IRRAD is an initiative of the S M Sehgal Foundation, registered
as a Trust since 1999 to further the wellbeing of rural communities in India.
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Centres

Integrated Sustainable Village Development

IRRAD pursues a holistic approach called Integrated Sustainable Village Development (ISVD), tackling the interrelated constraints, needs and opportunities of poor villages in a holistic way. ISVD rests firmly on the belief that to be effective over the longer term, the women and village poor must be empowered to participate in advancing their own development. It begins by listening to villagers, encouraging them to take the initiative, and promote gender equality. Accordingly, Community Mobilization Program of IRRAD is an integral part of ISVD.
 
 

IRRAD’s village-based Project Implementation Teams work closely with both the communities and their Panchayats (village councils). Where Panchayats are inactive, IRRAD helps the community establish a Village Level Institution (VLI - Gram Vikas Sanstha in Hindi) to advance their initiatives.
Clusters of villages are supported by establishing Community Centers that provide facilities for training, demonstration, information, and services including a library, computer room, Life Skills Education (LSE) classroom, farmers’ information cell, and limited residential accommodation for volunteers.

Individuals showing natural leadership talent and initiative are trained to become Village Champions who spark the ISVD approach within their communities

IRRAD CENTERS

Four centers serve as resources of talent and infrastructure for the execution of IRRAD's programs supported by Communications, Resource Mobilization and Information Technology.
 

 
 

Capacity Building

    

Natural Resource Management

    

Policy, Governance and Advocacy

    

Rural Research

   
 

 

 

 

 
 

The Capacity Building Center addresses a fundamental need of the villages—stronger human capacity to catalyze, plan and manage their own agendas for change. The center works on themes of education, health, gender and village development based on community mobilization and stronger institutional capacities.

   

The Natural Resource Management Center focuses on the wise use of water, soil and forests, and how management of these resources affects the quality of life for present and future generations. The Center's work is congruent with the concept of sustainable development, which forms a basis for long-term global land management and environmental governance to conserve and preserve natural resources.

    

India's Constitution, guaranteeing a dignified and decent life for all, mandates the state to create policies and programs that reduce poverty and empower the poor. IRRAD's Policy, Governance and Advocacy Center promotes awareness among rural communities on such policies that are meant to support the constitutional rights of the Indian people.

    

The Rural Research Center conducts targeted studies on poverty and livelihood issues, assesses the needs and impacts of IRRAD's programs, and addresses the requirements of the other centers. Through its published research and linkages with academia, research institutes and other organizations, the Center strives to establish IRRAD as a globally recognized think tank.

 
 
 

Support Services

    
 
 

IRRAD’s Programs are supported by Communications, Resource Mobilization, and Information Technology. These Support services play a vital role in expansion of the ISVD model and enable IRRAD to actively forge partnerships with other organizations in order to create synergies and accelerate the development process.