ARCH was established in 1982 in the Eastern tribal belt of Gujarat. Our work began in one small village, Mangrol in taluka Rajpipla in the district of Narmada (then district Bharuch). Now after almost 30 years, ARCH – and its core group of founding members – has expanded into 4 areas: Mangrol, Dharampur, -align: justify;”>We are working with tribal people who are often removed from mainstream society, and subsist on farming (most commonly rice, grains, and sugar, as well as some dairy). Schools and roads are beginning to find their way into interior Gujarat, but many rural people are uneducated and extremely poor. The schools that have come to the interior villages provide very low standard education, but more and more quality options are appearing. In our efforts to provide basic health care in these areas, we have discovered many beliefs and practices that differ from what our medical science tells us. Most common are beliefs about foods: some are “hot,” and some can cause difficulties in childbirth, etc. The other great challenge we are working to rectify is the complex struggle to keep land rights for tribal people in the forest areas of eastern Gujarat.
In Mangrol, we provide clinical care as well as rural development support for tribal farmers. more about Mangrol…
In Dharampur, our work is in clinical care, community health, rural development and education. more about Dharampur Health Activities… ~ More about Dharampur Education Activities…
In Dediapada, Vadodara and Kawant, we are working for forest and land rights, and development. More about Land and Forest Rights