The Nanhi Chhaan Foundation (‘Nanhi’ is how little girls are endearingly referred to and ‘Chhaan’ is shade/protection) is a not-for-profit organization set up with the objective of addressing three important issues on the social agenda of the country namely, the adverse gender ratio (and women’s empowerment), preservation of trees (and environment protection) and lack of Inter Faith harmony (promote secularism and saving humanity).

In an inspiringly new approach the Foundation seeks to make a positive impact for protecting the girl child and for preserving trees by invoking the positive power of faith. The initiative cuts across all segments of society and faiths and invokes citizens to act to raise awareness and to actively participate in corrective actions. In a symbolic gesture families receive plant saplings whenever a girl enters their family either as a new born or as a bahu (bride). Both – little girls and saplings – are nature’s ‘greatest givers’ and by planting saplings we hope citizens will recognize and empathize on the importance of protecting and preserving girls and trees.  By achieving these objectives, the Foundation seeks to restore Nature’s balance which has been severely disturbed during the last few decades.

Nanhi Chhaan was launched on August 27, 2008 from the Golden Temple, Amritsar and has rapidly expanded to 9 states including Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh.

Nanhi Chhaan seeks to become a National movement which hopes to move the social agenda by closely working with Educational Institutions, civil society, governments, NGO’s, the Corporate world etc and most importantly with all Faiths to make this a better world for mankind.  In just 5 years, over 11,00,000 saplings have been distributed across India. We also urge you to visit our website www.nanhichhaan.com for the latest updates on our activities.

As background, we currently work with Corporates (120+), prominent among them being NIIT, Lumax, PNB, Fortis, KPMG, Loreal, JCB, SRF and CII. Educational Institutions, Schools and Colleges, have been a focus area for Nanhi Chhaan since inception and we currently partner with over 250 schools/colleges in 9 states. Some of the prestigious Institutions are DPS ( 150 + schools all over India), Salwan schools, Delhi, Vasant Valley school, Delhi, Scindia School, Gwalior, Mayo College, Ajmer, St. Xaviers, Jaipur, Park group of Colleges, Coimbatore etc. In addition, we have adopted 3 village schools, 2 of them in Village Qila Jiwan Singh, Dist. Amritsar (below poverty line village) and 1 in Manger, Dist. Faridabad.    

FOR THE GIRLS AND WOMEN IN YOUR LIVES, NANHI CHHAAN INVOKES YOU TO PLANT A SAPLING.  PLANT A SAPLING FOR YOUR DAUGHTER, YOUR SISTER, YOUR WIFE, YOUR GRANDMOTHER………..

Patrons of great eminence (including His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk of Bhutan, Mr. Kapil Sibal, Mr. Salman Khurshid, Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Mr. Tejendra Khanna, Dr. Prannoy Roy, Dr. Isher Judge Ahluwalia, Mrs. Rekha Purie, Mr. Arun Maira, Mr. Malvinder Mohan Singh etc.) guide the Foundation and inspirational support is available from institutions like Schools, CII, Hospitals, Save The Children, World Wide Fund, most Faiths, CRPF, State Governments and inspiringly from a growing number of citizens.

NANHI CHHAAN FOUNDATION PATRONS LIST