Gramalaya

What Gramalaya does

Gramalaya is a non-governmental organization founded in 1987 by S. Damodaran and registered as a trust under the Indian Trust Act of 1882, headquartered in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. It works on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) with an integrated portfolio that also covers Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and nutrition under what the organization calls its WASHMAN approach. Its beneficiary base is rural poor communities, urban slum dwellers, women and adolescent girls, children and students, and coastal and tribal populations across five southern Indian states plus Puducherry, with project footprints in Delhi, Odisha, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Gramalaya's core technical assets are its SMART toilet model (a twin leach pit, pour-flush design converting human waste into manure with optional bathroom and incinerator add-ons), a library of 24 low-cost toilet designs for varied terrains, reusable cloth menstrual pads (Hamara Pads) manufactured by trained women, and a Toilet Technology cum Training Center at Kolakudipatti village. Programs are delivered through community-based organizations including Self-Help Groups, SHE Teams, AWASH Committees, and VWSCs. Cumulative reported outcomes include 6,00,000+ household toilets, 600+ ODF villages, 187+ ODF slums, 500+ school toilets, and 20 lakh+ women and girls reached with MHM programming.

Revenue is generated through institutional grants and program implementation rather than direct commercial sales. Funding sources comprise CSR partnerships with VST Industries, Bank of America, Reckitt, and HT Parekh Foundation; government scheme implementation under Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, and related programs; international donor funding from WaterAid, UNICEF, WSP-South Asia, World Bank, and Water Partners International USA; and a microfinance arm (GUARDIANS) that extends sanitation loans to women. Gramalaya also operates as an approved National Key Resource Centre under the Jal Jeevan Mission, generating revenue through training and capacity-building services for government officials and PRIs across multiple states.

Name

Gramalaya

Legal name

Gramalaya

Website

https://gramalaya.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Gramalaya is a Tiruchirappalli-based NGO working on water, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual hygiene management for rural and urban poor communities across southern India through CSR-funded, government scheme, and donor-supported WASH programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions (BPAGALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC), WASH & Public Health (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) (BPADAIAG), WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI)

Keywords

• Water sanitation hygiene
• Sanitation infrastructure
• Menstrual hygiene management
• Rural development programs
• Community toilet construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Tiruchirappalli

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. CSR Funding Partnerships: Gramalaya receives funding from corporate social responsibility initiatives of companies like VST Industries, Bank of America, HT Parekh Foundation, and Reckitt for implementing sanitation, water, and hygiene programs
2. Government Scheme Implementation: Implementing water and sanitation programs under government schemes including Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, Central Rural Sanitation Program, Total Sanitation Campaign, Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan
3. GUARDIANS Microfinance: GUARDIANS (Gramalaya Urban and Rural Development Initiatives and Network for Sanitation) offers sanitation loans to women to build toilets, addressing delays in government subsidies
4. International Donor Funding: Funding support from international organizations like WaterAid, UNICEF, WSP-South Asia, World Bank, and Water Partners International USA

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Gramalaya is a nonprofit trust that implements integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs across rural, urban slum, coastal, and tribal communities in South India. Its core offerings include the proprietary SMART toilet model (twin leach pit pour-flush design), community pay-and-use toilet complexes, individual household toilets, reusable cloth menstrual pads, and capacity-building training for government officials and NGOs. The organization operates as a National Key Resource Centre under the Jal Jeevan Mission, delivering services through community-based organizations and CSR/donor-funded projects.

