AID Saathis and Jeevansaathis

Kanchi Kohli is a social and environmental activist who has been working on environment and forest clearance issues, and their impact on the local communities and the biodiversity of the affected area, for the past nine years. After getting her degree in social work, she proceeded to work in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka for two years where she worked with local NGOs on issues related to the impact of development projects on the environment and the local community. In 2000, she moved to New Delhi and has been an active member of the organization, Kalpavriksh Environmental Action Group (KV). As a part of KV, she has been central to the Campaign on Environment Clearance of Development Projects and the Campaign on Biodiversity. As part of these campaigns, she has engaged with policy research and also collaborated with several other civil society groups, and has been a central part of networks such as the Campaign for Environmental Justice, India (CEJ-I).

The core part of Kanchi's work is providing support to local groups across India in responding to development threats in their areas, both in the form of strategy support and information. This national level support is critical to local campaigns and movements.