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is a charitable trust situated in Sidhbari, a small village in the Himalayan foothills of the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The main objective for which the Trust has been established is to work for the benefit and development of society as a whole by improving the welfare of families with particular focus on women and children. This objective is served through activities in the fields of health, education and environment.

Our approach is to work alongside the local people for our mutual development and benefit. In this fast moving world in which major changes in our cultural perspective creates conflict and confusion we aim to encourage dialogue and learning through acknowledging individual and group knowledge and desire to live in harmony with each other and nature. Our approach is holistic and our philosophy is based on an integrated approach that is inclusive of physical, social and spiritual growth of people and nature.

Nishtha's manager is Dr. Barbara Nath-Wiser (pictured right with patients), a general practitioner from Vienna, Austria who has been living in Sidhbari since 1984. The health centre is dedicated to the memory of her late husband Krishan Nath Baba, who was a respected spiritual personality in the area and was very concerned about the well-being of the local people. To read Dr. Nath-Wiser's biography, please click on the link below (Adobe Acrobat Reader Required).

Dr. Nath-Wiser's Profile
PDF - 427 KB

Dr Kishwar Shirali, Ms. Abha Bhaiya and Mrs Monica Ghosh are the three Trustees who set up the Trust in 1998 with the aim to support and augment Dr Barbara's medical work in the area. They were recently joined by experienced women's development worker Kamla Basin. Together they bring a wide range of experience and years of dedicated work for the benefit of women in India.