Contact Info

Satoli, P.O. Peora, District-Nainital, Uttarakhand- 263138

  • Announcement: Aarohi Website Redesign Underway! Read More..
  • Announcement: Aarohi Website Redesign Underway! Read More..
  • Announcement: Aarohi Website Redesign Underway! Read More..
  • Announcement: Aarohi Website Redesign Underway! Read More..
  • Announcement: Aarohi Website Redesign Underway! Read More..
  • Announcement: Aarohi Website Redesign Underway! Read More..
  • Announcement: Aarohi Website Redesign Underway! Read More..
Who We Are

Rooted in the Himalayas, Driven by Community

Aarohi

The name ‘Aarohi’ derives from classical Hindustani music, signifying ascendance or growth…the growth of thought, creativity, and harmony.

Founded in August 1992 by Ms. Oona and Dr. Sushil Sharma, a rural development specialist and a doctor, Aarohi was born out of deep love for the mountains and their people. With firsthand experience of the challenges of Himalayan life, its uncertainty, remoteness, and resilience, they chose to build alongside the community.

Established in Satoli village, Uttarakhand, Aarohi began as a small, community-driven initiative with a simple vision: to create development opportunities for rural Himalayan communities. Over time, this vision has grown into a holistic mission that touches every aspect of mountain life, healthcare that reaches remote hamlets, schools that nurture first-generation learners, livelihoods that add value to local resources, and community-led efforts to restore fragile ecosystems.

Oona, the founding spirit of Aarohi, left us prematurely in 1996. Her vision and direction laid the foundation for lasting change, a ripple that continues to expand, drawing more and more people into Aarohi’s journey of service.

Across three decades, Aarohi has developed models of service delivery uniquely tailored to the realities of the Indian Himalayan Region. From operating a 24×7 rural hospital and nurse-led community clinics, to strengthening government schools, supporting farmer cooperatives, promoting women-led enterprises, and working with forest councils for ecological regeneration, every initiative is grounded in local participation and designed to endure.

Our approach remains rooted in simplicity, listening to the community, building on their strengths, and designing solutions that last. From pioneering India’s first ultrasound-equipped Mobile Medical Unit, to transforming education through trained local teachers, to regenerating forests through Van Panchayats, Aarohi continues to bridge tradition and innovation.

Today, Aarohi works across more than 570 villages, directly reaching nearly 2 lakh people. Its work aligns with India’s national priorities and global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributing to health (SDG 3, 5, 6, 10), education (SDG 4, 5, 10), livelihoods (SDG 1, 2, 8, 10, 12), and environment (SDG 13, 15). Recognition from state and national agencies, as well as development partners, underscores Aarohi’s credibility and commitment in the Himalayan development landscape.

Aarohi’s greatest achievement, however, lies beyond statistics or recognition; it rests in the trust of the people it serves. This trust has been earned over time, through years of consistent presence, honest effort, and transparent action.

At its heart, Aarohi remains committed to professional excellence, financial transparency, and grassroots accountability. Its team of doctors, educators, field workers, and community leaders continues to carry forward a legacy of trust, ensuring that the people of these fragile mountains are not left behind in the country’s progress.

Even after more than three decades, Aarohi remains what it was at its beginning, a community’s collective effort to ensure that the Himalayas rise with dignity and opportunity. It is a story still being written in every life healed, every child educated, every forest restored, and every livelihood nurtured in the mountains.