Based on a needs assessment of 1,200 households, the initiative aims to drive integrated village development across five villages in Bavla, Ahmedabad district, Gujarat
PUNE (India CSR): SKF India (Industrial) Limited, leading technology and solutions provider of bearings, condition monitoring, and services, today announced the launch of Gram Unnati, its flagship Integrated Village Development Programme (IVDP) in Bavla, Ahmedabad district, Gujarat, developed in partnership with implementation organization, Ambuja Foundation.
The three-year initiative will work across five villages – Baldana, Dahengamda, Kochariya, Bhayla and Zekda- with the goal of driving sustainable, measurable community development initiatives.
Designed as a comprehensive rural development programme, Gram Unnati aims to harvest more than 500,000 CuM of water, generate 1 MW+ renewable energy capacity, plant 10,000 indigenous trees, and enhance livelihood opportunities for over 1,000 households across the five villages over the next three years.
The launch was attended by R.R. Solanki, Mamlatdar & SDM, Bavla Block, Ahmedabad; Mahavir Singh Chavda, Taluka Development Officer, Bavla Block; Sujeeth Pai, Managing Director – SKF India (Industrial) Limited; Tarun Patel, Factory Manager – SKF Ahmedabad; Shashi Shetty, Head – Sustainability & CSR, SKF India (Industrial) Limited; Anagha Mahajani, Chief Impact Officer, Ambuja Foundation and Dalsukh Waghasiya, General Manager, Ambuja Foundation.
The initiative complements the Gujarat government’s expanding Van Kavach model under the Hariyali Lok Sabha initiative, which aims to cover 82 sites spanning 600 hectares across Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar this year.
Commenting on the launch, Sujeeth Pai, Managing Director, SKF India (Industrial), said, “At SKF, sustainability goes beyond our operations and extends to the communities around us. Gram Unnati reflects our belief that long-term progress is created when environmental stewardship, economic opportunity and community development advance together. Through this initiative, we aim to improve water security, strengthen education and livelihood opportunities, generate clean energy, and deliver income uplift for participating households, while building a scalable model for inclusive and sustainable rural development. By strengthening the grassroots, Gram Unnati supports India’s broader vision of Viksit Bharat through more self-reliant and future-ready communities.”
Speaking on the partnership, Chandrakant Kumbhani, CEO, Ambuja Foundation said, “The launch of Gram Unnati marks an important milestone in our partnership with SKF and reflects our shared commitment to creating sustainable, measurable and community-led rural transformation. Over the next three years, the initiative will work across five villages of Bavla Block of Ahmedabad district, taking an integrated approach to their overall development. SKF’s commitment enables us to combine Ambuja Foundation’s grassroots experience with ambitious, tangible outcomes in water harvesting, renewal energy, infrastructure, education, afforestation, and enhancing livelihood opportunities etc. Through Gram Unnati, our aim is not only to achieve these measurable results, but also to strengthen community institutions and local ownership, building villages that are more resilient, prosperous and self-reliant for the long term.”
Based on a needs assessment covering over 1,200 households, the programme addresses key challenges including water scarcity, limited livelihood opportunities, inadequate infrastructure, and dependence on conventional energy sources. To address these challenges, Gram Unnati will implement watershed development projects, clean drinking water solutions, afforestation initiatives, solar and biogas energy systems, women-led entrepreneurship programmes, vocational skilling, farmer collectivisation, and education enhancement initiatives.
Over the next three years, the initiative will focus on strengthening water availability, expanding clean energy access, improving education outcomes, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, and restoring local ecosystems through community-led stewardship models.
The SKF
SKF is a global industrial technology company founded in 1907. Its portfolio includes bearings, seals, lubrication systems, condition-monitoring solutions and related services designed to reduce friction in industrial applications. SKF operates in approximately 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. In 2025, the company reported annual sales of SEK 91,583 million and employed 37,271 people.
The Ambuja Foundation
Ambuja Foundation is an independent, pan-India development organisation working with rural communities across areas including water, agriculture, skills, women’s empowerment, health and education. It partners with corporates, government institutions and community stakeholders to address local development priorities and strengthen livelihood opportunities. Over nearly three decades, the organisation has implemented community-based programmes in rural and remote geographies, with a focus on local participation, capacity building and sustainable development. Through its partnerships, Ambuja Foundation continues to support efforts towards resilient and economically secure rural communities.
