LiveliHoods
Mann Deshi Foundation
The Mann Deshi Foundation was the first rural bank for women in India and promotes financial inclusion and livelihood training for women in rural Maharashtra. It is based in the drought prone area of Mann Taluka in Satara district. The Foundation is involved in various activities such as livelihood training programs, supporting sustainable agriculture, financial literacy, sports training for youth etc.
More than 4,00,000 women have benefitted from the foundation’s work and its cattle camp provides support to farmers during droughts in the area. Its flexible financial products help local farmers and communities undertake income earning activities in a sustainable manner through utilisation of credit.
Rural India Development Foundation
Rural India Development Foundation is a non-profit society which seeks to address developmental issues in the forest areas of Vananchal in Uttar Pradesh through a holistic approach. In the field of education, RIDF runs a community school in partnership with Integrated Sustainable Development Council (ISDC – a non-profit organisation), where over 300 children from forest communities are enrolled for free education. The community school runs in Naugarh, Chandauli and tries to reach the most remote pockets of the district in order to bring education to every child in the region. The centres also serve as a centre of social activity through regular health camps, awareness drives and community discussions in order to establish a strong connect with the all stakeholders.