RACHNA

RACHNA also meaning “creation” in the Sanskrit/ Hindi language has a multi-pronged strategy to ensure that livelihoods development and conservation promotion in the eco-fragile areas of Himalayas are mutually- sustainable.

RACHNA evolved itself as an independent tax exempt nonprofit organization in mid 2004. RACHNA's roots are in a special program of action research, training and networking for policy advocacy established in 1998. This network was created to support the youngest mountain state in Indian Himalayas called Uttarakhand to prepare local people, the government and civil society groups for better management of resources and sustainable development. RACHNA’s network of activists and thought-leaders has provided intensive training to thousands of functionaries, organized several regional and state workshops, implemented exposure and study visits of stakeholders to several different states in India and built a state wide network of social workers, academicians and elected functionaries. RACHNA was instrumental in reforming community governance policies in the newly formed state of Uttarakhand to include women. This effort resulted in the reservation of 50% seats in Village, Block and District level Panchayats for women, and reservation of 67% seats in Van Panchayats (Village Forest Councils) for women.