Our Impact
The Rarh Foundation is dedicated to uplifting the people in the Rarh region of India, one of the poorest and most down-trodden corners of the globe.
Our projects are focused on raising the standard of education through supporting schools, teachers’ training centres and early learning centres, improving health facilities and health education, supporting agricultural, irrigation and clean drinking water initiatives and helping with renewable energy enterprises to encourage self-sufficiency and a reduced carbon footprint.
Some of the projects to which The Rarh Foundation contributes include (but are not limited to) the following:
AM Girls High School at Uma Nivas
AM Girls High School at Uma Nivas
Katang Village, Purulia District, West Bengal.
This school is for girls from Grade 5 through Grade 10 and includes residential facilities for over 80 girls, staff and teachers.
The Rarh Foundation has been supporting this high school since 2018.
Currently, the Foundation funds ongoing operations, land purchase for a playground and horticultural training, a water filtration system to supply purified drinking water for students and staff, infrastructure (including a dining hall, indoor lavatory, lavatory equipment and kitchen improvements), kitchen equipment, and computers, desks and chairs for students.
We also fund teacher salaries when possible, and have contributed to the construction of a teacher’s training college adjacent to the high school.
The school is managed by Dr. Barnali Mandal, Principal.
This project willingly takes volunteers throughout the year. Contact The Rarh Foundation for more information about volunteering with the AM Girls High School at Uma Nivas.
Gurukula Women’s College at Uma Nivas
Gurukula Women’s College at Uma Nivas
Katang Village, Purulia District, West Bengal.
This college is for young women in Grades 11 and 12
The Rarh Foundation has been supporting this college since its inception and early days of its construction, which commenced in 2017.
The Foundation has contributed funds for building materials such as concrete for the walls as well as windows and doors, and also has contributed to classroom materials such as computers, desks and chairs. The Foundation also contributed significantly for the purchase and installation of solar panels to provide electricity for the college throughout the year.
The Gurukula Women’s College at Uma Nivas is currently developing a Paramedic college, which is due to open during 2026. The Rarh Foundation hopes to contribute to this new course by supplying materials and contributing to teacher salaries.
The Gurukula Women’s College also takes volunteers throughout the year. Contact The Rarh Foundation for more information about this opportunity.
Abha Seva Sadan Multitherapy Charitable Health Centre.
Abha Seva Sadan Multitherapy Charitable Health Centre.
Katang Village, Purulia District, West Bengal.
The rural areas of Jharkhand state (formerly Bihar) in Northeastern India are among the poorest and most neglected parts of the country. There is very poor health infrastructure in the surrounding of Kashijharia village. Easily treatable diseases such as tuberculosis, polio, leprosy, gastro-enteritis and malaria are still widespread here. Many women die during childbirth due to a complete lack of maternity services.
The Abha Seva Sadan Health Centre is dedicated to improving conditions for the people of Kashijharia through holistic health care, education in nutrition and hygiene, a Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation Program and other additional services (medical camps in distant villages and eye treatment clinics). Founding Director is Dr. Derek Gehrmann leads a dedicated healthcare team that includes medical doctors, a physiotherapist, a dentist, a homeopath, nursing staff, an acupuncturist and volunteer assistants.
The Rarh Foundation, Inc. has donated funds and medical supplies for the Abha Seva Sadan clinic. Funds support medicines, up-to-date medical equipment, staff salaries, clinic equipment such as hospital beds, scanning devices, catheters, bedding and so on.
This project willingly takes volunteers throughout the year. Contact The Rarh Foundation for more information about volunteering with the Abha Seva Sadan Multitherapy Charitable Health Centre.
Ananda Sambodhi Women’s Welfare Training Centre and Primary School
Ananda Sambodhi Women’s Welfare Training Centre and Primary School
Bardhaman, Asansol, West Bengal
Currently, the Ananda Sambodhi project in India provides education to many children of primary school age in the Asansol area and the adjacent training centre provides residency (including food and board) to young women interested in pursuing training in the following: Holistic healthcare, language skills (including English), Primary School teaching, yoga and meditation teachers training, spiritual development, philosophy and more.
The Rarh Foundation, Inc. is in the process of donating funds to the Ananda Sambodhi project to help with the following basic necessities:
- Development of an indoor kitchen for the many trainees and staff who are residents of the project, as well as for lunch for the primary school students. (The current kitchen is outdoors with a lean- to shelter that is inadequate to shield the kitchen and cooks from inclement weather.)
- Development of indoor shower and bathroom facilities (currently, all facilities are out-of-doors).
- The construction and installation of mosquito netting for all windows at the project.
- A water filtration system to provide safe and sufficient drinking water.
- Renovation of the primary school. The current building is desperately in need of repair, with cracks in the walls, ceiling and floor.
- The development of a garden with reading nooks for students.
- A small library for the school and trainees, complete with books, shelves and reading corners.
Aksham Narii Nivas Women’s Employment Training
Aksham Narii Nivas Women’s Employment Training, G Point
Katang Village, Purulia District, West Bengal.
This project is focused on helping women from the local villages of Purulia, many of whom are illiterate and have no hope for employment, develop basic skills such as sewing and tailoring, food crafting and preserving, some basic literacy and numeracy and other skills, such that they can become gainfully employed and have an income for their families. Many of these women have no access to items such as a sewing machine or food preservation equipment, and this is their first chance to build capacity in these areas. It is very inspiring to see these women, many of whom have never been able to find work, finally see themselves as employable, capable and able to contribute to the family economy.
The Rarh Foundation is proud to support this lovely project by providing funds for sewing machines, tables and chairs, food preserving supplies, staff support and building infrastructure.
Home for Underprivileged Boys, K Point
Home for Underprivileged Boys, K Point
Khatanga Village, Purulia District, West Bengal
This project supports young boys whose families lack the capacity to care for them or provide for their basic needs. The boys’ hostel provides three nutritious meals a day, comfortable sleeping quarters, physical security, medical care and arrangement for school supplies, along with the opportunity to attend a nearby primary school with ease. Additionally, the boys have loving care from the hostel staff to help with their emotional support and personal development in all aspects of life.
The Rarh Foundation funds ongoing operations, and aims to contribute to a boundary wall around the compound, a water filtration system to purify drinking water (the hostel is currently using an open well), and a dining area for the boys in the home.
These essential requirements will benefit the children in the home, as well as maintain the local staff who live and work onsite, with flow-on benefits to the local community through support for local boys who have no other means for their provisions.
Home for Women with Special Needs, Bhibon Compund, Purulia District, West Bengal
Home for Women with Special Needs
Bhibon Compund, Purulia District, West Bengal
This project supports women in the area who have special needs and no capacity to get the care that they need. Volunteers, along with trained medical staff who visit regularly, help to ensure that the women of the Purulia district can get the help and medical care that they need.
The Rarh Foundation plans to contribute to ongoing costs, medical equipment, water filtration for the building, staff salaries as well as some of the infrastructure for the building that is used to house these women.
