The organization was established in 1997 in the Bhawanipatna district of Orissa. Its core area of functioning is related to distress agricultural labourers, disaster management and relief, provision of education & Literacy, environment protection and health & family welfare and working with the village communities in the formation of self-help groups for micro finance.
KARMI has been working on the issue of Panchayati Raj, sustainable development of rural areas and poverty alleviation and women's development & empowerment. Its major activities include agricultural development in Kalahandi district, watershed development and education programs for village women. It has implemented the Total women literacy program with support of National Literacy Mission in Golamunda block of Kalahandi district and benefited 9000 women. Its health program has benefited 32,000 thousand population in over eleven gram panchayats by the creation of community health centres.