Axis Bank Foundation

Watershed Management and Agricultural Productivity are cornerstones for ABFs rural livelihood strategy that geographically focuses on the rain-fed regions in the country. Watershed with its socio-political-ecological characteristics plays an important role in determining and realizing economic, social, and ecological security; vital in supporting progress for rural communities. Some of the key elements of the project design include watershed management, agriculture productivity enhancement, aggregation of input and produce to gain better market realization and collectivization. These are realized by building the technical capacity and capability of the communities. Directed efforts are undertaken to improve community led governance around access, equity and regeneration of natural resources that include water, common land, forest produce and market interfaces.

Livestock rearing is an integral part of rural households, which helps provide an alternate source of income to the families besides farming. These activities include poultry and duck farming and rearing of goats, pigs and cattle. The program supports interventions such as animal health care, feed and fodder management, selection and animal breeding, care and management of new born, milking techniques, vaccinations, etc. Dairy development is also undertaken by building the value chain and linking the producers with the market. The projects equips pashu sakhis (para vets) with adequate training to provide basic veterinarian care to the livestock.

India has the world’s largest youth population and is facing a challenge with most of its work force having limited or no skills viz the employability opportunities. India could face serious socio-economic problems due to the lack of employability of this workforce basis the absence of relevant skills. Skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and social development of any country. For Indian economy to grow, there is an immediate need to curb the large skill gap arising due to migration from agriculture to secondary and tertiary sector without acquiring adequate skill education. ABF plans to bridge this gap through its Vocational Training Projects, where the focus is on creating employment opportunities by providing vocational skills training to school dropouts, unemployed youth of rural India, tribal communities and women with the objective of providing them with a chance to lead self-sustained and economically independent lives.

The disabled population in India is often disregarded in terms of special skill-based trainings and employment opportunities. There is limited assistance in equipping them to become independent individuals capable of being productive and self-reliant. While there has been some level of awareness creation about uplifting this marginal community in the recent times, there is a lot that still needs to be done. ABF supports PwDs by creating opportunities through market linked trainings, supporting with employability trainings placements to enables them to earn livelihood and make them financially independent.