Lakshmi Ashram was founded by Catherine Hillman in the year 1948. The founder of the ashram, who later became famous as Sarlaben, was a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Being an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, Sarlaben left London in 1931 to join his movements.Popularly known as Sarla Ashram, it is an educational institution that was established in 1948. It is a Gandhian Basic Institute of Education only for girls. At the foothills of Himalaya in Kausani, the Ashram runs a boarding school for the girls. Being self-sufficient, the ashram runs the school independently.Established with the intent to help the girls in the Himalayan ranges, the ashram teaches them several skills, like growing vegetables, cooking, caring for the animals and cleaning. By working for the progress of Kumaoni women, the ashram aids them in becoming self-dependent. Main objective of the ashram is to provide Kumaoni women a safe shelter and to equip them with basic skills to lead an independent life. In the ashram, many orphaned girls and women find abode.