Pragati is a non government development organisation, registered as a society in Puri district of Orissa. Since their inception in 1989, the focus has been on strengthening the Self Help Movement in Puri. The organisation strongly believes in the philosophy of “Women Empowerment through Promotion and Development of Self Help Cooperatives.

Pragati works with co-operatives across the district of Puri. Many of these groups are artisans involved in traditional art forms such as stone carving and Pattachitra. With the temple of Jagannath being situated in Puri, many of these artisans use Puri as their market to sell the artefacts that they make in their village or town.