Grassroot Changemaker Award Pelag Foundation

Ms. Kritika Bisht brings programme design, project management and livelihood-development experience to Pelag Foundation. She has led skills-training programmes for women and artisans, helped establish market linkages for handcrafted products, and driven initiatives that combine traditional crafts with sustainable production techniques. Ms. Kritika has been instrumental in shaping the Foundation’s livelihood models and forging partnerships with institutions and CSR partners to amplify scale and sustainability.

To.                                                                                           Dated 12-09-2025

The Australian Award Team

Subject- Comprehensive Orofilehighliting Pelag Foundations achivements and impact, as desired by you.

Dear Sir,

As desired by you the details of Pelag foundation are as follows, -

Comprehensive Profile — Pelag Foundation & Founding Directors

About Pelag Foundation

Pelag Foundation is a not-for-profit social enterprise based in Almora, Uttarakhand (India), committed to strengthening rural Himalayan communities through education, sustainable livelihoods, women’s empowerment, and environmental stewardship. Working closely with local communities and institutional partners, Pelag Foundation designs and implements community-led solutions that preserve local knowledge while creating measurable economic and social benefits.

Core focus areas

• Education & digital literacy: support for community schools, teacher training and a computer-training initiative developed with CSR and academic partners.
• Livelihoods & craft promotion: skill development and market-linkage programs for artisans and women, including jute and embroidery trainings and tool-kits distribution.
• Community development & sustainability: locally appropriate projects that promote circular-economy practices, sustainable agriculture and resilient livelihoods.
• Partnerships: collaboration with academic institutions and CSR partners to scale impact and ensure technical rigour.

Pelag Foundation’s programmes have reached hundreds of families across Almora and neighbouring Himalayan blocks, improving incomes, school retention and local capacities for self-reliance.

Founding Directors

Ms. Ritika Bisht — Co-Founder & Director

Ms. Ritika Bisht is a community leader and practitioner who has guided Pelag Foundation’s work on education and grassroots mobilisation. Under her leadership the Foundation has strengthened community schools, organised teacher-development events and delivered targeted educational resources and digital-literacy programmes. Ms. Bisht has been central to building local trust, designing beneficiary-centric activities and mobilising partners and volunteers to ensure that programmes reach those who need them most.

Selected contributions: teacher-engagement and school support programmes; leading community outreach and mobilisation; oversight of education and digital-training initiatives.

Ms. Kritika Bisht — Co-Founder & Director

Ms. Kritika Bisht brings programme design, project management and livelihood-development experience to Pelag Foundation. She has led skills-training programmes for women and artisans, helped establish market linkages for handcrafted products, and driven initiatives that combine traditional crafts with sustainable production techniques. Ms. Kritika has been instrumental in shaping the Foundation’s livelihood models and forging partnerships with institutions and CSR partners to amplify scale and sustainability.

Selected contributions: design and delivery of artisan and women’s skill programmes (jute, embroidery, handicrafts); partnership management and livelihood strategy.

Organizational Impact & Recognition

Pelag Foundation’s integrated approach—linking education, skills training and market access—has produced measurable outcomes in household incomes, school engagement and local enterprise development. Examples of on-ground achievements include artisan trainings and distribution of tool-kits, teacher-support and school events, and the launch of a community computer-training centre supported through CSR partnerships.

The Foundation’s efforts have been recognised with the “Grassroot Changemaker Award — Pelag Foundation”, an acknowledgement of sustained, community-centred impact and innovation in rural development.

Contact / Mailing information (for press use)

Social media - https://www.instagram.com/pelag_foundation/?hl=en

https://x.com/PelagF7980,      https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090311985284

www.youtube.com/@pelagfoundation ,

Media-friendly short version (2–3 paragraphs)

Pelag Foundation, based in Almora, Uttarakhand, empowers Himalayan communities through education, livelihood programmes and sustainable local enterprises. Founded and led by Ms. Ritika Bisht and Ms. Kritika Bisht, the Foundation focuses on community schools, digital literacy, artisan skills development (jute, embroidery and handicrafts) and market linkage activities that improve incomes and resilience.

With strategic collaborations with academic and CSR partners, Pelag Foundation has reached hundreds of families and established replicable, community-led models. The organisation’s leadership and impact have been recognised with the “Grassroot Changemaker Award — Pelag Foundation”.

One-line blurb / tagline for social posts

“Pelag Foundation — led by Ms. Ritika Bisht and Ms. Kritika Bisht — empowers Himalayan communities through education, artisanal livelihoods and sustainable development.”

Portfolio: Pelag Foundation & Founding Directors

About Pelag Foundation

Pelag Foundation, headquartered in Almora, Uttarakhand,India is a women-led non-profit organisation working at the grassroots to create sustainable social impact in Himalayan communities. Founded by two visionary young women, Ms. Ritika Bisht and Ms. Kritika Bisht, the Foundation embodies the principle of “empowerment through community-driven solutions.”

Established to address the multidimensional challenges faced by marginalized communities in remote Himalayan regions, Pelag Foundation focuses on education, sustainable livelihoods, women’s empowerment, environmental conservation, and digital inclusion. The organisation believes that inclusive growth requires blending traditional wisdom with modern innovations, and works tirelessly to ensure that vulnerable communities are not left behind in the process of development.

Core Areas of Work

1.     Education & Digital Literacy

o    Support to community schools through teacher engagement, provision of resources, and mentoring underprivileged children.

o    Establishment of a Computer Training Centre in Almora with CSR partnership, providing digital skills to rural youth.

