Rural Development
Rural India is calling! Not just for basics like sanitation, clean drinking water, electricity, economic development and so on. But for long-lasting change. Simply, because there is no point of building a toilet if no one uses it. No point of running a solar center if no one in the village can install solar lighting. No point of having a model village plan when problems of the community remain unaddressed.
With ever-growing numbers of villagers migrating to cities for better lifestyle and employment, there is an equal and bigger need to tend to the lack in rural India. And, to fix it. We believe that a key ingredient in the recipe for a sustainable change is community participation. Thus, when we build toilets, we sensitize masses to use them too. When we build solar centers, we train village youth to install and service solar lighting systems. When we talk about model villages, we gauge problems of a village and inspire the ones who understand them the best, the locals to become torchbearers of change.
In short, to us, infrastructure development walks hand-in-hand with people development. With this basic model, we are working to:
- provide solar lighting to remotest of villages
- empower rural youth and women with skill development training
- build toilets and ensure communities use them
- provide clean drinking water
- strengthen local governance
- making villages self-sustainable
India will be truly empowered when people at the grassroots start feeling confident about themselves, their way of life, their tradition and language.
- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
India will be truly empowered when people at the grassroots start feeling confident about themselves, their way of life, their tradition and language.
- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Strategy
Our rural development projects follow a 3-step strategy which is implemented simultaneously:
Infrastructure development:
Be it through social infrastructures like skill centers or knowledge infrastructure like providing a knowledge framework for good governance, we make sure that we cater to the needs of the locals.
Empowering local youth for solution-driven action:
These local youth are developed on various facets by the Karma Yoga program (former YLTP). This gives them the skills, motivation, and abilities to initiate and lead service projects in their communities sustainably. We equip these youth leaders with technical know-how and finances to run a project.
Community-building exercises:
We build communities through programs of The Art of Living. With communitybuilding exercises, we ensure that the whole community participates in the development of their village, making it a long-term success.
Impact
1,67,600+ People trained
in rural programmes to reduce stress and build resilience
1,10,000+
Smokeless chulhas distributed
1,00,000+
Rural champions of change created
2,50,000+ Youth trained
in India through Karmayogi Bharat
1,00,000+
Cleanliness drives conducted by volunteers
69,000+ Village pratinidhis
appointed in 18,915 villages under 'Project Bharat' initiative for SGDs implementation
62,000+ Toilets
constructed for improved sanitation and enhanced quality of life
59,000+ Youth
become community leaders for integrated rural development
11,95,000+
Beneficiaries of solar electrification
40,000+ People
benefitted from solar street lighting
20,000+ Rural youth
trained in solar skills in border villages
5,000+ Youth leaders
trained as renewable energy technicians
1,65,000+
People benefitted
66,000+
Solar lamps distributed
700+
Villages electrified
124
Solar battery charging stations installed
613
Solar microgrids installed
Hear it from the source

Namaste! My name is Meena Devi. I am the Mukhia of Manjhi Panchayat, Jharkhand. Upon becoming Mukhia in 2016, I underwent training with The Art of Living, we gained insights into Panchayati Raj and methods to foster Panchayat development. Munni ji, our coordinator, spearheaded initiatives such as the Didi Badi Yojana and the establishment of a Sri Sri Library, offering a study haven for children during the pandemic. The Didi Baadi Yojana continues in our Panchayat, successfully employing previously jobless workers. We remain dedicated to advancing our village's progress in multiple domains.
Meena Devi
Mukhia of Manjhi Panchayat, Jharkhand

Thanks to The Art of Living's Youth Leadership Training Programme, I've gained confidence, leadership skills, and learned about environmental protection. Sudarshan Kriya has boosted my public speaking confidence, preparing me for job interviews.
Jyoti Chauhan
YLTP Participant, Saliha Bhata Village, Korba Project

I'm the Mukhia of Tamarband Panchayat in West Singhbhum, Jharkhand. I received training from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India, and The Art of Living’s Vyakti Vikas Kendra India. This training has raised awareness among individuals who previously lacked knowledge about accessing government schemes. Special thanks to The Art of Living volunteers for their efforts in generating public awareness, which has enabled villagers to access these benefits effectively.
Girish Chandra Devgam
Mukhia of Tamarband Panchayat, Jharkhand

NTPC conducted the Project Pavitra Programme in our village. This programme has taught us many practices, including mudras and asanas. And it provided valuable insights about our physical well-being, including essential precautions during the menstrual cycle. I express gratitude for organising the Project Pavitra and look forward to its continuation in the future.
Sunita Kavan
Project Pavitra Participant, Jhora Village, Korba Project
