Roots to Branches Foundation

12/09/2026

The Coordination mechanisms of Government and NGOs that has been set up at Sibsagar has created a very collaborative environment. We truly appreciate the commitment and steps initiated in this regard by Shri Mridul Yadav, District Commissioner, Sivasagar. We thank him for the space given and processes set.

IAG Assam as a platform of NGO's working in humanitarian response has always been committed to collaboration, coordination, standards and service to the communities in need. At Sivasagar we have collectively been able to keep this spirit going.

03/09/2026

We are bringing you the first film in our series on Rooted Futures Incubation Programme partners, celebrating their journeys and the role Roots to Branches Foundation (R2B) has played along the way.

Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/YwHYJpbI8Z8

This is the story of Karunar Kheti Trust (KKT) — a community-based organisation, registered in 2019, working in and around Boisahabi Tea Estate in Jorhat, Assam, to strengthen education, livelihoods and community wellbeing.

KKT was part of the 5th Cohort of Roots to Branches Foundation’s Incubation Programme, batch of 2020. Over the course of this journey, R2B supported KKT to strengthen its organisational systems, including accounting and financial management, human resource management, policy development and thematic capacities across its education and livelihood teams.

Since then, KKT’s Student Resource Centre has grown to reach children across 11 government schools, while the first Self-Help Group formed in Selenghat has grown into 25 SHGs with 316 women members, with livelihood initiatives including oyster mushroom cultivation, tailoring and embroidery. From a team of 3 in 2019 to 28 today, KKT now works with close to 5,000 people, supported by 7 organisational and individual donors.

But numbers only tell part of the story. This film is also about the team, the learning, the challenges and the community at the heart of KKT’s journey — and the many ways an organisation grows along the way.

We are proud to be contributing to KKT's journey, and even prouder to share what they have built over the years.
A film produced and conceptualised by: Roots to Branches Foundation
Cinematography & editing: Sashanka Barbaruah, Raw Tales
Additional photographs: Karunar Kheti Trust

31/08/2026

Understanding the Emerging Development Issues and Voluntary Sector Ecosystem in Arunachal Pradesh: Over two days, 36 participants representing around 24 organisations came together to reflect on the emerging development issues and the voluntary sector ecosystem in Arunachal Pradesh.

The diversity of experiences among the participant organisations made the consultation more meaningful. It brought together veteran professionals and sector leaders, organisations with nearly three decades of experience, as well as organisations that had only recently registered and were just beginning their journey.

The consultation had organisations working on women’s empowerment, LGBTQI+ rights, livelihoods, child protection, disability rights, health and education. The diversity was across sectors, generations of experience, institutional journeys and perspectives. It created a space where organisations could share their experiences, listen to newer voices, and think together about what the voluntary sector in Arunachal Pradesh needs for the future.

The two-day consultation was organised by Roots to Branches Foundation in collaboration with ACR (Arunachal Citizen Rights), Hinthong Foundation, ABLE (Ability Beyond Limit and Expectation) and Bethal Life Care Charitable Trust, with support from Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT).

25/08/2026

We are happy to present our first documentary film — The Road to Future Ready Leaders.

This film follows the journey of the first cohort of the Future Ready Leaders Fellowship by Roots to Branches Foundation and Royal Enfield Social Mission. This fellowship is rooted in the unique context of North East India, creating a space for young changemakers to strengthen themselves as values based and ecologically conscious social change leaders in the region. Over the course of the 10 months fellowship, fellows reflect on and learn about different development perspectives, leadership, designing social initiatives and organization strengthening.

For many of the fellows, the fellowship process and the mentorship that came along with it, helped them in gaining greater clarity about the actions ahead in their change making and institution building journeys. This was also a shared space for learning and unlearning, with peers and mentors from across Northeast India. In the words of one fellow, this fellowship gave them the opportunity to "look inward into where they belong" — alongside people who understood similar challenges, from fellows across the region.

Watch this video for a glimpse of many learnings, emotions and aspirations this journey held: https://youtu.be/R-zx9-uNcrw
A film by Roots to Branches Foundation in association with Broadleaf Productions.

We are happy to present our first documentary film — The Road to Fu...

25/08/2026

We are looking for a Program Associate to join our team!

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter highlighting your experience to [email protected] on or before 31st August, 2026.

