Janmitram Kalyan Samiti

Chhattisgarh

Janmitram' translates to ""Friends of People and that is exactly what the organisation, Janmitram Kalyan Samiti has been for the tribal people in remote Chhattisgarh. The organisation was established in October 2002. Since then it has been working with the government and community towards development.

Janmitram Kalyan Samiti was started by a group of youth with a common aim to fulfil their desire of serving the society.

The founders of the organisation have had an academic and professional background in forestry. Therefore the organisation naturally started working in forest-related programmes in tribal and rural areas. Janmitram initially worked for livelihood enhancement and natural resource management. Health and skill development programmes were added in due course of time.

The mission of the organisation is to intervene, among backward and disadvantaged communities, by raising awareness and skill, to make them able to recognize better opportunities, offered by our nation.

Dr. Mukesh Giri Goswami is instrumental in the inception and growth of the organisation. Dr. Goswami is a specialist in natural resource management including soil, water and forest conservation. In his words, ""Make footprints in hearts to be remembered rather than leaving carbon footprints on the heart of the mother Earth"".

The organisation has a varied range of activities, from making farm ponds, to vegetable garden cultivation, setting pumps and deepening wells as well as creating awareness among female sex workers.

They have also received a number of rewards recently, including the Best NGO by the Women and Child Department, Raigarh under Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao scheme.