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DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DESTRUCTION,
EMPOWERMENT FOR ENABLING CHOICES

Pragya is a global family of coordinated, independently registered non-profit development organisations committed to poverty relief, environmental protection, access to healthcare and education, gender equality, social justice and disaster management. Established in the global south in 1995, Pragya secures transformational change at the grassroots, focusing on disenfranchised populations often living in remote and marginalised regions of the world that are left behind in the development process. 

Our Mission

Pragya’s mission is to enable grassroots sustainable development for the poorest, most neglected communities in remote and marginal societies, in a way that preserves and promotes local cultures and fragile ecosystems.

Our Vision

Pragya’s vision is one of marginalised communities living dignified lives free from poverty and injustice, fully enjoying the benefits of development in a manner harmonious with cultural heritage and the natural environment. 

OUR VALUES

The core values upon which Pragya is founded guide us in our fulfilling our mission.

Development without destruction

Pragya brings the benefits of modernity to the underserved in the most remote regions and fringe societies of the world, in a way that embraces the best of their cultural heritage and sustains their ecological base. We believe in a sensitive and nuanced approach to development that values and recognises the opportunities in cultural-ecological heritage. Our development solutions ensure the protection of fragile ecologies that characterise many of the locales in which we operate, sustainably integrating the rich environmental resources into our initiatives where appropriate. We also seek to blend the traditional with the modern, adopting appropriate technologies that complement and respect traditional knowledge and... Read More

The core values upon which Pragya is founded guide us in our fulfilling our mission.

Development without destruction

Pragya brings the benefits of modernity to the underserved in the most remote regions and fringe societies of the world, in a way that embraces the best of their cultural heritage and sustains their ecological base. We believe in a sensitive and nuanced approach to development that values and recognises the opportunities in cultural-ecological heritage. Our development solutions ensure the protection of fragile ecologies that characterise many of the locales in which we operate, sustainably integrating the rich environmental resources into our initiatives where appropriate. We also seek to blend the traditional with the modern, adopting appropriate technologies that complement and respect traditional knowledge and crafts. 

This is development without destruction. This is sustainability. This is Pragya.  

Empowerment for enabling choices

Pragya believes in the transformative power of marginalised communities to come together and in their innate strength and will to shape their own future. We believe this capacity to be essential to human dignity. We act as change-enablers, nurturing potential in communities downtrodden by mainstream society, who have not the means but the imagination, ingenuity and drive to better their lives and improve the prospects for their children. We build capacity at the grassroots, facilitating self-management of resources through the establishment of social structures and supports able to sustain themselves. We equip impoverished communities with the tools and know-how to propel themselves to social and economic prosperity.

This is empowerment for enabling choices. This is dignity. This is Pragya.

Certain fundamental principlesof intervention further define Pragya’s work.

Integrated development

Pragya believes that development initiatives are most effective and sustainable when fully addressing the interlinked social, economic and political factors and root causes of poverty. We take a comprehensive approach, combining research, advocacy, awareness raising, resource inputs, and training, working with communities across related themes such as water supply and agriculture, healthcare and nutrition, education and social norms – all of which are impacted by cross-cutting issues like climate change, gender, protracted conflict, and governance that represent strategic priorities for Pragya. By designing development solutions with multiple, mutually supportive elements, our projects have a track record of unaided continuity in the long term.

This is integrated development. This is real impact. This is Pragya.

Building relationships

Pragya believes in bringing people together for collaborative action. We believe that in combining our strengths with those of other key stakeholders, we create synergies for greater efficiency and improved outcomes. We work in coordination with the likes of educational and research institutions, NGOs and civil society, industry, national governments and the United Nations. But just as important to Pragya are the long-term relationships we foster with beneficiary communities though sensitive dialogue and sustained engagement. We engage across key pillars of community life, including schools, health centres, police and local authorities, cultural institutions and employers, harnessing the breadth and depth of ideas, skills and experience, for collective and efficient response to unique development challenges.

This is building relationships. This collaboration. This is Pragya.

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OUR HISTORY

OUR IMPACT

Environment and Energy

·    18 species of medicinal plants and 2 wildlife species in the Himalayan Region and 5 spec...

Equity for Women and Marginalised Groups

·    22,000 women and girls have improved nutrition, health and education, and are asserting ...

Education

·    17,000 children educated and 8500 youth vocationally trained and set on a path to improv...

Water and Sanitation, Health and Emergency Management

·    40,000 people have safe water and sanitation and improved dignity, and are secure from w...

Livelihoods and Food Security

·    20,000 small & marginal farmer households have improved farm productivity and income...

Disaster Management

·    Distress of the disaster-affected alleviated for 17 communities in areas vulnerable to n...

Environment and Energy

·    18 species of medicinal plants and 2 wildlife species in the Himalayan Region and 5 species of medicinal plants in the Rift Valley conserved.

·    25 rural communities across hill/mountain and arid zones adapting to climate change and improving their management of land and water. 

·    Solar and wind micro-grids reached electricity to several villages with gains in education, healthcare and livelihoods.

Equity for Women and Marginalised Groups

·    22,000 women and girls have improved nutrition, health and education, and are asserting their rights to equality and safety.

·    Women and girls in 300 villages with patriarchal communities recognize their power, assert themselves against violence and discrimination, and access their rights safety, equality and dignity.

·    Traditional language, arts & crafts and knowledge systems preserved and valorised across 11 Himalayan communities.

Education

·    17,000 children educated and 8500 youth vocationally trained and set on a path to improved futures and decent work. 

·    Children in 21 last-mile communities educated through mobile schools and non-formal centres and 330 marginalised schools improved through new teaching aids and education monitoring systems.

Water and Sanitation, Health and Emergency Management

·    40,000 people have safe water and sanitation and improved dignity, and are secure from water-borne diseases.

·    Women and children in 26 underserved communities have overcome malnutrition, and 10 underserved communities have adequate and timely healthcare.

·    Safe water and sanitation and reduced water-borne diseases in 20 communities, schools, and migrant worker settlements.

Livelihoods and Food Security

·    20,000 small & marginal farmer households have improved farm productivity and incomes and are proactively adapting to climate change.

·    Niche-sector livelihoods taken up by 26 communities with improved incomes and livelihood security at the bottom of the pyramid.

Disaster Management

·    Distress of the disaster-affected alleviated for 17 communities in areas vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change, and assisted build back.

·    A community-based system for early warning and effective humanitarian relief and emergency response helping preparedness and mitigating risks for 17 remote vulnerable communities.

·    Area-specific programmes propelled to address development of disadvantaged regions and their communities.

OUR TEAM

Board Members

Arasan Aruliah

Trustee

Gargi Banerji

Chair

Jayshree Raveendran

Trustee

John Pope Aleri

Trustee

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Abhijit Ghosh

Manager – Finance & Accounts

Anil Manandhar

Regional Team Member, Nepal

Arun Kumar

Development Manager, UK

Bahauddin Zakaria

Project Officer, Bangladesh

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Awards