Creating abundance in western ghats through water, farms, and forests in our lifetimes
Raah Foundation is a community-rooted, on-ground implementation organisation delivering integrated solutions for water security, livelihoods, and ecosystem recovery across the Northern Western Ghats.
Your Impact Isn’t Charity.
Every second, forests are vanishing, species are disappearing, and livelihoods are being pushed to the brink. Yet here, in the ancient Sahyadris, lies a chance to rewrite that story. It is a living experiment in climate action where biodiversity, human prosperity, and resilience converge. Scroll further, and witness how grassroots stewardship is shaping a future that belongs not only to the mountains, but to all of us.
Empowering Tribal India Through Water, Land & Climate Justice.
We are a movement born from the belief that humanity and nature are not adversaries but allies. We are proving that the health of the planet and the dignity of its people are inseparable. The Sahyadris are our stage, but the blueprint we create is meant for the world.
About Us
We exist to confront structural inequities by reimagining development as a dynamic process rooted in local knowledge, ecological balance, and human dignity.
What >
Water security: a portfolio of solutions, selected by hydrogeology and need, not a one-size fits all model. Local water governance: Malhar Samitis help manage fair use, upkeep, and conflict resolution. Regenerative agriculture: diverse crops, healthier soil, lower inputs, and climate-fit choices that are supported with market linkages. Ecological restoration: native species, soil/moisture conservation and strong post-plantation care while landscapes recover.
Women-led Food Forests: One-acre, landscape-aligned, multi-crop food forests that combine women’s agency with economic resilience, ecological regeneration, and household nutrition security.
Women livelihoods: women’s micro/group enterprises with training and credit pathways to improve long-term financial independance.
< Why
The organisation’s view is that single-issue fixes rarely last, because water scarcity, fragile farm incomes, and ecological decline reinforce one another. Its work therefore focuses on creating a reinforcing cycle: healthier landscapes retain more water; reliable water access enables multi-season farming; stronger farm incomes reduce pressure on forests; and local governance keeps the system fair and functional.
The language is kept deliberately simple, but the intent is clear – resilience is not a destination to be achieved once, but a journey that must be continuously built and sustained.
Where >
Raah Foundation works across the Northern Western Ghats, operating in Palghar, Nashik, Raigad, Ahilyanagar, Pune, and Thane. We also work with indigenous communities, and small and marginal farmers who often farm less than two acres. Programs are designed around lived realities: women’s role in water and agriculture, and the pressures that push youth toward migration. This region is also ecologically significant (including UNESCO recognition and major biodiversity value), which is why Raah treats rural prosperity and ecosystem health as part of the same story.
< What's Next
As we move towards Mission 2030, we will work towards conserving 10 billion litres of water, enabling 15,000 farmers to adopt sustainable agroecology, and restoring 60,000 acres of degraded land. This phase focuses on accelerating impact through strong community and government partnerships, translating mapped targets into on-ground action, deeper livelihoods, and resilient landscapes at scale.
About Us
What
implement integrated development models that secure water access, regenerate degraded land, and catalyse year-round livelihoods for marginalised and indigenous communities. Our systems approach links hydrogeology, regenerative agriculture, and community-led governance to build self-sustaining rural ecosystems.
Where
implement integrated development models that secure water access, regenerate degraded land, and catalyse year-round livelihoods for marginalised and indigenous communities. Our systems approach links hydrogeology, regenerative agriculture, and community-led governance to build self-sustaining rural ecosystems.
Why
implement integrated development models that secure water access, regenerate degraded land, and catalyse year-round livelihoods for marginalised and indigenous communities. Our systems approach links hydrogeology, regenerative agriculture, and community-led governance to build self-sustaining rural ecosystems.
What's next
implement integrated development models that secure water access, regenerate degraded land, and catalyse year-round livelihoods for marginalised and indigenous communities. Our systems approach links hydrogeology, regenerative agriculture, and community-led governance to build self-sustaining rural ecosystems.
Our Vision
To restore land, life and livelihood in Western Ghats
Our Mission
Helping Western Ghats communities prevail over climate change through science and regenerative innovation.
Our Programs
Raah Foundation’s programs are designed around time, income, health, and security. Our focus is on creating an impact beyond numbers, and ones that incrementally improve the quality of life.
Flagships of Change
Our goal is to serve both the planet and its people. We achieve this by fast‑tracking soil‑water restoration, surface water accessibility, agricultural sovereignty, and green enterprises. All through a gender lens.
Our Goal
5
Billion Litres
A long-term water-conservation milestone: ensuring ground water beyond monsoons.
10,000
Farmers
A near-term livelihoods goal: helping farmers shift to climate-resilient practices for year round earnings.
50,000
Acres
A shared goal: reviving forests and commons to restore biodiversity over time.
Our Footprint
1.4
Billion Litres
Water storage capacity created through 450+ structures
2500
Farmers
Currently suported through flagship and pilot projects to reduce frequency of migration.
1200+
Acres
Cultivation brought under improved practices of native species restoration.
Operating across 150+ villages in the tribal belts of the Northern Western Ghats, Raah Foundation has restored over 2,000+ acres of degraded land, secured perennial water for 1,30,000+ people, and built sustainable livelihoods for thousands of smallholder farmers and rural women. Our goal is to dismantle systemic poverty by regenerating ecosystems and restoring autonomy to India’s most marginalised tribal communities. We work at the intersection of climate justice, indigenous rights, and gender equity—engineering development models that are scalable, self-sustaining, and rooted in ecological intelligence.
What’s New!
GRT Fellowship
Western Ghat Knowledge Institute
Shared Vision, Shared Action
Watch our field stories!
From struggle to strength, every story is a seed of resilience, restoration, and hope!