CHETNA, meaning “awareness” in several Indian languages and an acronym for Centre for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness, is a non-government support organization based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. CHETNA’s mission is to contribute in the empowerment of disadvantaged women, young people and children to gain control over their own, their families’ and communities’ health.

Beginning its activities in 1980, CHETNA started with a project aimed at improving the effectiveness of the government implemented supplementary feeding programmes for mothers and children in the state of Gujarat. Over the past twenty-seven years, CHETNA has broadened its activities in the field of nutrition, health, education and development from a “Rights” perspective. The activities reach out to disadvantaged and marginalized children, young people and women from rural, tribal and urban areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

CHETNA supports Government and Non-Government Organizations (GO and NGOs) through its two Resource Centres. CHEITAN, the Child Resource Centre (CRC) (initiated in June 1991) and Chaitanyaa the Women’s Health and Development Resource Centre (WHDRC) (initiated in October 1992).

Together the centers address the needs of children, young people and women during different stages of their lives through building the management capacities of education/health practitioners/supervisors/managers with a view to enable them to implement their field programmes from a holistic and gender perspective and advocate for people centred policies. CHETNA develops need-based training and education materials, which are widely disseminated at the state, national and international levels.