Our Story
Change begins with listening
The Beginning (1994-2000)
KHOJ didn’t start with a plan—it started with a question.
In 1994, a group of students from Mumbai traveled to Melghat, drawn by stories of its stunning biodiversity. The Melghat Tiger Reserve, nestled in the Satpuda ranges, was said to be one of India’s most ecologically rich landscapes—home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and countless species of flora and fauna.
But alongside this natural wealth, we encountered a harsh reality: child mortality rates that shocked the conscience, families struggling with chronic undernutrition, and communities living on the edge of survival despite being surrounded by abundant forests.
This paradox became our driving force. How could a land so rich in resources be home to such poverty? The answer lay not in the land itself, but in who controlled it.
Understanding the Crisis
As we spent more time in Melghat, we learned that the crisis wasn’t simply about hunger or health—it was fundamentally about rights, resources, and recognition.
The tribal communities of Melghat—primarily Korku and Gond people—had lived in harmony with these forests for generations. They knew every tree, every medicinal plant, every sustainable harvesting practice. Yet legally, they had no rights to these lands. Forest policies had criminalized their traditional practices. “Conservation” efforts had displaced villages. Affluent communities had grabbed their lands with impunity.
The result was systematic marginalization: communities pushed further into poverty, children denied nutrition and education, and traditional knowledge dismissed as irrelevant.
Evolution of Our Mission
What began as a study evolved into a commitment. Some of us decided to stay, to work alongside these communities not as saviors but as allies in their struggle for justice.
1994-2000: Learning and Listening
Our early years were about understanding—spending time in villages, learning from elders, understanding the complex web of policies, power structures, and historical injustices that created this crisis.
2000-2005: From Village-Focused to Regional Advocacy
We realized that sustainable change required more than village-level interventions. We began engaging with regional and state-level policies, demanding transparent rehabilitation processes, advocating for educational opportunities, and building bridges between communities and government officials.
2005-2010: Legal Empowerment
The passage of the Forest Rights Act (2006) and the strengthening of PESA created new possibilities. We launched legal literacy programs, helped communities understand their rights, and supported them in navigating complex bureaucratic processes.
2010-Present: Community-Led Development
Today, our work centers on empowering communities to lead their own development. From Community Forest Resource management plans to organic farming collectives to youth education programs, we facilitate—communities decide and implement.
Our Approach
Community-Centered
Rights-Based
Sustainable
Holistic
Long-Term
Our Team
Our team includes grassroots organizers, legal advocates, educators, community mobilizers, and researchers—all united by a commitment to justice and sustainability. Many team members come from Melghat itself, bringing irreplaceable local knowledge and deep community connections