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"What is uttered from the heart alone, will win the hearts of others to your own."
the tulsi trust
the tulsi trust
Our Story
Our Story
The roots of The Tulsi Trust go back to the early 1990s, when a small group of visitors from the UK travelled to rural Chhattisgarh with their friend and guide, Sri Vinod Vihari Goswami.
Having arrived in the region as part of a Bengali refugee family, Sri Vinod became a trusted and respected figure amongst both Bengali refugee communities and local Adivasi villages. He dreamed of bringing people together and improving access to healthcare and education in an area where both were often difficult to reach.
Inspired by the communities they encountered and by Sri Vinod's vision, Tira Brine-Andrews and a group of friends founded The Tulsi Trust in 1999. Tira became the driving force behind the charity for many years, dedicating herself to supporting healthcare and educational opportunities throughout the region.
Today, the Trust continues the work that Sri Vinod and Tira helped to begin. While our programmes have grown and evolved over time, they remain rooted in the same principles: long-term relationships, respect for local communities, and practical support where it is needed most.
sri
vinod vihari
sri
vinod vihari
tira brine-andrews
tira brine-andrews
How We Work
How We Work
Long-Term Relationships
Long-Term Relationships
The Tulsi Trust has been working with communities in rural Chhattisgarh since the early 1990s. By returning to the same villages year after year, we have built relationships based on trust, familiarity and mutual respect.
Practical, Community-Based Support
Practical, Community-Based Support
From our base at the edge of the forest, our local team provides healthcare, education and referral support to communities that often have limited access to public services. We focus on practical programmes that respond to everyday needs while remaining sustainable over the long term.
Building Knowledge and Confidence
Building Knowledge and Confidence
Alongside medical treatment, we place a strong emphasis on education. Through schools, community workshops and health programmes, we aim to help people make informed decisions about their wellbeing and strengthen local capacity for the future.
The People Behind the Work
The People Behind the Work
Our Team in India
Our Team in India
Our work in Chhattisgarh is made possible by a dedicated local team whose knowledge, commitment and long-standing relationships within the community are at the heart of everything we do. Together, they deliver our healthcare and education programmes with compassion, professionalism and a deep understanding of the people they serve.
sri raman bihari das babaji
sri raman bihari das babaji
Project Director
Grown up in Chattisgarh from a family of Bengali refugees, Raman Bihari Das has coordinated the Tulsi Trust and other charitable projects in India on behalf of his teacher Sri Vinod Vihari for many years.
vishnu
das
vishnu
das
Project Manager
Overseeing the day-to-day coordination and development of the Trust's programmes.
uttam
bairagi
uttam
bairagi
Assistant Project Manager
Supporting programme delivery and helping coordinate activities across the project.
dr. devashish mallik
dr. devashish mallik
Medical Project Lead
Providing medical leadership and supporting the development of our healthcare programmes.
nimai
mandal
nimai
mandal
Lead Healthcare Worker
Working directly with communities through village clinics and health initiatives.
amal
sarkar
amal
sarkar
Ambulance Driver
Helping patients access specialist treatment and hospital care across the region.
narayan mandal
narayan mandal
Ashram and school support
One of the friendly faces that helps make the school and ashram feel like home.
nihar ranjan das
nihar ranjan das
School Headmaster
Leading the day-to-day running of the Tulsi Trust School.
sourabh rai
sourabh rai
School Headmaster
Leading the day-to-day running of the Tulsi Trust School.
UK Trustees
UK Trustees
The Tulsi Trust is overseen by a board of volunteer trustees based in the United Kingdom. Together, they provide governance, strategic oversight and ongoing support for the charity, working closely with the team in India to ensure that the Trust's programmes continue to serve local communities effectively.
barbara koller
barbara koller
Chair person
rose
douglas
rose
douglas
Treasurer
moira
lynch
moira
lynch
Secretary
peter ireson
peter ireson
Trustee
sally Dalton
sally Dalton
Trustee
lilian thomas
lilian thomas
Trustee
finn brine-andrews
finn brine-andrews
Trustee
our commitment
our commitment
The Tulsi Trust has always been built on relationships. While our programmes continue to develop and adapt to the changing needs of the communities we serve, our commitment remains the same: to work alongside local people with respect, consistency and compassion.
We believe that meaningful change takes time. By supporting local leadership, investing in healthcare and education, and returning to the same communities year after year, we hope to contribute to healthier, stronger and more resilient futures.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey – our supporters, volunteers, trustees, and above all the communities and local team in Chhattisgarh, whose trust and partnership continue to inspire our work every day.
Our commitment is simply to keep showing up – listening, learning and working alongside the communities we serve, one year at a time.
Our commitment is simply to keep showing up – listening, learning and working alongside the communities we serve, one year at a time.
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