The program was conducted in collaboration with the District Administration Kulgam, SDRF Kulgam, Tehsildar Qaimoh, and the local administration. The entire effort was under the Disaster Risk Reduction Pillar of Nokia Smartpur intervention in Kashmir. The event witnessed the participation of over 200 participants, including members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Lumbardars and Chowkidars, SDRF volunteers, local community members, and students. The session focused on enhancing community preparedness, building capacity at the grassroots level, and strengthening coordination among first responders and local stakeholders for effective disaster risk management. The program was graced by the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Tehsildar Qaimoh and Kulgam, Mr. Rashid Hussain (KAS), DySP Mr. Farhan Ahmad (KPS), Principal HSS Qaimoh, Mr. Shajad Ahmad Mir, SHO Qaimoh, Mr. Kushab Mickle, SDRF Inspector Mr. Abbas Ahmad, along with CMC members.

Here is a glimpse of trainees from  IIFL (India Infoline Group)  Foundation Supported Front Office and Homestay Host Training Program in Manipur in collaboration with Assam Rifles with Tata Strive as Assessment Partner.  The trainees from Manipur completed the IIFL Foundation supported training and now have started their professional journeys at Mahindra Goa.

On 8th January 2026 Hon’ble Member of Parliament and Member of Lok Sabha Shri Jugal Kishore Sharma, along with MLA Shri Surjeet Singh Salathia, visited the Nokia CSR supported Smartpur Centre to understand the groundwork and appreciated the efforts. The center provides services under Livelihood, Education, Health, Governance, Financial Inclusion and Disaster Risk Reducation to the panchayat population around this difficult terrain. Sarian is a recognized Panchayat (village council) located within the Samba District of Jammu & Kashmir, India, listed among other villages like Paper Avtara and Dagore in official records. Samba District contains numerous Panchayats, with Sarian being one of the administrative units forming part of its rural governance structure The visiting team noted the contributions of Smartpur - interacted with our center entrepreneur whose live gets empowered through the center, and with our State Lead and Smartpur team. REACHA Jammu team also shared its attempt towards dedicated follow up efforts that they do with the community members post they avail the services from the center to quanitfy and measure the outcome/benefits these services may have in community members' life.  Smartpur Center is making the Panchayats digitally tech enabled and ensuring the last mile connect and access. The team works with various government departments to understand their schemes that we then through Smartpur take to the last person in the vaillage. We are grateful for District Adminsitration's support for the same.

Technical Training Session underway for our trainees at ITIs of Uttarakhnad - Dehradun District and Haridwar District. These ITIs are located in far away areas from mainland city. The entire goal is to get these youth market ready in line with the trechnical requirements. Through IHCL support we are able to bring in expert faculty to teach the ITI youth - who can then be better ready for the industry.  Some snapshots from the classes.

Enterprise Developement Program  Focus - Orange Revival Training and Work towards Enterprise Developmment.  Team is covering and working in following villages Lohit - Bekhuliang, Tillai, Pukhri, Mawai, Janjang, Kathan, Kahre, Changliang, and Loiling These are areas far away from mainland - in the very interiors of Lohit.  HQ Team today met with KVK Director Namasai, who looks after Namsai and Lohit to update about project progress. KVK team has been very supportive in implemention of SIDBI supported intervention.

On behalf of  REACHA , we have initiated the Annual J. C. Pant Memorial Lecture & Dialogue in memory of our visionary founder. Late Shri Jagdish Chandra Pant (IAS Retd., 1961 Batch, Former Secretary, Government of India), dedicated his life to the sustainable development of India.  To honour his legacy, the team at REACHA has instituted the J. C. Pant Memorial Lecture & Dialogue. Beginning in 2025, this will be held annually as a platform to deliberate on important issues central to nation-building. Each edition will focus on a key thematic area - such as Disaster Management, Education, Health, Environment, Science & Technology, Culture, and related domains - and will feature eminent experts and practitioners. First edition was themed on Disaster Management - an area in which Shri JC Pant extensively worked through his life.  The dialogue had the following prominent speakers who shared their views about the Disaster Management Landscape in India, and how we should have a proactive approach when it comes to readiness -  1) Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee (IAS Retd.) - Former Secretary to the Government of India, widely recognised as the Father of Indian CSR 2) Shri Anil Sinha (IAS Retd.) Founder Vice Chairman, Bihar State Disaster Management Authority, Government of Bihar 3) Dr. Nidhi Pundhir - Senior VP Global CSR, HCLTech & Director, HCL Foundation 4) Prof. Vinod Kumar Sharma Senior Professor, Disaster Management (IIPA); Vice Chairman, Sikkim SDMA; Senior Advisor, CDRI; Visiting Professor, Kyoto University 5) Sri Alok Prem Nagar (IFS), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj Institutions, Government of India 6) Dr. R. K. Bhandari Former Director, CSIR Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee 7) Prof. N. Vinod Chandra Menon Founder Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA); Member, High Powered Committee (HPC) on Disaster Management 8) Shri N.M. Prusty - A humanitarian professional with over 50 years of association in community services at government, corporate and civil society at local, national and international levels. Big thank you to REACHA's communication teams for compiling the above mentioned effort