For more details, scan the QR code.

19/08/2026

Strong and accountable organisations need good governance, clear documentation, and sound financial systems. That is why Module 3 of the FRL Fellowship brought fellows together to focus on Strengthening Organisations and Accountability. Over five days, fellows worked through the basics of governance, why documentation matters, financial management and bookkeeping, and what accountability looks like in practice. An interaction with Shannon D Massar of Faith Foundation offered fellows a closer look at the nuances of leading an organisation.

As the emerging leaders begin their journey, these are the foundational systems they will carry forward — to run an organisation effectively, transparently and sustainably.

Another highlight of this module was the launch of t-shirts for the second cohort of FRL fellows. The illustrations on the t-shirts bring forward the shared contexts of the fellows and the region they come from; this will stay as a marker of the cohort's identity as they move through and beyond the FRL fellowship.

23/07/2026

The flood situation in Assam has deteriorated sharply, with 11 districts and about 6.53 lakh people affected severely. Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat emerging as the worst-affected districts following heavy rainfall and a cloudburst in the upper catchment areas. Major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Burhidihing, Disang and Dhansiri (South), are flowing above the danger level. The Dikhow River at Sivasagar has crossed its highest flood level and has disrupted rail connectivity in Upper Assam.

Rescue operations involving Emergency Services, Civil Defence and district administration are continuing on a war footing. Rescue teams are evacuating people using boats, while relief distribution centres have been opened to assist affected families.

As the need is immense your contribution will help support the people severely impacted by this disaster.

23/07/2026

The flood situation in Assam has deteriorated sharply, with 11 districts and about 6.53 lakh people affected severely. Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat emerging as the worst-affected districts following heavy rainfall and a cloudburst in the upper catchment areas. Major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Burhidihing, Disang and Dhansiri (South), are flowing above the danger level. The Dikhow River at Sivasagar has crossed its highest flood level and has disrupted rail connectivity in Upper Assam.

Rescue operations involving Emergency Services, Civil Defence and district administration are continuing on a war footing. Rescue teams are evacuating people using boats, while relief distribution centres have been opened to assist affected families.

As the need is immense your contribution will help support the people severely impacted by this disaster.

To make your contributions, click here: https://forms.gle/dHXLNm1QfRSmtwtn7

22/07/2026

Introducing "Catalysing Change" - our new video series, which follows the work of our partner organisations from the Rooted Futures Incubation Programme.

This video features Jaintia Network Society (JNS), an organisation working towards sustainable livelihoods and a stronger future for rural communities in West Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya.

19/07/2026

"“Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth.” What Einstein said of Mahatma Gandhi, we could say that of Ramesh Kacholia, “Uncle” to most of the NGO-founders who he helped. Einstein had never met Gandhiji. We have had the pleasure of meeting this man who was humility personified and we can vouch for him more than Einstein could of Gandhiji!!

Though born into a poor family, Rameshbhai was transformed when he met Baba Amte in 1981 when not many outside the voluntary sector knew about his work. Rameshbhai became their brand ambassador and helped raise money for them, working 16 hours a day meeting influential people, often scheming to meet them ‘coincidentally’ on their morning walk!! Soon his efforts started helping others. This loose network of philanthropists was named Mumbai Group of Friends.

Fortuitously, as it always happens with such people, he met Nimeshbhai Shah and thus was born Caring Friends. The word Care is also what personified him. If we say that Caring Friends, led by Rameshbhai and Nimeshbhai have arranged for donations close to 400 crores to numerous organisations in just the last 15 years. And these two gentlemen would live in modest 1100 to 1500 square feet accommodation delaying necessary repairs but leading the donations, so that others with more money would believe them in donating to others.

“Nishkam Karma” is another way that you could describe him. Never ever, would he take credit in arranging the donations and increasing the aspirations of NGOs, of doing more. Every week to some and every month to others, he would call up and stump us by asking, “Aur kucch paise chahiye kya? Poochne me hichakna nahin!”

Many people often ask us in the voluntary sector: “What do you get out of doing this work?” Meeting Rameshbhai helped me answer that question: “Otherwise, we would never have got a chance to believe that such people exist in the world!”

Personally speaking, i haven’t met a better human being ever!! We shall miss him."

- a tribute to Rameshbhai Kacholia (Uncle) by our Adviser dr. sunil kaul.