Mr. Jayesh Joshi is committed to transforming the lives of children, women, and farmers in the tribal Bhil community of Southern Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. Rooted in Gandhian philosophy and the concept of Vasudev Kutumbakam, he has worked since 2001 to empower marginalized farmers through sustainable practices. Beginning with just 15 families, his goal is to reach 1 lakh tribal farmers across 1,000 villages. Through leadership building, government linkages, and innovative models, Mr. Joshi advocates for the integration of indigenous knowledge and local resources to foster long-term, sustainable development.
Agriculture and Nutrition
Mr. Jayesh Joshi champions sustainable development by integrating technology with traditional farming practices. He introduced mechanisms for monitoring community interventions, promoted multi-cropping to reduce risks, and trained farmers in line sowing for better crop management. By collaborating with horticulture departments, he provided access to mini sprinklers and green gram cultivation, increasing farmer income. His initiatives include establishing orchards, nutrition gardens, and improved goat rearing, benefiting over 1,000 families. Additionally, 20,000 women from Saksham Samuh have set up kitchen gardens, improving household nutrition. His work empowers tribal farmers towards improved livelihoods and sustainability.
Governance
Under the guidance of Mr. Jayesh Joshi, several impactful initiatives have been undertaken to uplift tribal communities. These include the Virasat Swaraj Yatra, promoting indigenous practices; Shramik Swaraj Abhiyan, registering 35,741 migrant workers; and the establishment of 26 organizations for self-governance. He has created a network of 5,000 Tribal Development Volunteers and youth leaders to support sustainable development and local solutions. Additionally, Mr. Joshi advocates for tribal rights internationally, submitting statements to the UN on indigenous practices and the importance of child protection and true democracy.
Child Rights
In August 2021, under Mr. Jayesh Joshi’s leadership, VAAGDHARA, in collaboration with the District Administration of Banswara, launched the **Poshan Swaraj Abhiyan**, a nutrition campaign to combat malnutrition, benefiting 67,000 children. Mr. Joshi also established child rights monitoring systems, improved education access for 53,200 tribal children, and launched initiatives like **Annapurna**, empowering 1,243 tribal women to combat malnutrition. Additionally, his efforts include rescuing children from child labor and marriage, helping 41,000 people access social security schemes, and advocating for the protection of tribal children at the state and international levels.