Happy Reading -  https://www.reacha.org/about-us?pgid=mh0y7crl-17c69813-2a37-4d82-8207-636f2078087e Team extends gratitude to all who believe in us and have been and continue to be a part of the journey. We look forward to building upon the momentum and continue to reaching out to the last mile to strengthen the community and our country! Jai Hind

Classes underway in the new year for 32 ITI trainees - Electrician 20 trainees from Old Faridabad; and 12 trainees - from ITI Fatehpur Biloch Machinist = 32 students.  The trainees are being taught concepts of Earthing, Measuring and Testing Instrumements, 5s etc. in line with market/industry requirements. The entire goal of the project is to get the market knowledge and expertise with theory and practical at Imperial factories to get the youth of ITIs from Faridabad district ready for their professional joruneys.

Mock interviews in progress by REACHA technical team for our trainees at the training center. In order to get the trainees ready - multiple mock interviews are lined up with them - during which we orinet them about industry requirements, questions that are asked during industry interviews and more than anything this being an exercise to imrporve and enhance the confidence of the trainees. Constant hand holding support is needed for each trainee with a very patient approach - as here we aim to prepare them for their professional journeys.

1) Our trainee, Toshangmui (Sujee), currently working at The Pride Plaza, has been selected as the ‘Best Grooming of the Month’ by the hotel.  2) Local Mobilization for upcoming batches is in full force, team covered -  a) Chandel bazar b) Monsang Pantha village. c) Liwa Sarei Village d) Chandel Khullen Village. The team is meeting and connecting with various Youth Leaders around Manipur and making in roads to spread information about the program.  Trainees who have completed the program and who have started their professional journeys are confidently embarking on it.  IIFL Supported Project is giving wide exposure and taking market opportunities and market aligned training to the youth of Manipur with support of Assam Rifles!

Reflection 2025 -  We have come a long way and will continue to build upon the same -  1) Structured Skill Development Programs in collaboration with IHCL and REACHA - F&B and Guest Service Assocoiate at RM. Team is training 200 youth in the FY. 2) Industry Exposure Visits of Youth around Kashmir to get them market experience so that they are ready in lines with requirement of the market.  3) Visit of Honorable LG - Jammu and Kashmir Shri Manoj Sinha to Roshan Mushtaqbil Campus.  4) Teacher Training conducted by Tata Strive Faculty to get the trainers ready as per market standards.  5) World Class Infrasturcture / State of the Art Center Developed under vision of Indian Army - with support of IHCL and REACHA.  6) Lively cafe that runs at the campus - where UPSC Aspirants etc come and study  7) A full functional Computer Lab created with support of REACHA  8) A friendly environemnt where youth from community comes to study, develop themselves and work on their profile and towards their career.  9) Indian Army activiely guiding the youth through the center! 10) Many Trainees have been market linked and placed; and many have also gotten opportunities outside of Kashmir. 10) Kupwara is far from main land - near the borders - this has and is developing as a unique case study model for the entire country - how even at far / tough locations if there is a will - community engagement can be taken to next level to strengthen them and their chances of having a good decent livelihood. Powerful Change Making Case Studies of Youth emerge from here!

1) Entire REACHA Team put their heart and soul to reach out to the last person in the community in a genuine attempt to ensure that they get measurable benefits through our social impact interventions.  2) The team is indebted to the organizations and stakeholders that support and belive in us - the relationships have become more like a true partnership where both strengthen and brainstorm with one another to impact the last mile.  3) As our founder - Shri JC Pant moved onwards towards his next journey on 13 June 2025 - the team ensured to not only pay homeage and prayers to him - but came together and made a resoulution to take the work that he started in 1992 with his qualities - accountability, honesty, transparency, creating discomfort - as good things lie beyond comfort zone, will power, resilience and more than anything no complains and never giving up attitude. All of course to strengthen our country ! 4) National Pride - Our work with Indian Army/Armed Forces Pan India continues at the Northern Borders and also in Northeast. National Integration and skilling/empowering youth and communities to make that happen is essential. 5) Multiple Stakeholder Mangement - The team is all about working together with different stakeholders. We strongly and surely belive in complementing the system and what others are doing and not reinventing it.  6) Deep Research and Academic Mode - The team has come to a stage to strengthen nation-building based on work undertaken over the last 33+ years. Based on this, it is working towards developing thought and policy papers to strengthen the government/country at scale. 7) Last but not the least - we are a small drop in the ocean with so many organizations doing wonderful work - collaborative learning, sharing of best practices, and learning everyday attitude will always continue! As we close this calender year - the momentum and work created/started by our founder (which is timeless in nature) will continue to be built upon.  His energy perculates within REACHA at all times and will continue to do so from wherever he is today! To a Nation Building New Year! Jai Hind!