About Us

The idea of the Grameen First Eco-Business Foundation was born out of several discussions and feedback from interested stakeholders ranging from high-ranking government officers, to fellow non-profit executives and most importantly village communities. All agreed that efforts need to be made to promote livelihood opportunities in rural India.

More than 60 percent of our population in India live in the villages, and the scenario is not so good when we look at the job situation in rural India with the pre-existing agricultural distress. This is leading to forced migration leading to millions of people living in inhuman conditions in overcrowded and high pollution cities. This in turn causes additional stress on infrastructural resources available in the cities like water, living spaces, travel etc.

Maharashtra in particular has a high number of farmer suicides that speak of a situation that needs attention from all stakeholders. On our part in the non-profit sector, an effort is being made through the Grameen First Eco-Business to address the situation for the rural unemployed. Registered as a not-for-profit organisation under the ministry of corporate affairs as a company, we have set out to focus our energies towards job creation in a small but remote taluka of Mokhada in Palghar district. Palghar borders Mumbai-Thane region and Mokhada lies just 120 kilometres away from central Mumbai.

Currently our initial efforts focus on 5 different micro-businesses that are giving part-time and full-time jobs to over 25 rural unemployed individuals. These micro-businesses are in very nascent pilot-stages, but we are looking to grow and expand, so that we can provide hundreds, if not thousands of jobs to the tribal communities of Mokhada. With the GST registration and an export licence we have already been able to generate significant traction in sales and revenue generation at this early stage.

However, the organisation is careful to not repeat mistakes made where businesses have negatively impacted the environment. Care is taken to see that all our micro-businesses do not in any way harm the fragile and beautiful ecology of Mokhada. This is idea is embedded in our vision statement as a reminder and commitment to ourselves and the local communities, that we assertively promote our businesses while also taking steps that protect the environment in all possible ways.

Thriving Communities and Flourishing Ecology in Rural India.

Proactively working to create an enabling platform for economic development programs through the fostering of small and micro-businesses, with a priority for women-centric jobs, while actively promoting the conservation of our natural environment and preservation of local culture.

Leveraging local resources, manpower, and renewable energy sources on a common platform that emulates the Government model of MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation). The Grameen First Eco-Business Foundation firmly believes that a similar platform that we call the Village Industrial Development Centre or VIDC can help accelerate general businesses or agriculture-linked businesses in Mokhada. This implies the support and close coordination with the relevant government authorities at the district level and state level. However, the balance of Economy with Ecology – Progressing together is the guide star within the strategy.

Stevan Barretto: Project Officer – Social Enterprises for Development – Stevan is a Commerce Graduate from Mumbai University. He has experience in marketing and trading garments in the local market. He had his own garment business for a short period of time. At Grameen First Eco BUsiness he plans and oversees the implementation of the new programs under the Social Enterprises vertical (Mokhada Herbal Health Products, Naya Paperwork, New Organic Soap, Mast Mokhada, and Tribal Threads). Initiates and plans the activities with support from the field coordinators, officers, and local team.

Vismita Rao – Human Resources Manager – Vismita is a Commerce Graduate and has 7 years of experience as a Customer Service Executive with extensive experience in the Inbound & outbound processes.  At Grameen First Eco Business she looks after the Human Resources of the organization to manage, supervise policies/regulations, which are mandatory for every employee.

Lavannya Jadhav – Administrator – Lavannya maintains all the important paper-works, assists with completing all the day-to-day administrative ask that are important for the smooth functioning of the organization.

Amit Purandare – Finance Officer – Amit has 5 years of experience in accounts. AtGrameen First Eco Business he will be maintaining the financial accounts and monitoring the organizational income.

Nutan Jadhav – Office Assistant – Nutan is from a local village close to our Admin office, she helps with all the admin and program related data entry, saving program/event photographs and assists the administrator in filing of all important organizational documents.

Arun Holkar – Agricultural Expert

Connect with us to become a Volunteer with Grameen First Eco-Business Foundation to make a difference in the community. We welcome both national and international individuals and groups to volunteer. Professionals and interested individuals from diverse fields as finance, technology, human resources, agri-tech, agriculture and biodiversity, business mentors, sales and marketing, etc are all welcome to contribute their time, talent and skills. To volunteer with us, please contact us