Gramalaya Urban and Rural Development Initiatives and Network (GUARDIAN) is a not-for-profit organization working in water and sanitation in India. It was founded in Raja Colony, Trichy in 2007 by the non-governmental organization Gramalaya, which had preciously been working in the same field in for over twenty years in the Tiruchirapalli District.
Working through micro loans and micro credit, GUARDIAN targets poor communities by installing sanitation and water systems in various locations and in the home. This is an example of part of the larger international development industry that attempts to "make sanitation sexy" in the midst of other causes that tend to get more attention.
Contact Information
Gramalaya Urban and Rural Development Initiatives and Network website
Microcredit Sanitation Services
The Gramalaya Urban and Rural Development Initiatives and Network
Trend Themes
1. Microcredit Sanitation Services - The use of microcredit in the sanitation industry can be disruptive by opening up opportunities for investment in poor communities.
2. Innovative Sanitation Financing - The use of micro loans and credit for sanitation initiatives presents an opportunity for innovative financing models in the development industry.
3. Sanitation for Low-income Communities - Sanitation initiatives that focus on low-income communities can be disruptive by addressing an underserved need and improving overall public health.
Industry Implications
1. Microfinance - Microfinance can be a disruptive innovation opportunity for the sanitation industry by providing financing to low-income communities.
2. International Development - The international development industry can be disruptive by focusing its attention on sanitation initiatives and improving public health in low-income communities.
3. Non-profit - Non-profit organizations focusing on water and sanitation in low-income communities can be disruptive by providing innovative financing models and addressing an underserved need for basic sanitation services.