Parisar was formed on the 5th of June – World Environment Day – 1981 in response to deteriorating quality of urban life resulting from an overall apathy towards the environment and neglect of natural and man-made heritage of the city. It is registered as a charitable trust or NGO at Pune, Maharashtra, India and has worked in a variety of fields such as protecting urban heritage, preserving the bio-diversity of Pune, and challenging questionable decisions by the Government. The range of its activities has included advocacy, campaigning and playing the role of a watch-dog to ensure that citizen's interests are protected. Currently, Parisar is focused on advocacy and lobbying for sustainable urban transport policies.