Ranchi · Jharkhand · Since 2009
Building stronger communities for a just and humane society.
SIGN is the official body of the Catholic Bishops of Jharkhand for social concern and human development — working with eight diocesan social service societies for tribal communities, farmers, women and children across Jharkhand.
Together with the dioceses of
Daltonganj · Dumka · Gumla · Hazaribagh · Jamshedpur · Khunti · Ranchi · Simdega
Photographs from SIGN’s programmes in Jharkhand
A SIGN programme with diocesan partners
Who we are
The social-concern forum of the Catholic Bishops of Jharkhand and Andamans.
Social Initiatives for Growth and Networking (SIGN) is the official body of the Catholic Bishops of Jharkhand and Andamans (JHAAN) for social concern and human development. It is a non-profit society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Though the Port Blair diocese also comes under the JHAAN region, for practical reasons SIGN anchors the efforts of the eight Social Service Societies of the dioceses of Daltonganj, Dumka, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Khunti, Ranchi and Simdega in Jharkhand. It promotes the efforts of faith-based organisations and networks with all like-minded NGOs in Jharkhand.
Our vision
“A just and humane society based on the values of love, peace, equality and dignity to all.”
Our mission
An empowered society, well-knit and disciplined, that upholds the human dignity of the oppressed and the marginalised, especially the Tribals and the Dalits, by means of liaison and networking with the diocesan institutions and faith-based organisations, in dialogue and collaboration with the government and like-minded organisations.
Our goals include
- Promoting effective governance
- Enabling a holistic and healthy society
- Ensuring quality education for all
- Ensuring women’s participation and rights in all spheres
- Preventing human trafficking
- Fostering inter-religious harmony
Areas of work
Eight ways we accompany communities
- 01Natural Resource Management and LivelihoodSecuring the rights of tribal communities to have, manage and use Jal, Jangal, Jamin and Janwar — water, forest, land and animals.
- 02AgricultureHelping farmers move from rain-fed mono-cropping to diverse, organic, climate-adaptive farming through Farmers’ Clubs.
- 03Institutional Development and Good GovernancePromoting good governance from the village upwards by forming, promoting and strengthening Gram Sabhas.
- 04Gender EqualityProtecting and promoting women’s participation in every sphere of life, and nurturing women as leaders of change in their villages.
- 05Tribal DevelopmentReviving tribal culture and heritage and promoting the tribal value system, which supports community life and unity.
- 06EducationPromoting education at every level — from children to graduates — so that no child is deprived of school because of poverty.
- 07HealthHealth education, mother and child care and stronger links between communities and government health services.
- 08Inter-Religious HarmonyWorking for the unity of tribal communities across faiths, so that one Jharkhand is created and not a divided Jharkhand.
Our impact
2025–26 at a glance: hope, measured in people.
Figures reported by SIGN in the Secretary’s Review of the Annual Report 2025–26.
- Children continuing their education
- 11,858Children continuing their education6,607 boys and 5,251 girls, through 37 Sponsorship Centres
- Farmers in 63 Farmers’ Clubs
- 1,033Farmers in 63 Farmers’ ClubsAcross 65 villages, practising climate-adaptive agriculture
- Women in 102 Self-Help Groups
- 2,702Women in 102 Self-Help GroupsCollective savings above ₹12.06 lakh
- Traditional Gram Sabhas strengthened
- 105Traditional Gram Sabhas strengthened92 now meet independently; 46 resolved village issues by consensus
Our reach
The areas covered by SIGN’s programmes.
- Districts
- 12+
- Blocks
- 52+
- Panchayats
- 72+
- Villages
- 1,812+
Featured initiatives
Long-term commitments, built with partners
Our reach
One network, eight dioceses
- Ranchi
- Khunti
- Gumla
- Simdega
- Jamshedpur
- Hazaribagh
- Daltonganj
- Dumka
Stories from the field
Change, in people’s own words
- AgricultureMotivation of the training changed my lifeKita village, Chandwa block, Latehar district
- LivelihoodSource of income, traditional community skills and unity in the villageBhikha village, Bhandru panchayat, Dumka block and district
- InnovationWaste materials make life easyKomai village, Baipi panchayat, West Singhbhum district
Publications & resources
Accountable, year after year
Latest annual report
Annual Report 2025–26
Programmes, partners and finances for the year 2025–26, with messages from SIGN’s President, Vice-President and Secretary.
All 15 annual reportsOur partners
Eight Diocesan Social Service Societies
Want to become our partner? Contact us — we would be glad to explore working together.
Ranchi Diocese
Catholic Charities, Ranchi
Khunti Diocese
Hoffmann Social Service Society
Gumla Diocese
Gram Utthan Kendra
Simdega Diocese
Vikas Kendra
Jamshedpur Diocese
Catholic Charities, Jamshedpur
Hazaribagh Diocese
Jan Vikas Kendra
Daltonganj Diocese
Samaj Vikas Sanstha
Dumka Diocese
Dumka Social and Educational Society
Agencies we have worked with
UNICEF · Caritas India · Catholic Relief Services (CRS) · Manos Unidas · Kindermissionswerk · Missio · Fondazione Fratelli Dimenticati, Italy · JivDaya Foundation · Community Development Medicinal Unit (CDMU), Kolkata · Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network · Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Hazaribagh · Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) · REDS
Connect with SIGN
Let’s build a just and humane society together.
Learn about SIGN, explore our work, or reach out to discuss collaboration — with communities, dioceses, government, donors and like-minded organisations.