2.     Livelihoods & Skill Development

o    Training rural women and artisans in embroidery, jute-based handicrafts, and other traditional skills.

o    Distribution of advanced tool kits to empower artisans with productive resources.

o    Promotion of sustainable income-generation through market linkages and entrepreneurship support.

3.     Community Development & Empowerment

o    Organizing awareness drives on health, hygiene, and social rights.

o    Celebrations such as Teachers’ Day and National Handloom Day to encourage social pride and cultural continuity.

o    Strengthening grassroots participation in decision-making and capacity building.

4.     Sustainability & Innovation

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o    Integrating circular economy models into community livelihood programmes.

o    Collaboration with research institutions and universities (such as IIM Kashipur) for project innovation.

o    Focus on climate-resilient livelihoods and eco-friendly practices.

Impact

• Reached hundreds of families in Almora and surrounding blocks through education and livelihood projects.
• Enabled women artisans to enhance productivity and access new income opportunities.
• Improved school engagement among children from underprivileged families through educational support and extracurricular activities.
• Established institutional linkages with government agencies, corporate CSR wings, and academic institutions to scale up impact.

Awards & Recognitions

Pelag Foundation’s consistent work has earned recognition at district, state, national, and international levels. Notable honours and registrations include:

• “Grassroot Changemaker Award — Pelag Foundation” (Australian Award, 2025) — in recognition of sustainable, community-led development and women-led leadership.
• Recognition by the Income Tax Department, Government of India — Pelag Foundation is a registered charitable organisation and has been granted 12A and 80G certification, enabling tax-exempt charitable activities.
• NITI Aayog, Government of India — awarded NGO DARPAN UID: UA/2023/0335448 on 13-01-2023, recognising Pelag Foundation as a credible non-profit organisation.
• Registrar of Companies, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India — granted a proper licence to Pelag Foundation under Section 8(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 with Section-8 Licence No. 141300 and CIN No. U85300UR2023NPL015134, affirming its legal status as a charitable organisation.
• Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India — registration for undertaking CSR activities with CSR Registration No. CSR00047990.
• Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India — registered under e-Annudan and issued NGO ID: UR/00029766.
• Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India — granted Udyam Registration No. UDYAM-UK-01-0004589, recognising Pelag Foundation as a micro social welfare enterprise.

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• Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India — recognised Pelag Foundation as a Startup in the Social Impact Industry & NGO sector with Certificate No. DIPPI89827 (Dated 24-01-2025).

These recognitions underscore Pelag Foundation’s role as a catalyst for change and highlight the credibility, accountability, and trustworthiness of its programmes.

Founding Directors

Ms. Ritika Bisht — Co-Founder & Director

Ms. Ritika Bisht, holding an M.Sc. in Physics from S.S. Jeena University, Almora (Uttarakhand), is a passionate community mobilizer and social entrepreneur. She brings academic rigour and grassroots sensitivity together in her leadership at Pelag Foundation.

With a strong focus on education and community engagement, Ms. Ritika has spearheaded multiple school-support programmes, digital literacy initiatives, and teacher-student engagement activities across Almora. Her leadership is rooted in inclusivity, empathy, and beneficiary-centric design, enabling her to craft interventions that address the unique challenges faced by children and women in rural Himalayan communities.

She has been instrumental in building collaborations with CSR partners, academic institutions, and government stakeholders, ensuring that Pelag Foundation’s projects are not only impactful but also sustainable.

Key Strengths: Education initiatives · Digital literacy · School-community engagement · Strategic partnerships

Ms. Kritika Bisht — Co-Founder & Director

Ms. Kritika Bisht, a Fashion Design graduate from the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD), New Delhi, an institute associated with Kingston University, London, is the creative and strategic force behind Pelag Foundation’s livelihoods and women’s empowerment programmes.

She has successfully led training programmes for artisans and rural women, supported the establishment of micro-enterprises, and designed livelihood models that integrate sustainability into economic activity. Her work bridges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary practices, ensuring both cultural continuity and modern relevance.

Ms. Kritika has been instrumental in promoting eco-friendly craft practices, including the woolenized jute demonstration with the National Jute Board, and in building market linkages that have improved incomes and resilience among rural

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producers. Her vision combines creativity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, making her a strong advocate for women-led social change in the Himalayan region.

Key Strengths: Livelihood development · Artisan skill training · Women’s empowerment · Sustainable entrepreneurship

What Differentiates Pelag Foundation

Unlike many NGOs working at the grassroots, Pelag Foundation is:

• Women-led and youth-driven, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative energy.
• Deeply rooted in local culture and communities, ensuring trust and participation.
• Focused on sustainability and circular economy models, not just short-term welfare.
• Strongly connected with academic institutions and CSR partners, ensuring scale, credibility, and replicability.

This unique blend of local leadership, women’s vision, and professional collaboration sets Pelag Foundation apart in the field of social work and development.

Future Vision

Pelag Foundation aspires to expand its reach across the Himalayan region by:

• Establishing more community learning and skill centres.
• Developing scalable livelihood models based on crafts, agriculture, and eco-tourism.
• Strengthening climate resilience through sustainable farming and green livelihoods.
• Building stronger partnerships at national and international levels.

With the leadership of Ms. Ritika Bisht and Ms. Kritika Bisht, the Foundation is committed to becoming a model of women-led grassroots transformation in India.