RAHA is a coordinating agency set up by Catholic Diocese of Raigarh Ambikapur, situated in eastern Madhya Pradesh, Raigarh and Surguja have an area of 35.437 km with a population of about 2.5 million. The region consists of elevated tablelands dotted with rocky hills and jungle tracks. The annual rainfall in the area varies from 140 to 160cm.

The Tribals of the RAHA project region have a propensity to move together in groups. The economy of the tribal community is not really focused on increasing production but rather on fulfilling the needs of immediate consumption. Motives of profit and completion are remote. A tribal has strong attachment to land and his social standing depends on the amount he posses. The main objectives of RAHA laid down are as follows:

A. To organize to establish, coordinate and maintain development activities aiming at:

- the relief of poverty
- the training of personnel, project staff and members of the public
- the advanced of non formal and vocational education

B. To cooperate and associate with other institutions and organizations aiming at similar objectives.

In collaboration with District Tuberculosis Centre (DTC) two RAHA's referral hospitals were recognized as diagnostic and treatment centre. DTC's paramedical staff gave training to RAHA staff to collect sputum and prepare slides for testing. TB control is not primarily concerned with curing individual but with reducing the incidence of TB in an area by identifying those patients transmitting the disease.

Today however, RAHA is in a position to treat all the patients free of cost. With the help of external support, RAHA has been able to train its Cadre of health workers, paramedical and centre nurses specifically on early detection and prevention of Tuberculosis.

The Grihini Programme (housewife) aimed at the illiterate or semi illiterate tribal girls, living chiefly in rural areas and aged between 15 to 25 years. The main aim of the programme is to enable these girls to stand on their own feet, and to prepare them to better fulfill their future role as a house wife.

RAHA’s contribution to the Grihini programme has mainly in organizing talks on natural family planning, and practical demonstration in connection with family life mother and child care, home nursing, nutrition and herbal remedies.

There are about 24 Grihini Training Centers in RAHA project areas. Till date around 32,000 young tribal village girls have been groomed to become better house wives and mothers, and to become economically independent too.

Balwadi Programme

The main objective of the Balwadi Programme are:

A. To enable the tribal child to learn and practice the basic principle of healthy living.
B . To promote the emotional and social development of the tribal child.
C . To promote the intellectual, language and aesthetic development of the tribal child.

At the outset, about 53 villages wanted to cooperate with Balwadi scheme. They were asked to choose matric girls for the teachers training course.
At present, the Balwadi programme is operating in about 338 villages of the same project area. Every month the coordinator meets all the teachers in small groups. During these meetings reports of all the centers are discussed, experience are shared and diaries are checked.

Jagruk Kishan Programme

Jaguk Kishan pogramme was focus on informal education programme for the young tribal farmers who have controlled over their land, so that they adopt improved practices to increase agricultural production and enhance their quality of life.

The village animators were initially trained through camps organized and conducted by ISI motto. The farmers are organized in centers at the village level. In order to achieve the objective of the programme, weekly session are conducted at every centre by the local animators who are trained in agriculture and communication. Training is provided to cater the farmer’s need.

Father Charles Van Besouw. S.j.
Programm Director
Raigarh Ambikapur Health Association
B.T.I. Chowk- Ambikapur Road
P.O. Pathalgaon, Dt. Raigarh
Madhya Pradesh 496118