Product overview

Gramalaya is a WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) NGO that offers an integrated portfolio of sanitation products and programs. Its core offerings include the SMART Toilet model (a twin leach pit toilet technology with bathroom facilities), Individual Household Toilets, and Community Toilets operated through a pay-and-use system managed by Women's Self-Help Groups. The organization also provides reusable cloth menstrual pads branded as "Hamara Pads" through its Women Empowerment Program. Key programs include the KRC Training Programs (Level 2 and Level 3) for government officials under Jal Jeevan Mission, School Hygiene Education Programs in partnership with Reckitt, MHM Summits for menstrual health advocacy, and Faecal Sludge Management initiatives. A Toilet Technology cum Training Center serves as a demonstration facility for various toilet models suitable for different terrains. The WASHMAN Approach provides integrated water, sanitation, hygiene, menstrual hygiene management, and nutrition programming through community-based committees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SMART Toilet Proprietary toilet model with twin leach pit pour-flush technology measuring 4ft x 8ft with attached bathroom and incinerator facility for disposal of soiled sanitary pads. Converts human waste into manure through twin leach pit technology, offered to households through CSR and government scheme programs.
• Community Toilets (Pay-and-Use System) Community-managed toilet complexes operated through Women's Self-Help Groups using a pay-and-use model. Includes facilities for men, women, children, and child-friendly toilets with handwashing stations, deployed in urban slums.
• Individual Household Toilets Individual household latrines including direct pit toilets, pour-flush twin pit latrines, and eco-san models suitable for rural, urban, coastal, tribal, rocky terrain, water-logging and urban areas, promoted through government schemes.
• Hamara Pads (Reusable Cloth Menstrual Pads) Reusable cloth menstrual pads manufactured by trained women with soft cotton fabric layers, leak-proof backing and snap button closure. Each pad replaces up to 120 disposable pads, providing sustainable menstrual hygiene solution for women and adolescent girls.
• KRC Training Programs (Level 2 and Level 3) Capacity-building training programs for government officials and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) under Jal Jeevan Mission. Level 2 focuses on middle management officials; Level 3 provides community-level training to elected PRI members and VWSC members on water supply, water quality monitoring, and community mobilization.
• School Hygiene Education Program Hygiene education initiative for school students covering six critical occasions for hand-washing, personal cleanliness, and hygiene at school, home, and during illness. Implemented through Child-to-Child approach with engaging IEC activities, school sessions and community outreach for students, teachers and parents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ villages and 187+ slums declared ODF
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Reckitt (Dettol Banega Swasth India)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Reckitt's flagship campaign Dettol Banega Swasth India partnered with Gramalaya for School Hygiene Education Program across seven southern states of India, empowering over 5 lakh children. The program focuses on sensitizing children about hand-washing and instilling hygiene culture through engaging IEC activities and community outreach. Reckitt Benckiser also supported the Harpic World Toilet College in Trichy.
• Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of IndiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGramalaya is an approved National Key Resource Centre (KRC) under the Jal Jeevan Mission by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation. The Ministry provides mandate for training government officials and PRIs in water supply sector across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu states and Union Territory of Puducherry.
• UNICEFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF India participated in Gramalaya's MHM India Summit 2019 in New Delhi. Mr. Sujoy Majumdar, WASH Specialist from UNICEF India, was present at the inaugural ceremony.
• Tiruchirappalli City CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTiruchirappalli City Corporation collaborated with Gramalaya since 1989 for urban slum intervention programs. The corporation provided vacant sites for constructing community toilets and support for maintenance through Urban Slum Intervention Program. Over 187 slums were declared ODF through this partnership.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FINISH Society: Indian nonprofit focused on financial inclusion for sanitation, promoting household toilets through microfinance and WASH programs. Comparable in WASH focus, microfinance-linked sanitation models, and engagement with state governments and CSR funders.
• WaterAid India: Indian arm of WaterAid, focused on WASH access for marginalized communities. Directly comparable as a WASH-focused NGO working with rural and urban poor, government schemes, and international donor funding — historically a Gramalaya partner since 1989.
• Arghyam: Indian philanthropic foundation working on water and sanitation access, supporting safe water and WASH initiatives. Comparable as an India-based WASH nonprofit with a similar mission profile and donor-funded operating model.
• Sulabh International: India's largest sanitation and social reform NGO, operating community toilets, sulabh shauchalayas, and sanitation services across India. Directly comparable as a long-established Indian WASH nonprofit with government partnerships and large-scale community toilet operations.

Others

• Dasra: Indian strategic philanthropy foundation supporting NGOs through funding, capacity building, and research. Comparable ecosystem participant — operates adjacent to Gramalaya as a funder/intermediary rather than a direct WASH implementer.

Broad incumbents

• Water.org: Global nonprofit pioneering market-based WASH financing through WaterCredit and utility partnerships. Comparable as a WASH sector leader but operates at much larger scale with a finance-first model that contrasts with Gramalaya's direct community implementation approach.
• World Vision India: Large Indian arm of World Vision running WASH, child health, and community development programs across India. Comparable in operating model (community-based WASH programs, donor funding, government partnerships) but with significantly broader sector and geographic scope.
• Centre for Science and Environment: Indian environmental policy and advocacy think tank covering water, sanitation, and public health. Comparable as an India-based organization influencing WASH policy and awareness, but distinct in its advocacy/research orientation versus Gramalaya's field-implementation model.

Regional players

• WASH United: Global nonprofit using sport and play-based approaches for WASH and menstrual hygiene education. Comparable in MHM advocacy and education programming, primarily operating in Africa and Asia but not India — positions it as a regional/adjacent peer with thematic overlap.

Emerging players

• Population Foundation of India: Indian nonprofit working on reproductive health, family planning, and women's health including menstrual hygiene. Partially comparable through shared focus on MHM and women-adolescent health, though broader mandate and less direct sanitation infrastructure delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gramalaya
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gramalayatn9564/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/Gramalaya
• Instagraminstagram.com/gramalaya

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Gramalaya