Pragya

Pragya seeks to tap the traditional knowledge and preserve the culture of indigenous communities. With this broad objective, Pragya is helping in the revival and strengthening of traditional medicine system, one such system being the Amchi system. Pragya conducts workshops for promotion of the Amchi system in the Ladakh region. The organisation also encourages local traditional healers to hold regular healthcare camps in the region for the

The mandate of Pragya is to protect the indigenous identity and cultural rights of Himalayan tribes. Documentation and spreading of the traditional language and crafts as well as creating avenues for revenue generation by setting up niche-sector microenterprises and fair trade channels are part of Pragya's interventions.

Local communities have been catalysed for stewardship of their cultural heritage. Community-based Cultural Heritage Conservation Councils constituted in each valley are being helped to carry out local level conservation activities. Anthropologists from Pragya, in conjunction with community elders, are working on documenting the traditional cultural forms. Monographs are being brought out on the social and political structure, and material culture; indigenous songs and dances have been indexed and the traditional lyrics have been published. Cultural revival by Pragya has involved the teaching and reuse of the indigenous language and music. Local language and music experts have been trained and are conducting classes on the indigenous forms in several village clusters across the Himalayas.