Maldhari Rural Action Group (MARAG)

Maldhari Rural Action Group (MARAG) is a grassroots organization working since 1994 for the education, organization and empowerment of the communities who rely on Common Property Resources. These communities include Pastoralists, Dalits, Tribals, youth, women, children and other marginalized groups. MARAG focuses predominantly on promoting and utilizing the knowledge of rural people who possess a great understanding and innate knowledge of their unique ecosystems. Since inception MARAG has worked with people from marginalized communities, who within the complex socio-political climate, are vulnerable to exploitation. Besides implementing directly, MARAG acts as a facilitator for networks and alliances that work for pastoralists and marginalised groups on issues related to education, women empowerment, youth engagement, traditional livelihoods promotion, land and commons at national and global level. MARAG was established at the time when pastoralists were not recognized as development actors and there was no other organization working exclusively with them. Those initial steps today have shaped into a movement of the pastoralists in Gujarat and outside. At present MARAG has a presence from grassroots with a growing presence at national level, national and global level.