REACHA was set up in March, 1992, primarily to function as a meaningful bridge between the governmental systems on the one hand and disorganized mass of the people on the other. Voluntary Organizations are often seen as claiming to represent the people. This is not always true. Governmental systems claiming to be people- friendly are seldom so, inspite of their best intentions. Local bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) are supposed to be, Constitutional Amendments notwithstanding, peoples’ representatives at the grass-roots’ level, but their functioning over the last fifty years has only reduced them to the status of resource-poor and ineffective arms of the central and state governments. Few state governments have shown the courage and wisdom to delegate genuine and effective functions of self-governance to these local bodies. With globalization of the economy and the progressively receding role of the public sector even in genuine and essential functions of governance, a golden opportunity for the emergence of real peoples’ power seems to be visible on the horizon.
Ever since its inception in 1992, REACHA has been endeavoring to organize genuine Community Based Organizations (CBOs), which on the one hand respect the dignity of the individual and on the other promote community interests in a collective manner. This implies empowering people with knowledge and know-how, for which the only tool is the education system. Sadly, the education system in the country today hardly imparts genuine life skills. REACHA has successfully experimented with education and knowledge-sharing in communities. Results of these exhaustive experiments have been encapsulated into deliverable modules for schools, neighbourhoods, institutions and corporate organizations, so that they can be effectively plugged onto the existing educational system and learning environments.
Vision/Mission and Core Values of the Organization
REACHA is a community-based Non-Government Organisation (NGO) with a mission to deliver high impact to human development sectors like education, health, skilling of youth, women’s empowerment etc. To do this, it works closely with beneficiary underprivileged communities on need-based projects - partnering government, Corporate CSR and academic institutions for better outcomes.
Organizational Objectives
To reach out to the masses, be with them, hear from them about their needs, and thereupon develop and implement sustainable models of socio-economic growth and development, through a participatory process. Prime objective is local development in harmony with aspirations of beneficiaries, and in tandem with mandate of the State.
Methodology
Each REACHA intervention seeks community partnership in a deep-dive effort, so that locals are heard, they decide, and they implement - for their own good. REACHA, as an implementation agency, becomes a knowledge partner, a facilitator, that gets all stakeholders together. And this includes the local government as well. Models of intervention are co-created and then implemented in a participatory manner, with beneficiaries being their own evaluators – for progress, growth and transformation. Special effort is laid on community ownership so that work that starts continues and local people take up the project as part of their own development.
Geographical Work area (s):
REACHA works across the country. Geographies covered so far include Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR, Kashmir, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Punjab.
Area/s of Interventions:
Education, Health & Family Welfare, Environmental Conservation, Vocational Training/Skilling/Livelihood development, Sports for development, Women’s empowerment, Disability, Rural development, Slum development
Brief on key projects undertaken, including ongoing work:
1. Tata Power Energy Club – with support from Tata Power as part of their CSR – to sensitize school children, teachers, parents and neighbourhood communities on merits of energy conservation and environmental protection. Refer http://www.reacha.org/ndpl-energy-club and http://school.clubenerji.com/. Impacted 9,00,000 people from North Delhi over a 3-year period.
2. Project Samvedna – with support from Tata Teleservices Ltd as part of their CSR, New Delhi – Samvedna connected school children from across cities through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as part of their development and national integration. Refer http://www.reacha.org/samvedna. Connected about 200 school children across 2 cities of Delhi and Dehraun.
3. SAMEER and Maitreya Clubs – in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad, DPS, Amritsar, Manava Bharati School, New Delhi, Him Jyoti Foundation, Dehradun, Shishu Mandir, Bangaluru etc. – for holistic child development. More at – http://www.reacha.org/sameer-clubs and http://www.reacha.org/maitreya-clubs. These projects have significantly contributed towards shaping national school education – http://www.reacha.org/reacha-and-new-cbse-approach. The movement has been in action since 1998-99 till date, across the country.
4. Strategy for Counter Terrorism – a people’s movement for national security post the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008. Developed in partnership with Lt Gen (retd) K.K Khanna PVSM AVSM (Former Commandant Indian Military Academy – IMA). Refer http://www.reacha.org/strategy-for-counter-terrorism.
5. Mokashi Sports Village – A unique initiative for integrated child development through sports/physical education, led by former national Squash Champion Ritwik Bhattacharya. Supported by Nathani Steel as part of their CSR. Refer http://www.reacha.org/mokashi-sports-village.
6. ONGC supported projects in Uri & Baramulla, Kashmir – 360 Kashmiri youth are being provided skill development in fashion design (ASSOCHAM certification) and Retail & Hospitality (NSDC certification), by REACHA at Baramulla, Kashmir, under Army supervision, with support from ONGC in FY18-19. This is part of Operation Sadhbhavana of Ministry of Defense – to counter terrorism through peaceful means by attempting to mainstream youth in the valley. Fashion design project for 60 Kashmiri women started in FY 16-17, and the same was renewed for FY 17-18 and FY 18-19. Retail & Hospitality training for 300 youth started in FY17-18, and same is renewed for FY18-19. In total, more than 450 youth have been trained since April 2016, with about 60-70% achieving livelihood enhancement through jobs, self-employment or entrepreneurship. Also, through Uri Rehabilitation Project, 4 houses of Kashmiri laborer’s have been repaired/re-built – these were impaired during terrorist activities. The houses were formally handed over to the affected families on 11th April 2018 by Indian Army. http://www.reacha.org/ongc-csr-project
7. RECL approved project in District Azamgarh, UP – Learning in Education through Applied Reinforcement as per Need – An Innovative Approach to improve learning outcomes in Primary Education of 3000 children in District Azamgarh, UP – through Project Based Learning (PBL) with focus on Multiple Reinforcement. Project rollout has begun on site and is currently underway in FY18-19. http://www.reacha.org/recl-csr-project
8. Aptech Limited: Livelihood and skill development for youth in Baramulla – in partnership with Indian Army. Seeks to impact more than 500 youth in Kashmir during FY18-19.
9. Genpact – Livelihood enhancement and support for youth through Cell for Livelihood Enhancement (CLE) – Baramulla, Kashmir – in partnership with Indian Army. Seeks to impact 500-1000 youth in Kashmir during FY18-19.