The Dalai Lama Foundation (DLF) is based in Nandurbar, a tribal district recognized as an Aspirational District by NITI Aayog on the border of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, India.
Since 2013, the Dalai Lama Foundation has been dedicated to uplifting underprivileged communities by delivering impactful programs in education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and social empowerment — transforming lives across rural and tribal regions of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
Founded on 26th September 2013 by seven dedicated changemakers, DLF involves local residents in every step of the process — from identifying needs to designing and executing solutions. This ensures that the programs are culturally relevant, truly needed, and more sustainable in the long run.
DLF collaborates with government bodies, local schools, health departments, and other NGOs to amplify impact. By aligning efforts with public systems and experienced organizations, DLF scales reach and effectiveness.
DLF recognizes that social issues are deeply interconnected. That’s why it adopts a holistic model — simultaneously addressing education, health, gender equity, environmental conservation, and livelihoods — to create well-rounded, meaningful change.
DLF is committed to reaching the unreached. Its work is focused particularly in remote tribal zones of Nandurbar, where access to basic services is limited. By staying deeply connected with the grassroots, DLF ensures that solutions are inclusive and responsive to local realities.
In the commitment to become a Blue Community, DLF states:
We believe that water is a fundamental human right and should be protected as a public resource for present and future generations. By joining the Blue Community Network, we aim to strengthen our efforts in water conservation, rainwater harvesting, watershed development, WASH awareness, and environmental education. We also look forward to collaborating with Blue Community partners across South Asia, exchanging knowledge, implementing joint initiatives, and promoting the Blue Community principles among schools, colleges, villages, NGOs, corporate partners, and local communities across the aspirational tribal districts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
We support strong, transparent, and sustainable public water systems. We will collaborate with local governments, educational institutions, NGOs and community organizations to promote responsible water governance, conservation, protection of local water bodies, and improved public water infrastructure.
The Foundation will encourage the use of safe public drinking water and reduce dependence on bottled water by promoting refill stations, reusable water bottles, awareness campaigns, and sustainable practices during events, workshops, schools, and community programmes. We will also support initiatives that improve access to clean and safe drinking water.
The Dalai Lama Foundation is also committed to:
1.Water conservation and rainwater harvesting
2.Climate change adaptation
3.River, lake and groundwater protection
4.Plastic waste reduction
5.Environmental education
6.Sustainable development
7.Community participation and youth engagement
Through partnerships, awareness campaigns, volunteer initiatives, and community projects, we will continue promoting responsible water stewardship and environmental sustainability.
By end of June 2026, the Dalai Lama Foundation was designated a Blue Community (see here).
Read all Blue News from and about the Dalai Lama Foundation.
