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Arthik Anusandhan Kendra (AAK) was a result of like-minded and concerned people coming together with a common thread of doing something good for society. The initial thought was to understand the complexities of poverty and rural ethos, and that’s why the founding colleagues veered more towards a rigorous process to unfold the layers responsible for poverty and vulnerability. And that’s how the name evolved “Arthik Anusandhan Kendra”.

The legacy started then by our founding members, continues and we at AAK always endeavour to take an informed approach in all our interventions, where the community is at the centre in every stage and process. AAK assumed a formal entity in 1968, when it was registered as a society in Prayagraj (then Allahabad).

The initial years were devoted towards researching problems facing rural India. However, we decided that direct developmental interventions were also necessary and focussed our energy towards building the capacities of people, preparing them to play a more active role in the management of public resources and institutions as well as in local government. We at AAK believe that focussed attention on children, especially the girl child is essential to transform society. This institutional commitment was adopted since the early 1990s and continues to this day. We earlier focused in tribal area of South Mirzapur and other contiguous areas, however, subsequently, we started our engagement in rural Mirzapur and Sonebhadra districts, around issues of land rights, education, health, children with disabilities, organising self-help groups, livelihoods, community organising, and supporting local self-governance. AAK has worked in the city of its birth, Allahabad, by initiating work with the urban homeless and the rickshaw pullers, among the most vulnerable sections of urban society. AAK has also worked in the Chitrangi block of Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh in the recent past.