It was founded in June 1988 by ex-Delhi DCP Amod Kanth after a fire destroyed makeshift homes and ragged shelters built by children in the slums of Jahangirpuri in Delhi.
[1] The charity received international recognition for anti-trafficking initiatives by the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report published by the US Department of State.
Amod Kanth, the head of Delhi Police and founder of Prayas, was commended as an international "model of public service" for his efforts on behalf of India's children.
[1] In 2000,the organisation had launched the Rape Crisis Intervention Centre, presently known as One-Stop Crisis Centre, to help the victims of sexual assault, particularly minor girls, in the presence of then Minister of State for Social Justice Maneka Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma.
[1] The organisation is also involved in introducing large number of other programmes in collaboration with the government and private institutions which include the Jan Shikshan Sansthan under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship since 2000, DUSIB, Asian Foundation, Freedom Fund, Adoption Centrum, NSDC, Coca-Cola, National Scheduled Caste Financial Development Corporation, National Backward Class Financial Development Corporation, Schneider Electric India Foundation Ltd, BC Jindal Electrician and Plumbing Training Programme and the Tata Power Delhi Development (TPDDL) project and also partnering with various government agencies and making efforts in the formulation of policies, strategies and played a role in the formulation of the Tenth Plan and the re-enactment and implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, National Policy and Charter for Children and National Commission for Protection of Children Rights.