PANI is a voluntary organisation based in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh. They envision theirselves as a medium for building an inclusive society that prospers in harmony with its surroundings. All their work is based on the inherent dignity and worth of people and they continuously seek to innovate strategies to make this a lived reality in all spheres of life.

People's Action for National Integration-PANI was founded in 1986 by a prominent and devoted Gandhian activist –Paras Bhai. Born and brought up in a village of district Faizabd, in his adolescence he was inspired by the Sarvodaya thoughts of Gandhi and Vinoba. The basic elements that defines Sarvodaya is the universal welfare and the integrated development of all – irrespective of class, caste, gender, colour, religion, race. Sarvodaya thought of integrated rural reconstruction looks at the various social, political, economic and cultural aspects of society in totality – as they relate to each other. Guided by these principles, Late Shri Paras Bhai learnt rural development in the close association of Shri Dhirendra Majumdar and spent a large part of his life with tribals and the poorest in Bihar and Orissa.

In 1980s, when the region was inflicted by communal violence in the clamour of building the Ram temple in Ayodhya, he felt the urge to do something in his native region – the erstwhile district of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh. Consequentially, People’s Action for National Integration (PANI) was founded in 1986 by Paras Bhai and some of his fellow Gandhians – Avadhesh Bhai, Bam Bhai and Saraswati Bahan.

Currently, PANI is working in 20 districts (both directly and with network partners) of Eastern Uttar Pradesh for empowering the community, with special focus on issues that affect women and children.

Vision and Mission

PANI envisions itself as a medium for building an inclusive society that prospers in harmony with its surroundings.

Their mission is to empower people so that they have greater control over their life situations and take responsibility to make a world that is mutually rewarding.

Values

Human rights and justice – All of their work is based on respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people, and the rights that follow from this understanding.

Transparency and accountability – They provide and expect to access clear, accurate and up-to-date information. They are willing to hold theirselves to high standards and seek to hold others to similar standards as the ones they set for theirselves.

Equality and Equity – They share their own resources fairly and want to see that the natural and intellectual wealth of the country is also distributed fairly, so that everyone is able to gain their share. They know that the success of development can be measured by how the least powerful people and the smallest minority groups are faring.

Honesty and Integrity - They believe in being truthful to theirselves and to all they work with. This makes them credible and helps pursue their mission.

Social and Communal Harmony - Indian society is very rich in its ethnic, religious, social and cultural order in terms of fabric it encompasses and the diversity it displays. Pani values peace in individual minds and peace in society as in dispensable factors for social development and progress.