Udaan is an initiative by Tata Trusts, dedicated to providing and growing mental health care services in India. In collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra, it is built upon two pillars: the reform of Regional Mental Hospital Nagpur (RMHN) as a center of excellence and fortifying the District Mental Health program, Nagpur. The partnership was sealed by signing a first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2016, representing Tata Trusts' first commitment to the mental health sector. The project focused on Regional mental Hospital reform.
Udaan recognizes the importance of improving community-based mental health services in addition to reforming psychiatric hospitals. Although the District Mental Health Program (DMHP) has been in operation since 1996 and has reached many districts in the country, it has often been limited in scope, mainly focusing on medication distribution as a centralized at district-level unit.
In 2018, in partnership with the RG Mundane Foundation for Excellence, TATA TRUST and the Government of Maharashtra signed an MoU to enhance the District Mental Health Program (DMHP) through a collaborative approach. This initiative strives to create a more holistic and responsive community mental health program.
The key developments of all the projects were under the leadership of Dr. Tasneem Raja. The project has made significant progress in the field of mental health.
In this ongoing journey, in August 2023, Gramin Adivasi Vikas Seva Sanstha signed a new MoU with the Government of Maharashtra to extend the implementation of the DMHP in Nagpur district through 2026. This effort is generously funded by the Indira Foundation and the RG Manudhane Foundation for Excellence, ensuring sustained support for an integrated and inclusive approach to mental health.
