Tharu women learning together in rural Nepal

Established 1992 · Chitwan, Nepal

Change begins
with community.

Indigenous-led education, opportunity, and sustainable development across Nepal’s Terai.

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Years of service

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Terai districts

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Women educated

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Women’s groups

Who we are

Rooted in Tharu identity. Built for shared progress.

Nepal Indigenous Development Society is a non-profit, non-political, and non-religious organization founded by Tharu Indigenous people. What began as a grassroots literacy initiative has grown into an integrated movement for dignity and self-reliance.

Our vision

“An educated and culturally sensitive Indigenous society in Chitwan.”

Our mission

“To make a sustainable and positive difference in the lives of disadvantaged people in Nepal.”

From the NIDS archive

A history made together

Women learning together in a NIDS women’s group
Since 1994Women’s literacy
A community member collecting clean water from a hand pump
Community healthClean drinking water
Community members constructing a bridge together
Local actionInfrastructure through cooperation
Women marching together in a public advocacy campaign
Rights & advocacyWomen’s voices in public life
The completed Bikas NIDS bridge connecting two communities
Bikas / NIDS BridgeConnecting communities
A large gathering of women participating in a NIDS program
Women’s empowermentCollective strength

What we do

Five pathways to lasting change

Select an area to see how education, livelihoods, rights, health, and nature reinforce one another.

Community health work in the Terai

Literacy that opens doors

Education

Continuous non-formal education since 1994, expanding into post-literacy, life skills, and civic education for women across the Terai.

Women harvesting vegetables on an organic community farm

Literacy planted the first seed. Collective enterprise helped communities grow their own future.

Community-led livelihoods

Leadership

Accountable to the communities we serve

The General Assembly sets direction, the Board of Directors provides strategic oversight, and the Secretariat turns decisions into action.

Board Chairperson

Shiva Narayan Chaudhary

Providing strategic oversight through the Board of Directors.

Secretariat team

Sanjaya Mahato

Executive Director

PhD in Psychology

Partners & networks

UNICEF logo
Save the Children
CARE Nepal
UNDP
PACT Nepal
NEPAN
LEISA
Clean Up the World

The road ahead

Building the next generation of Indigenous-led progress

NIDS is deepening local finance, enterprise, advocacy, learning, and sustainable agriculture across the Terai.

01

Village Banks

Expand locally governed micro-credit throughout the rural Terai.

02

Enterprise

Grow collective organic farming and entrepreneurship training.

03

Advocacy

Continue advancing Indigenous land and resource rights.

04

Scholarships

Open more opportunities for economically disadvantaged students.

05

Youth Platform

Connect and mobilize Tharu young professionals.

06

Commercial Farming

Scale sustainable organic farming and market access.

NIDS community engagement in a rural village

Local knowledge. Collective agency. Lasting change.

From one literacy class in Chitwan to integrated community development across 22 districts.