FINISH stands for Financial Inclusion Improves Sanitation and Health.

FINISH Society is a multistate not-for- profit NGO registered in 2010 under the Societies Registration Act 1860. It’s main objective is to provide safe sanitation systems and promote WASH activities through financial inclusion.   

FINISH society was conceived of FINISH programme initiated in 2009 by an Indian-Dutch consortium comprising financial institutions, NGOs, MFI’s, academic and development institutions from India and the Netherlands. With focus on only individual household sanitation and microfinance driven partnership, the Society diversified partnerships to 60+ Partners across 10 states. Adding a mix of microfinance institutions, NGOs, milk cooperatives and SHGs as partner organisations. By the year 2014, FINISH Society expanded operations into School WASH, Solid Waste Management, Liquid Waste Management, Research & Study, Capacity Building, Health & Financial Inclusion.

FINISH was founded by a group of ten leaders from multi-disciplinary sectors. Brief profile of few of them is provided below:

• Mr. A. Sahasranaman, a retired I.A.S. officer from the 1973 batch, played a key role in establishing FINISH Society on the ground with his vision for community service. He held senior positions in the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, including Secretary to the Government and Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Division. Closely associated with India’s leather industry, he also served as the first Executive Director of the Council for Leather Exports under the Ministry of Commerce.
• Mr. S. V. Bhave, the first Chairman of the Governing Body of FINISH Society, has been associated since its inception. A retired I.A.S. officer, he served extensively in Jammu & Kashmir and as faculty at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. He also held senior leadership roles, including Executive Director (Vigilance & Security) at GAIL, New Delhi, and Joint Secretary in the Department of Heavy Industry, Government of India.
• Ms. AJ (Viju) James is a leading development professional with decades of experience in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). Passionate about sustainable community solutions, he founded FINISH Society, an award-winning organization pioneering sanitation, financial inclusion, and circular waste management models across India. Under his leadership, FINISH Society has transformed millions of lives by promoting safe sanitation, health, and livelihoods while advancing innovative, scalable approaches to achieve lasting social and environmental impact.
• Mr. Vijay S. Athreye conceptualized FINISH and was instrumental in building a strong on-ground team. Before this, he led the Rural and Microinsurance initiative at TATA-AIG Life Insurance as Vice President until 2010. His core interests lie in rural development, sustainability, public–private partnerships, and financial inclusion. He holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and Business Administration, and professional fellowships from LOMA (USA) in Life Management and Customer Service.
• Mr. Abhijit Banerji has been associated with FINISH since its inception, serving in multiple leadership roles. As Member Secretary of the Governing Body of FINISH Society and Director of the FINISH Programme, he has been instrumental in designing and expanding FINISH across more than 12 states in India. He played a pivotal role in developing public–private partnerships and creating the strategic partnership framework that anchors FINISH’s impact in the Indian context.

FINISH Society is working to promote sustainable and inclusive access to water, sanitation and hygiene services to impact health and environment.

FINISH helps in  creation of self-help-groups and nurtures them so as to promote livelihood training and empowerment. It also helps in the formation of  Joint Liability Groups in order to get them sanitation loans to build toilets and helps in mainstreaming women’s group by starting small scale livelihood programs and provides training for the same.

FINISH Society’s key projects are WASH in schools and communities, Solid & Liquid Waste management, Co-composting for a water ready future, Skill and livelihood development, Empowering rural youth through sports, Renewable energy (solar) and Knowledge management & Research.

FINISH Society is present in 14 states of India namely, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Punjab, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

FINISH Society operates only in India.

Through our initiatives and programmes we are impacting over 10 million people with safely managed sanitation and WASH behaviour and over 250,000 children impacted through WASH in School programmes

Under our solid waste management programmes, over 200,000 households are practicing segregation while some are doing recycling. We are managing 22,000 Tons+ of Average Solid Waste per year, and 3,600 Tons+ of CO2 equivalent GHGs emissions is saved per year combatting effects of climate change.

FINISH Society is involved in river and lake cleaning projects. It is also involved in setting up constructed Wetlands for treating faecal sludge and converting it into grey water to irrigate farm lands.

FINISH is involved in reclaiming and strengthening soil health by natural means, without the use of chemical fertilizers.  It is presently working in regenerating soil health in 4000 acres of farm land in Uttar Pradesh.

FINISH  Society is committed to mainstreaming IWWs by  linking them to government schemes and provides them training in financial literacy programs.

FINISH Society has a dedicated, livelihood and skill training program, wherein social groups are trained and skilled to find suitable jobs in the industrial sector.

Yes, FINISH Society has a structured Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) wherein full-fledged training is provided to men and women for starting businesses in the WASH sector

Yes, FINISH Society is in the process of training over 1200 young sportsperson under Tata’s Maithon Power Ltd in Nirsa, Dhanbad where 5 grounds and dedicated coaches train male and female athletes as well as for team games so that they compete at the district, state and national levels. Many of these trained and accomplished sportspersons find jobs in para-military forces, including the police force

FINISH promotes 3R by creating awareness in communities and encouraging alternatives to single use plastics.

As update we have partnered with Sygnify Foundation to set up total  300 KW Solar plants to provide uninterrupted power supply to multiple rural location at Rajasthan, we have also setup 725 KW solar power plant to 3 district hospitals in Karoli.

Yes, We have collaborated with Hindi film actor Mr Pankaj Tripathi to light up a school in his village of in Gopalganj District of Bihar.

FINISH’s work directly addresses the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Indirectly addresses the following SDGs:

• SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) & SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth)

We have worked in Nandurbar in Maharashtra, Valsad & Navsari in Gujarat and  Dungarpur in Rajasthan

Check for our news updates and upcoming events and follow us on social media for all kinds of information. You can also write to us at info@finishsociety.com

On our resources page, you can download our Impact Reports, annual reports and research & publications.

FINISH Society only accepts grants and donations from CSRs, Foundations, HNI/UHNIs and government bodies for working in India.

• You are welcome to visit us at: Ground Floor, Land No. 28, Khasra No. 400, New Nandi Vihar Colony, Near N.W.P. Inter College, Chinhat, Lucknow-226028- U.P.
• Or you can call us at +05223516328 or write to us at: info@finishsociety.com