Our Journey

In the early 1980s, two committed groups converged in Rajpipla, Gujarat. Doctors and social workers—Drs. Anil and Daxa Patel, Dr. Ashwin Patel, Ashok Bhargav, Nimita Bhatt, Dr. Rushikesh Maru and Dr. Shagun Desai—focused on community health and education. Alongside them, activists Ambrish Mehta, Rajesh Mishra, and Trupti Parekh from Jay Prakash Narayan’s Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Vahini fought for just rehabilitation of Adivasi families displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Project on the river Narmada.

United by purpose, they merged in 1982 to form Action Research in Community Health & Development (ARCH-Vahini).

Starting with a dispensary in Mangrol, we organised villages facing submergence, securing fair resettlement policies. We, together with the tribal oustees of the Sardar Sarovar dam struggled and fought for a fair Resettlement & Rehabilitation (R&R) policy for 7 years and then fully engaged ourselves in its implementation to secure results on the ground. It also led to parting ways with the other activists who sought a complete stoppage of the Project. Struggle and conflict without a constructive program is rabble rousing and does not favour transformation and change for the better. The success rooted our ongoing land rights work in Dediapada. In 1988, our Narmada efforts expanded south into Dediapada tehsil. By 1995, health and education programs reached Dharampur in Valsad district.

With growing impact and outreach, ARCH continues to welcome dedicated individuals into this enduring journey of change.