Mahila Housing Trust – Empowering Women through Sustainable Development Goals
MHT is the grassroot development organization in India, believes that women are the leaders in driving progress toward more sustainable and gender-inclusive cities. We help develop women’s grassroots institutions and build their knowledge and capacities to engage with decision-making on issues that concern their communities and cities. We also bring technical expertise in construction, technology, and urban governance to help design and deliver pro-poor services and programs. The socio-technical nature of our organization makes us uniquely positioned to act as a bridge between grassroots and mainstream public and private sector institutions and advance action on responsible urban development.
Varanasi Heat Action Plan
On May 16, 2025, Varanasi Nagar Nigam, in partnership with the Department of Medical Health & Family Welfare, Mahila Housing Trust (MHT), NRDC, and IIPHG, launched the Varanasi Heat Action Plan (HAP)—a locally rooted, scientifically informed initiative designed to protect communities from rising extreme heat.
This data-driven, equity-focused plan is tailored to Varanasi’s unique climate challenges and community needs. It features ward-level heat vulnerability mapping, future climate projections, community-led interventions, and special attention to high-footfall areas like ghats and informal settlements.
The launch event highlighted insights from MHT, NRDC, and IIPHG, along with an MoU signing and strong commitments from municipal and district leadership. From cool roofs in dense settlements to crowd-sensitive public health measures at major ghats, the plan prioritizes communities at every step. Download the Varanasi Heat Action Plan.
Churu Heat Action Plan
On May 21, 2025, the Churu District Collector officially launched the city’s first-ever Heat Action Plan (HAP)—a landmark initiative to protect citizens from rising temperatures.
Co-developed by Churu Municipal Council, Mahila Housing Trust (MHT), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the plan combines science, data, and community insights to build a climate-resilient Churu. It features granular, ward-level heat vulnerability mapping and, guided by the IPCC’s risk framework, provides a science-backed, equity-focused roadmap to safeguard communities from heat extremes. By blending local knowledge with robust data, the plan outlines short- to long-term interventions and strengthens coordination across local, district, and state authorities. Download the Churu Heat Action Plan.
As part of the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS), and MHT introduced India’s first ‘Cool Bus Stop’ at Lal Darwaja on March 18, 2025, to protect commuters from extreme heat.
The location is strategically chosen as the bus stop remains exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day and experiences a high footfall of over 6 lakh commuters during summer season.
Equipped with a High-Pressure Mist System, this energy-efficient cooling solution provides much-needed relief, especially to students, daily-wage workers, and vulnerable communities.
This transformation sets a benchmark for climate-resilient public spaces, inspiring cities across South-Asia to combat rising temperatures and enhance commuter comfort.
The Jodhpur Heat Action Plan
Focusing on women-led development, MHT contributes towards:
