Swades Foundation Partners with CHAKRA-MUHS to Strengthen Rural Healthcare Through Research and Capacity Building

Mumbai, June 30, 2026: Swades Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Health Applied Knowledge and Research Autonomy (CHAKRA) at Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) to strengthen community healthcare across Maharashtra. The partnership will focus on collaborative research, capacity building, digital health, and evidence-based public health interventions.

The collaboration combines Swades Foundation's grassroots experience in rural development with CHAKRA-MUHS' expertise in healthcare research, medical education, and digital health, aiming to develop scalable, community-driven healthcare models that strengthen rural health systems.

Key areas of focus under the partnership include building the capacity of community health volunteers through training and digital learning platforms, modelled on Swades' existing community health volunteer programme (Swades Mitra). The collaboration will also strengthen village and school health camps with support from multidisciplinary healthcare professionals, including practitioners of modern medicine and AYUSH. Additionally, the partnership will promote telemedicine and digital health solutions to improve healthcare access in rural communities, integrate the Arogya Gram and Wellness Kumbh frameworks into Swades' Dream Village model, and undertake joint research, publications, and evidence generation to inform public health policy.

The MoU was signed in the presence of senior government officials, including Shri Dheeraj Kumar (IAS), Secretary, Medical Education and Drugs Department (MEDD); Smt. Suvarna Kharat, Joint Secretary, MEDD and Director, Haffkine; and Shri Sandeep Dhakane, Deputy Secretary, MEDD. Representing Swades Foundation were Co-Founder Zarina Screwvala, CEO Mangesh Wange, and Health Programme Directors Ranjish Kattady and Dr. Surendra Yadav.

Mangesh Wange, CEO and Board Member, Swades Foundation, said: "At Swades Foundation, we believe lasting improvements in rural healthcare require strong partnerships that combine community trust with technical expertise. Our collaboration with CHAKRA-MUHS will enable us to build the capacity of frontline health volunteers, leverage digital innovations, and generate evidence that strengthens healthcare delivery. Together, we hope to create scalable, community-driven healthcare models that can be replicated across rural India."

Brig. Dr. Subodh Mulgund (Retd.), Chief Administrative Officer, CHAKRA-MUHS, said: "This collaboration reflects our commitment to bridging academic excellence with community action. By partnering with Swades Foundation, we have an opportunity to translate research, digital health innovations, and capacity building into meaningful health outcomes for rural communities while creating evidence that can shape future public health interventions."

The partnership reflects a broader push to integrate academic research with on-ground healthcare delivery, with both organisations expressing intent to scale the model across rural Maharashtra and, potentially, other parts of India.