About Us

Who are we?

We are a non-profit organization based in Guwahati, Assam, dedicated to research, advocacy, action, and impactful initiatives aimed at promoting climate-resilient and sustainable urban habitats in North Eastern India.

HOW 'PURVCA' is pronounced?

Purvca is pronounced as Poorvka

What we do?

We conduct research, advocate for change, take action, and measure impact to promote climate-resilient and sustainable urban habitats in North Eastern India. Through our efforts, we aim to achieve tangible outcomes aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring clean, safe, inclusive, and healthy urban settlements.

Why we do what we do?

Climate change poses an imminent threat to our survival and the impact will be felt more so in urban areas where most people will be living in the future. Urban areas have always been hubs for employment, education, and healthcare services. However, with rapid urbanization, alongside these benefits comes a significant downside – the substantial emission of carbon and other harmful gases, largely attributed to the automobile sector. This not only pollutes the environment but also leads to congestion and poses serious road safety concerns.

The North Eastern region of India, renowned for its biodiversity, holds immense potential as an economic hub, serving as a vital land connection between India and the South East Asian countries.

Recognizing these challenges and opportunities, our organization is dedicated to comprehending their implications and devising solutions. We are working towards developing clean, safe, inclusive, accessible, and healthy urban settlements in the North Eastern region. Our focus lies in enabling an affordable, safe, clean and sustainable mobility ecosystem while enhancing climate resilience. 

OUR APPROACH

At PURVCA Foundation, our work lies at the intersection of People, Urban Rejuvenation, and Climate Action.

We begin with People, because we believe that lasting change is only possible when citizens are active participants in shaping their cities. Their everyday experiences, needs, and aspirations guide our research, programmes, and advocacy.

We focus on Urban Rejuvenation because cities must be places that are inclusive, healthy, and vibrant. Through neighbourhood-level planning, improved public spaces, and better access to services, we work to bring life back to urban areas and make them more equitable and liveable for all.

We advance Climate Action because the climate crisis demands urgent and local responses. Cities are both contributors to climate change and among the most vulnerable to its impacts—making urban action essential for building climate resilience.

Importantly, we approach climate action through an urban lens, and more specifically through the lens of urban mobility. How people move in cities shapes emissions, public health, safety, livelihoods, and access to opportunities. By promoting walking, cycling, and public transport, and by improving neighbourhood connectivity, we work towards cities that are not only low-carbon, but also more just and people-friendly.

Our guiding principles

our ORganisational structure

why our name is 'purvca'?

PURVCA, is derived from the Sanskrit word "Purv," meaning East, reflecting our origins in the Eastern part of India. PURVCA can be extended to stand for People for Urban Rejuvenation and Climate Action, precisely delineating our focus areas and objectives. 

Our focus on the North Eastern region of India stems from its unique significance. As part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, the region faces immense climate vulnerability. At the same time, it is home to extraordinary cultural diversity and yet lags behind much of India in terms of infrastructure and economic opportunities. By working here, we aim to protect its delicate ecology, respect its cultural richness, and address its developmental needs through sustainable development and urban solutions that can serve as models for the rest of the country. 

In essence, PURVCA is not just a name—it reflects a commitment to the East, and more specifically, to the North Eastern part of India, where ecological sensitivity, cultural depth, and developmental needs converge. By focusing here, we aim to create scalable models of urban rejuvenation and climate action that can inspire not only this region but the rest of India and beyond.