Nishtha Rural Health, Education And Environment Centre

24/05/2026

24/05/2026

With the kind help of Rotary Austria, after a full year of research and selection we have finally set up Nishtha’s first outreach skill centre. Ten women in Jhul, a remote traditional village 14 km from our centre have embarked on a six-month tailoring training. In order to establish a set curriculum and good standard, Maya Devi, our long-time stitching expert is working with local trainer Shivani, teaching her how to train the women. We have high hopes that this group will be able to create a small business which will supplement their meagre family incomes.

18/05/2026

Mohinder is experimenting with traditional fertilisers. Here he is making Ghat Amrit which means “nectar in an earthen pot”. It is made by mixing cooked rice with Gur (unprocessed brown sugar) with pure water in a pot. It is left to ferment for a week when it will be ready to spray on the fields. It will add to the health of the soil by promoting micro-organisms in the soil.

04/05/2026

Last week we were joined by Ma-lai, an artist from Tamil Nadu who teachers Parkor, a fitness method which builds confidence, develops strength and mobility to overcome all obstacles. The children had a brilliant, challenging three afternoons on the playground learning how to employ speed and flexibility to connect with their inner selves and the environment around them. Thank you Ma-lai for such an astonishing experience.

23/04/2026

This is the season when the ribworth plantain leaves grow fresh and plentifully in our local fields. Plantago lanceolata has powerful anti-inflammatory qualities and is especially good at relieving coughs. Therefore our single women’s team spent a happy day out in the fields plucking the leaf which is then gently washed by hand and spread to dry in our clinic hall. From there, our clinic tem, Azad and Goodie take over and fill it in jars along with raw brown sugar and other herbs. After three month it becomes a very effective cough syrup.

21/04/2026

Last week we completed a very busy 18 days of Wenlido teachers training in our Community Centre. Two of our graduated students, Manvi and Payul received this training so we now have 4 local trainers so we can more effectively hold further workshops. During this time we held one 2 day training for older women, one 2 day training for adolescent girls and a single day training for girls aged 12-15. Our cooking team were on duty every day and made sure all fifty-five participants were fed well to keep up the high energy of the program.

06/04/2026

Last Sunday was the last day of this year’s classes for our sponsored group of students. Sadly, seven will be leaving us having completed their courses. It has been a great group and we have had a lot of fun and learned a great deal in the process. New student’s applications will be submitted to us in the coming month.

25/03/2026

Last Sunday, we held our annual staff picnic and visited Parishar lake, above Mandi at 2,700 mts. The weather had been hot the week before so the 22 of us set out with warm coats but completely inappropriate footwear for the unexpected snow that fell that day! Fortunately, we stayed in recently built mud cabins 5 km below the lake and in the morning had the very special encounter with this amazing temple and sacred lake in pristine snow. What a memorable outing together!

20/03/2026

We are very pleased to welcome Nimmo Devi to our team of Single Women Activists. An experienced field worker, she is taking the place of Shilpa who has married and needs to concentrate on becoming a part of her new family. We wish Shilpa all happiness and look forward to working with Nimmo Devi.

11/03/2026

Spring is here and our staff and children celebrated Holi, the festival of colours in our community Centre.

03/03/2026

The students in the community centre wishing Dr Barbara a very Happy Birthday!