the holistic development of every child. Through this project, we aim to empower women, students and families with the knowledge and healthy habits needed to lead healthier lives. We sincerely appreciate Roche Diagnostics India for its continued CSR support and commitment to promoting preventive healthcare and nutrition awareness among school children and women. Such meaningful partnerships enable us to create a lasting positive impact in the lives of people. We also thank the school authorities and the medical team for their wholehearted cooperation in making this initiative a success.”
The recognition under Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan highlights the role of community participation and collaboration between local governance, development organisations and corporate CSR initiatives in advancing sustainable village development.
