Director Message

Director Message

Message from Our CEO

At Dhara Sansthan, we believe that true change begins within communities. For over three decades, we have been working hand in hand with the people of the Thar Desert region to create sustainable solutions in Health, Education, Livelihoods, Natural Resource Management (Water) and Empowerment.

With the trust and encouragement of our donors, the acceptance of the community, and the cooperation of stakeholders, Dhara Sansthan has been able to transform ideas into impactful action. Your continued support empowers us to overcome challenges, create opportunities, and inspire change. Together, we can keep building stronger communities and shaping a hopeful tomorrow.


— Mahesh Panpalia, CEO, Dhara Sansthan
Director Message

Involvement in social development sector.  

  • One of the founder members of DHARA Sansthan in Barmer & working as Chief Executive Officer from 1989 onwards.  
  • From the beginning of DHARA Sansthan till date, have been giving leadership to several developmental projects like Mobile Health Van, M-RITE Project, Child Line 1098, Natural Resource Management, Jeevan Amrit Project, Disaster Mitigation in Thar Project, etc.  
  • Headed a large team of 130 social workers, working on several projects to promote the developmental process.  
  • Also have partnered with several Government departments like PRI, Health, ICDS, WCD DC, etc. 

 

Major Achievements

 

  • Relief & Rehabilitation: During the flood & drought situation in the Barmer district, have mobilized the resources to provide relief & rehab facilities for most affected communities. The drought mitigation programme low-cost water harvesting system has been recognized by local government departments.
  •  Access to quality drinking water: Played a major role in the installation of 16 R.O. Plant in the Barmer district to ensure access to quality drinking water for more than 5000 households. And Currently overseeing 32 RO ATM plants in Jaipur districts.
  • Child Protection and rehabilitation: For the past three years, have been actively perusing the child well-being issues: related to protection & rights. Over the period, have worked to eliminate child marriage and provide services to protect the children. Also, have mobilized resources to rehab children especially orphan and run-away children.
  •  M-RITE Project: March 2022-February 2023 Dhara Sansthan has worked on the COVID 19 Vaccination, Awareness and through convergence in collaboration with USAID and JSI Pvt. Ltd in Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jalore, and Jodhpur and covered 3.50 lac COVID-19 vaccination, 18054 awareness generated at rural areas, and 5444 were vaccinated through convergence.
  • Water Project- Nadi, a traditional water harvesting structure in Western Rajasthan is excavated or embanked to collect precipitation, to mitigate the scarcity of drinking water in the lean period i.e., early spring through the summer months. Dhara Sansthan has successfully built 432 Naadis (ponds), 504 water tanks, 523 mini tanks, 132 farm bunding and 925 water tanker to date in the Barmer, Ramsar, Jaipur and Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan impacting approx.47,05,470 beneficiaries till date.
  • Women Empowerment: Seeing the need of the women in rural areas, livelihood trainings was one of the vital means that could be extended for their income generation. Henceforth, several women were being provided capacity building trainings where they could generate their incomes and do the needful for their families. The initiative consisted of seed capital amount with interest free to enable them start up their own small scale business. Through these 500+ women have been benefited solely.

About Mahesh Panpalia

Mr. Mahesh Panpalia has been engaged in the field of development for more than two decades.Since the inception and creation of Dhara Sansthan two decades ago, his contribution to the field of social development has been astounding. His views and approaches have been multidimensional and holistic. Along with playing the role of implementer, he has also played the role of facilitator by supporting other organizations and initiatives for their efficient implementation. He has vast knowledge and experience in the fields of health, sanitation, education, livelihood, skill development, water management, conservation, etc. His initiatives were at both rural and urban levels. He has contributed to the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan Campaign by formulating proposals for toilet and bathroom construction in Barmer. The campaign was initiated with the collaboration of the government and Cairn India Ltd. He also contributed his ideas and formulated proposals for constructing police posts at major points in the city with the support of Cairn India Ltd. He played a vital and active role during the rescue operations of the Kawas floods in 2006–2007. He partnered with various other organizations like Sight Savers International, to provide eye care facilities. He also partnered with UNICEF, Terres des Hommes, Save the Children, etc. during flood relief operations. He carried out an HIV AIDS control and counseling programme with the collaboration of NACO, UNDP, Aid et Action, and RSACS. He also intervened in the field of animal husbandry with the support of UNICEF during the flood relief and rehabilitation programme. Programs related to women and children were conducted by him with the collaboration of the IGSSS. He partnered with CEDPA and carried  out a programme related to women's and children's health. He was a former district-level governing body member of NRHM. He has partnered with Cairn India Ltd. and initiated the Mobile Health Van Program in 2010 in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

  • 1. Member of CLG, Police Kotwali, Gandhi Chowk, Barmer
  • 2. Member of FIAN, Rajasthan
  • 3. Member of Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao.
  • 4. Member of NishpadansamitySAMSA (Samgra Shiksha Abhiyan)
  • 5. Member of district Child protection unit.
  • 6. Member of district level cabel monitoring committee.
  • 7. Member of Medical termination of pregnancy.
  • 8. Member of State level Tobbaco control steering committee.