Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG)

Through education, technical support, and community mobilization, the initiative promotes sustainable community natural resource management. The programme is dynamic, evolving to meet changing community and regional needs. At Chirag, natural resource management is viewed as an integrated concept, with interdependent activities. Encompassing forestry, fodder, spring recharge, animal husbandry, and watershed development, the programme ensures a comprehensive approach. With over 25 years of experience, technical assistance extends to other Grassroots Development Organisations in Uttarakhand. Activities in watershed development, like Pirna and Ghangal Kuluwa, cover forestry, soil conservation, agriculture, water supply, and livelihoods.

Given the risks farmers face due to climate change and market unpredictability, rural households need diversified livelihoods. Chirag facilitates communities in strengthening their options through agriculture, horticulture, agricultural marketing, finance, and animal husbandry programmes. In 1996, Chirag played a role in establishing Kumaun Grameen Udyog (KGU), reinvesting profits into rural development. Promoting cash crops benefits farmers, curbing migration and preventing land sale. Agri-marketing aids small-scale farmers, while community-based institutions, particularly self-help groups, empower farmers economically, fostering independence and financial inclusion. Livestock support initiatives address fodder access and animal health.

Since its inception, Chirag has been dedicated to addressing health-related challenges. Over time, health initiatives have evolved to effectively respond to the community's needs. The Chirag Hospital in Sargakhet delivers curative services. The Preventive and Promotive Health Programme collaborates with Health Committees across 65 Gram Panchayats, empowering ASHA workers in fulfilling their roles. The efforts are directed towards improving access to clean drinking water and sanitation. Regular health camps are organised at the village level to foster awareness and promote health and sanitation practices, contributing to the overall well-being of the population.

In rural Kumaun, Government-funded primary schools face challenges in delivering quality education due to remoteness, insufficient resources, and institutional constraints. Addressing the urgency of improving education, initiatives were implemented. The BalShikshak program introduced auxiliary teachers, a library program aimed at children, and a scholarship initiative for girls. Additionally, a primary school was established in Simayal, serving as a model for exemplary education. Chirag's direct involvement in managing pre and primary schools has played a pivotal role in influencing positive changes within the government education system at district and state levels.