Grassroots NGO · Kadathur, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu
Every village holds the seed of its own flourishing.
Every person deserves to lead a more secure, prosperous, and delightful life. With that vision in mind, Rural Development Society's mission is to strengthen community led development initiatives to achieve positive social, economic and environmental changes across Dharmapuri district.
Rural Development Society has been working since 1989, to improve the quality of life of the rural communities in Dharmapuri district. As a rural development NGO, established as a Society, RDS has a skilled and dedicated team that create sustainable projects and programme areas: Women Empowerment, Agriculture development, Water Management, Local participation and sustainability, and outreach for Development. These programmes and projects are supported by a skilled staff team that engages in participatory manner, impact assessment and interactive dialogue to determine informed actions to achieve sustainable results.
With the support from donors and partners around the world, RDS's gross roots programmes and projects and development interventions have already reached people in 3 Taluks across the district, empowering individuals and communities in need to escalate and enhance their own development.
With more than three decades of experience in sustainable rural development, the teams at RDS in three Taluks, so far, across the Dharmapuri district have been on the forefront to design and implement interventions based on collective action, addressing pertinent rural development issues.
Our organization's operating philosophy is based on the principles of loose and tight, meaning flexible in operations and firm on core values. RDS embraces core values of integrity, excellence, professionalism, optimism, and respect along with the belief that, with appropriate support from civil society organizations and the Government, rural communities will be mobilized to develop their own vision for development and transform their awareness into action.
Our vision is a rural India where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. By putting communities first and deploying innovations in public and private systems we seek to build flourishing localities.
Our mission is all about transforming villages, sparking innovation, and launching initiatives that make a difference. From day one, we've zeroed in on creating sweeping, systemic change, because we believe in impact that's not just deep but also wide. Rural Development Society established in 1989, began its journey with a single mission — to improve the lives of the underprivileged. Over the years, we have grown into one of the committed NGOs in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, dedicated to creating meaningful change through compassionate community service. As a socially driven organization, we work across multiple areas, including community leadership & Institution building, Water and Sanitation, Health, education, women's empowerment, social justice, Economic development and the uplifting of the poor.
The people of the bottom thousands of villages live in extreme poverty. Despite good intentions, most development efforts are not sustainable. Life is precarious, leaving many rural Indians vulnerable, dependent and forced to migrate for survival.
Empowering rural women through group formation, training and socio-economic development supports.
Free Ambulance service for people during emergency.
Create awareness on safe drinking Water and environmental hygiene and sanitation.
Provide supports to farming communities both financial and technical for Village development.
Training provided for equipping women SHG members on book keeping and maintaining records of the financial transactions in a more simple and efficient manners.
Address the health needs of underserved rural areas and formed at village level Health and sanitation committees and Monitoring committees. Creating friendly environment among the health service providers and the rural people through motivational activities.
A dedicated team of social workers, field coordinators and community leaders driving change across 3 Taluks in Dharmapuri district.
A decade-long campaign for Tribal Self-Rule and forest lands under the Forest (Land Rights) Act 2006.
A network for social justice and grassroots advocacy — strengthening collective voice for the disadvantaged.
A voluntary health network advancing community health action and equitable public health services.
RDS projects and programmes serve 10 of the 17 SDGs set by the United Nations for 2030.
For partnerships, CSR collaborations, volunteering or general enquiries — write to us, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.