The experiences and activism of the last two decades of the Alliance has demonstrated that communities of the poor have many ideas and solutions to their problems. However, it is only once these strategies are actually implemented and assessed that one can evaluate how innovative and scalable they are. Unfortunately, the poor face innumerable impediments to exploring these possibilities. Moreover, they operate in an environment where the state and municipalities are particularly hostile to slum communities.

Nirman is a special purpose vehicle or non-profit company that provides precisely all the supports necessary for federated communities to engage in and lead large-scale construction projects in a manner that they believe is workable and sustainable. SPARC, Mahila Milan and the National Slum Dwellers Federation design community-led projects and hand them over to Nirman.

Nirman only undertakes projects that are recommended by the Alliance. These are of two types - on contractual agreement with government departments or joint housing projects with Cooperative Societies of communities in the federation.

Depending on the resources, needs, discussions and preferences of communities, and state policies and land available, a number of designs and financing options emerge for these projects.

Currently, some of the projects that Nirman is involved in are :

Housing :

Rajiv-Indira, Suryodaya and Ganga Housing Society, Mumbai
Bharat Janta Housing Society, Mumbai
Milan Nagar Housing Society, Mumbai
Bidi Workers Housing, Sholapur
Hadapsar Relocation Housing Project, Pune
Sunnuduguddu Housing Project, Bangalore
Oshiwara Housing Project, Mumbai

Infrastructure :

Bombay Sanitation Project, Mumbai
Pune Sanitation Project, Pune