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Our Story, Our Mission,
Our People

From a small footpath classroom to a growing movement — learn how Sarvodaya Group Trust came to life and why we exist.

"Lead me from darkness to light, from the unreal to the real."
BRIHADARANYAKA UPANISHAD
About Sarvodaya Group Trust

If Children Cannot Reach School, School Must Reach Them

Sarvodaya Group Trust – Footpath School was built on a belief that is simple but revolutionary: every child, regardless of where they are born or where they sleep, deserves the light of education.

What began with a few dedicated volunteers, a piece of chalk, and a stretch of pavement in Narol, Ahmedabad, has grown into a registered Trust touching hundreds of lives across the city and beyond. We serve children from homeless families, construction site workers' communities, migrant labourer settlements, and displaced families.

Children learning
"The future is already in the making."
— SARVODAYA GROUP TRUST

"You drop your daughter at the school gate and wave until she disappears into education. A roadside child, right behind you, watches with quiet curiosity — wondering what happens inside that 'school.'"

— FROM OUR FOUNDER'S NOTES

These are not children who don't want to learn. They are children the system hasn't reached yet — kept out by distance, missing paperwork, or a family that needs their hands more than their homework. We refused to accept that their future was already decided. So in 2012, we stopped waiting for these children to find their way to a school, and started bringing the school to them.

Why Families & Donors Trust Us
•14+ years of continuous, on-the-ground service in Ahmedabad
•Registered charitable trust — certified under Section 80G and 12A of the Income Tax Act
•Clean financial audit track record for 14+ years
•An open-door policy — visit any of our centres, any day, and see the work for yourself
Our Inspiration — Unto This Last

Sarvodaya traces back to English social philosopher John Ruskin, whose 1860 essays on an economy built around the least powerful — not the most — transformed a young lawyer named Mohandas Gandhi in 1904. That philosophy, Sarva (all) Udaya (upliftment), is the guiding force behind everything we do.

MISSION
Progress for all. Well-being for all.
2012
Year Founded
80G
Tax Exemption Certified
12A
Income Tax Registered
14+
Years of Service
Our Journey

From Chalk on the Pavement
to a Growing Movement

2012

The First Class

Five children. One volunteer. A piece of chalk. A stretch of footpath in Narol, Ahmedabad. That was all it took to begin a revolution.

2013

Formal Registration

Sarvodaya Group Trust formally registered as a Trust in Gujarat, establishing legal foundations for fundraising, partnerships, and growth.

2016

5 Learning Centres

Expanded from one footpath to five active learning centres across Narol, Vatva and surrounding areas of Ahmedabad. Medical camps launched.

2020

Through COVID-19

While the world stopped, we continued. Essential kits distributed to 500+ homeless families. Digital learning sessions launched for enrolled children.

2022

Youth & Women Programmes

Launched vocational training for youth and women empowerment programs. 80G and 12A certifications received from Income Tax department.

2026

Land Acquired

2,400 sq. metres secured for a permanent, ₹10 crore school campus plan. Grahak Seva civic-help desk passes 5,670+ families assisted.

Today

1,600+ Children & Growing

14+ years of service. 500+ well-wishers. A permanent home under construction — because every child still waiting deserves their chance.

About the Founder

The Man Behind the Mission

Virat Shah – Founder
Virat Shah
Founder & Director
📞 +91 75674 39196 WhatsApp →

"At 7:30 am, a bike stops in a Narol neighbourhood slum in Ahmedabad. A few slum kids, squeezed against the morning cold, wait eagerly for this bike — and the man riding it, Virat Shah."

The news of his arrival is relayed and 20+ kids assemble quickly. A 'red' carpet is rolled out on a nearby footpath for their walk into the new world — and the Sarvodaya 1st centre class begins. No blackboard. No benches. No posters. Nothing of a typical school infrastructure.

The biker turns into a teacher and slum kids become students. That is how it began — and that spirit has never left. Today, the same dedication that drove Virat Shah to park his bike on a cold Ahmedabad morning drives the entire Sarvodaya Group Trust mission.

Contact the Founder
Our Team

Committee Members

The dedicated professionals who guide Sarvodaya Group Trust's vision, governance, and operations.

Virat Shah
Virat Shah
Founder

Founded Sarvodaya Group Trust with nothing but a bike, a piece of chalk and a conviction that every child deserves an education. What began on a Narol footpath now serves 1,600+ children across Ahmedabad.

Manojkumar Topiwala
Manojkumar Topiwala
Member

General Manager, Reliance Industries, Jamnagar. B.E. Electronics, M.S. University. Supports underprivileged students through free tuition and champions environmental sustainability.

Rohitkumar J. Nayee
Rohitkumar J. Nayee
Member

Runs Sun Enterprise, a flexible-packaging manufacturer in Ahmedabad. Diploma in Fine Arts, North Gujarat University. Believes society is built through knowledge and positive action.

Nilang Jayantilal Shah
Nilang Jayantilal Shah
Member

Proprietor, Parth Enterprise, GIDC Vatva — manufacturing air compressors and dryers. Also serves with Bapa Sitaram Foundation Trust on animal welfare and social causes.

Binit Patel
Binit Patel
Member

Founder of Apollo Machinery and Akshar Bio-Science, exporting high-performance centrifuge machines worldwide from Ahmedabad. Built on a foundation of integrity and teamwork.

Dinesh P. Kansara
Dinesh P. Kansara
Member

Telecom engineer & MBA with 36 years professional experience at Tata, Reliance; now an entrepreneur with operations in India and the US. A long-standing advocate for social service and an ardent spiritual seeker.

Trust Registration & Transparency

We Are Accountable to You

Every rupee donated is tracked, reported, and visible. We publish annual reports and welcome site visits from our donors and partners.

80G
Income Tax Exemption for Donors
12A
Income Tax Registration
FCRA
Foreign Contribution Regulation (underway)
NGO
Registered in Gujarat, India
Donate Now → Contact Us
FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Sarvodaya Group Trust founded?+
Sarvodaya Group Trust was founded in 2012 by Virat Shah, starting with a single open-air classroom on a footpath in Narol, Ahmedabad.
Who founded Footpath School and why?+
Virat Shah founded Footpath School after noticing children on the streets of Narol with no access to education. He began teaching them himself using no formal infrastructure — just a footpath and a will to help.
Is Sarvodaya Group Trust a legally registered NGO?+
Yes, Sarvodaya Group Trust is a registered charitable trust in Gujarat, certified under Section 80G and 12A of the Income Tax Act, allowing donors to claim tax deductions.
How is Sarvodaya Group Trust funded?+
We are funded entirely through individual donors, well-wishers, and community support — with a transparent, audited financial record maintained since inception.