ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the innovative model of SAATH, a social enterprise founded by Mr. Rajendra Joshi, an Ashoka Fellow, which is engaged in promoting a sustainable livelihood for the urban poor in the Gujarat state of India. It explores how this model, engaged in promoting a (non-farm) sustainable livelihood for the urban poor, is creating inclusive societies. In particular, it aims to understand their sustainability and scalability challenges, and also strategies adopted to face these challenges in order to create inclusive societies. Based primarily on the analysis of stakeholders’ interviews, the study shows that acquisition of financial and human resources and generating trust in the client base are the major hurdles faced by the social enterprise. The cross-sector partnerships focusing on inclusive development are the keys to create a sustainable mission impact and increase efficiency. The dissemination strategy of scaling is highly influential in modelling social enterprise and maximising their social impact at low costs and efforts. The findings suggest that the financial and structural stability promoted by SAATH can act as a stimulus for conventional charity-based organisations to adopt a social business model and become successful. The model presented in the chapter will contribute to the existing knowledge of the social value creation model, which is critical for the inclusive development of any country.
