Tribal Community Empowerment

Uttarakhand is home to five indigenous tribal communities: Raji, Bhotiya, Buksa, Tharu, and Jaunsari. Among them, the Raji, or Rajwars, are recognized by the government as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). ARPAN takes a people-centric approach with these indigenous communities, prioritizing their empowerment and holistic development, as they face severe social and economic exclusion in accessing equal opportunities to land, livelihoods, education, and healthcare.

More specifically, our relationship with the Raji community, established in the early 1990s, has evolved to focus on building leadership capacities among women and youth, strengthening access to government schemes, promoting women’s political participation, and assisting families during emergencies. Our sustained, long-term engagement and action research with the Raji community have led to tangible outcomes, with both the judiciary and government taking notice of their conditions, recognizing their citizenship rights, and securing key entitlements.