‘Sustainable living’ by creating livelihood opportunities and life of dignity for every women & protecting ‘Green Mother Earth’
AROHA views itself as a voluntary organization with a holistic approach which will help other NGOs and rural/tribal and under privileged urban women in their endeavour of sustainable development by giving required support and training for capacity building.
NGO Aroha: Empowering Women, Transforming Lives, and Building a Sustainable Future
Founded in 2004, NGO AROHA is a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to women’s empowerment and livelihood development, environmental conservation, and maternal and neonatal healthcare. Headquartered in Nagpur, Maharashtra, AROHA has created sustainable economic opportunities for thousands of women, developed large-scale environmental initiatives, and improved maternal and newborn healthcare in underrepresented regions.
With over 61,000+ lives impacted, AROHA actively contributes to India’s GDP growth by integrating low-income women into the micro-enterprise ecosystem. The organization has facilitated an annual revenue generation of ₹1.5+ crore for women entrepreneurs and contributed ₹17+ lakh through its rural cluster enterprises.
How It All Began
In April 2002, Vishakha Rao Jathar and Sharmistha Kulkarni Gandhi, both corporate consultants and market researchers, had a life-changing interaction with tribal women in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. Witnessing the challenges of poverty, unemployment, and lack of financial independence, they realized the transformative power of sustainable livelihoods.
Determined to make a difference, they left their corporate careers and established AROHA in 2004, with the vision of empowering women entrepreneurs, promoting environmental sustainability, and improving maternal and neonatal healthcare.
Core Initiatives
- Women Empowerment & Livelihood Development
AROHA enables financial independence for women through skills training, entrepreneurship programs, and access to structured market opportunities. Women artisans collectively generate ₹1.5+ crore annually through micro-enterprises and self-employment.
Cluster Development Programs
- RangResha: A women-led textile enterprise producing handcrafted textiles, home-decor products, and eco-friendly stationery. RangResha provides stable employment to women artisans, and ensures that they receive fair wages. Products are sold online at www.rangresha.com, empowering women with direct market access.
- Aranyak: Supporting tribal women farmers in Gadchiroli, Aranyak promotes the cultivation and sale of hand-pounded rice (Hatsadicha Tandul) with support from ‘Amhi Amachya Arogyasathi’ and KVIC.
- Wardhini: A self-help group (SHG) which develops traditional food products with support from DRDA. This initiative helps rural women transition from subsistence labor to self-reliant entrepreneurship.
- VEDHA India: VEDHA INDIA is for bamboo artisans from Bhandara district in association with NGO VEDHA and DRDA, Bhandara, where all India market search activity was carried out by Aroha.
- Hirkani Cluster: The Hirkani Cluster is an initiative by AROHA, supported by the HCL Foundation, aimed at empowering marginalized women in the slums of Nagpur. Located in the Mahal area, this cluster consists of 25 skilled women artisans specializing in stitching. These women work independently to find job opportunities but collaborate as a group to complete their projects.
To expand their work opportunities, the cluster actively conducts market surveys to identify potential orders and generate new business. A well-planned strategy has been developed to ensure that all orders are completed on time while maintaining high-quality standards.
On April 18, 2024, Mrs. Simmi Suri, General Manager of the HCL Foundation, visited the AROHA-HCLF skill training center in Mahal, Nagpur. During her visit, she inaugurated the Hirkani Mahila Cluster, a dedicated group of women providing stitching services in the city. She motivated the women and stressed the importance of delivering high-quality finished products to sustain and grow their business.
- Environmental Conservation
AROHA integrates climate action and sustainability education into community-driven initiatives, ensuring long-term environmental impact.
- Urban Afforestation: AROHA in partnership with IIIT Nagpur and HCL Foundation, has planted over 15,000 native trees on the institute’s campus. This initiative includes a Miyawaki forest, butterfly gardens, and water reservoirs, restoring biodiversity and improving air quality. By involving students and local communities, AROHA ensures long-term engagement in afforestation and ecological restoration.
- Eco-Education in Schools: With over 23,940+ students engaged, AROHA promotes sustainability awareness, organic farming, and waste management. School-based initiatives encourage kitchen gardening, composting, and water conservation, fostering environmental responsibility from a young age.
- Balantwida (NAMS): Maternal & Infant Healthcare
Thousands of newborns in underserved regions suffer from hypothermia and preventable illnesses due to a lack of essential resources. AROHA’s Balantwida (Newborn and Mother’s Shield – NAMS) program provides life-saving maternal and infant care through preventive healthcare and essential newborn and maternity kits.
- Protective Clothing Kits: Newborns and mothers in rural and tribal areas of Gadchiroli and Melghat receive warm clothing, blankets, and hygiene essentials to prevent hypothermia and infections. These kits are stitched by AROHA-trained women artisans, providing an additional source of income.
- Preventive Healthcare & Nutrition Awareness: AROHA conducts diagnostic camps,nutrition workshops, and health awareness sessions, especially on menstrual hygiene. These efforts aim to improve community health and create awareness about the importance of hygiene.
Through its work in sustainable livelihoods, environmental conservation, and healthcare, NGO AROHA continues to create lasting impact. With every woman empowered, every tree planted, and every life improved, they are building a future that is brighter, greener, and more sustainable.
Annual Reports
Aroha’s Milestones
NGO Aroha’s Journey Started
Skills, Trainings & Livelihood
25000+
Environment Education
40000+ children
Cluster Development “RANGRESHA“
200+ Women Artisans
“UDHYAM” – Stitching Training
1200+ women
“NAMS” Balantwida
3100+ Babies & Mothers
Afforestation 12000+ saplings planted
Stitching Cluster
375 Women Artisans
People behind Aroha
Mrs. Vishakha Rao-Jathar
President | B.Sc., M.B.A (Marketing Management)
- Micro-enterprises and Marketing Research Consultant,
- Consultant – livelihood promotion programmes
- Founder trustee & President, AROHA
- Assistant Governor, Rotary Dist. 3030 year 2015-16
- Director, Sakar Fair Trade Inc. (Rangresha Goodwill Shoppe)
- President, Rotary Club of Nagpur Fort, 2011-12
- Certified handicraft artisan; specialised in Hand embroidery and hand painting
Mrs. Sharmishtha Gandhi
CEO | B.C.S., M.B.A. (Computer Management), M.B.A. (Operations Research) & MBA (Marketing Management)
- Total 25 years of experience in the field of training, market research, project planning & implementation of livelihood promotion programmes and cluster development
- Founder Trustee & CEO, AROHA
- Certified handicraft artisan specialised in hand printing
Mr. Nishikant Jadhav
Vice-president
(Retired Conservator of Forest, Madhya Pradesh)
Mr. Ashish Sharad Shahane
Secretary
(Ayurvedic Practitioner)
Mrs. Milka Praveen Dhorey
Treasurer
(Retired from Khadi & Village Commission)
Mrs. Alka Sachit Jog
Joint Secretary | B. Sc. Nursing
- Trustee and initiator of programme – NAMS
- Ex-principal, Government college of Nursing, Nagpur
- Trainer, Yogabhyasi Mandal, Jog Bangala,
- Organic Farmer
Mr. Pradeep Narayan Gawande
Executive committee member
(Agriculture Expert)
Mr. Shrikant Purushottamrao Gadge
Executive committee member
(Hon. Professor in Textile field, Retired from textile industry)