Our Genesis

ARPAN’s story begins in the rugged hills of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, where life has always been marked by both breathtaking beauty and deep-rooted inequality. In the early 1990s, a group of passionate young changemakers gathered in Askot village, drawn together by a shared determination to challenge the social and economic injustices facing marginalized communities.

From humble beginnings in the ancestral home of our founder – part family space, part makeshift office – conversations with villagers laid bare the everyday struggles of those too often unseen: Dalit and tribal women, landless labourers, and families facing generations of disadvantage. There were serious human rights violations that had long been ignored – unresolved cases of violence, illegal sand mining threatening livelihoods, and the silent suffering of women – became impossible to overlook.

The more we listened, the clearer it became: meaningful change required a long-term commitment. With a core group of dedicated young people and our founder at the helm, ARPAN became a formal organisation in 1996 – rooted in local realities and driven by a vision of justice and equality for all.

Inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s words, ARPAN placed women and girls, especially from Dalit and tribal communities, at the heart of its mission –

“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress women have achieved”

Empowering those most marginalized became both our legacy and our guiding star. More than two decades later, this commitment remains as strong as ever – shaping every step we take toward a just and equitable society.

Geographical Impact

ARPAN is based in the picturesque village of Helpiya near Askot in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, India. District Pithoragarh lies at the tri-junction of India, Nepal, and Tibet, with the Kali River marking its eastern border with Nepal. The rugged, hilly terrain, along with its fragile ecosystem and remoteness, poses significant challenges to rural development – particularly in the areas of quality education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities.

Our core geographic focus is in the blocks of Didihat, Dharchula, and Kanalichhina in Pithoragarh district, while our reach extends to Khirdwari village in Champawat and Chakarpur village in Udham Singh Nagar. Through grassroots engagement, we currently work across 90 villages spanning these three districts. Our Ending Violence against Women and Girls is a regional campaign operating across all 13 districts of Uttarakhand.