Transforming Rural India Initiative
Transforming Rural India (TRI) is a Tata Trusts initiative that works to trigger large-scale transformation of villages in regions of endemic poverty, especially in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
The TRI initiative works in partnership with leading non-profit organisations, state governments, market players, civil society and private philanthropies to provide a range of services and linkages.
Key achievements
- Implementing health and nutrition-focused interventions across 342 villages in Madhya Pradesh, covering 1,035 habitations. 710 community volunteers, trained in community-led protocols, initiated discussions covering 2,070 women groups in their respective villages.
- Implementing education interventions across primary schools in 566 villages in Madhya Pradesh. An MoU was signed with the Department of Education to facilitate engagement with teachers and schools. Direct support was facilitated to 198 schools and 731 community volunteers who were engaged with village organisations and School Management Committees.
- Mobilising ‘Kushal Kisan Abhiyaan’, an initiative on rapid adoption of commercial agriculture using rural media channels, in three blocks of Jharkhand, covering almost 7,000 farmers. About 630 farmers increased their incomes by over Rs100,000; 98 agri-entrepreneurs were engaged as Value Chain Actors to facilitate rapid adoption of commercial agriculture. Protocols for identification of crops suitable for rapid commercialisation were finalised and pilot tested.
- Launching the 'Sarathi' platform to support youth aspirants in villages in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, towards making informed career choices and connecting them to a screened pool of Training Service Providers (TSP). Agreements were signed with 7 well-known TSPs; partnerships are being explored with microfinance institutions to provide credit for self-funded training programmes that offer better career opportunities.
- Catalysing government action through the preparation of conservation-cum- development plans for particularly vulnerable tribal groups with an annual funding of Rs1 billion, along with the Tribal Welfare Department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh; signing an MoU with Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society; and extending support to Jharkhand’s Gumla district administration for overall improvement.
Future plans
TRI’s long-term goal is to reach 100,000 villages in 1,000 blocks transforming 200 million lives. In the immediate future, the goal is to:
- Intensify activities to enhance the quality of life of 25% of outreach households.
- Expand market solutions, including linking youth to skills and enterprises, along with a comprehensive approach to catalyse enterprises.
- Expand engagement with government via programme design, creating and instituting formal mechanisms for co-ordination with frontline functionaries.
- Expand change engagement to 8 new blocks in Madhya Pradesh under the Government of India’s flagship ‘Mission Antyodaya’ programme, targeted to reach an additional 1,000 villages by 2021.
- Diversify livelihood opportunities through the ‘Sarathi’ platform and initiate a new programme to launch rural entrepreneurs.
Area of operation
Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh
