Empowering Rural Lives Since 1987
The Institute for Integrated Rural Development (IIRD) transforms rural communities through education, health, and sustainable practices, fostering self-reliance and gender justice across Maharashtra.
Transforming lives through community-led development.
IIRD
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Empowering Rural Lives
Transforming communities through education, health, and sustainable development initiatives for a better future.
For over three decades, the Institute for Integrated Rural Development (IIRD) has been at the forefront of grassroots change, empowering rural families across Maharashtra and other regions. Our work focuses on creating lasting impact by improving access to quality education, promoting community health and nutrition, enhancing livelihoods through skill development and entrepreneurship, and protecting the environment through organic farming and resource conservation. Through women-led self-help groups, vocational training centers, village health programs, and water management projects, IIRD helps rural communities become self-reliant, resilient, and future-ready. Every initiative is guided by our core philosophy — PEACE: People’s Education and Action for Community Empowerment — which puts people at the center of their own development journey.
Sustainable Livelihoods
Promoting self-reliance through entrepreneurship, organic farming, and poverty alleviation programs in rural areas.
Health & Nutrition
Enhancing community health and nutrition through awareness programs and access to essential services and resources.
Community Projects
Empowering rural communities through sustainable development, inclusive education, and community-led initiatives.
IIRD's community projects focus on creating lasting change by equipping people with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to build resilient, self-reliant communities.
Health Initiatives
Our health initiatives focus on nutrition, sanitation, and access to healthcare, ensuring improved well-being for rural populations and fostering healthier communities.
IIRD’s health programs are designed to address the unique challenges faced by underserved rural areas. We promote preventive healthcare through community awareness, maternal and child nutrition education, and training of women health volunteers known as Vikas Sevikas. By establishing village-level health committees and organizing regular health camps, we provide essential medical support, especially to women, children, and the elderly. Our efforts include setting up low-cost village clinics, distributing herbal remedies, promoting organic kitchen gardens for nutritional security, and constructing sanitation facilities to combat open defecation. These initiatives not only improve health outcomes but also build local capacity to sustain long-term well-being.
Education Programs
We implement education programs that enhance skills, promote literacy, and empower individuals, fostering self-reliance and opportunities for growth in rural areas.
At IIRD, we believe education is the foundation of lasting change. Our programs focus on both academic support and practical skill development tailored to the needs of rural youth and adults. Through our flagship Green College, we offer vocational training in organic farming, animal husbandry, food processing, and other livelihood-focused trades. We also run short- and medium-term courses for school dropouts, provide functional literacy for adults, and offer IGNOU-certified programs in organic agriculture and water management. These efforts not only improve employability but also restore confidence and dignity among marginalized communities, enabling them to take charge of their future with knowledge and purpose.
Empowering Lives
Showcasing our journey in transforming rural communities through development.
