Myrada Mysore Resettlement And Development Agency

Addresses the inadequate public healthcare services in rural areas, where the poor often rely on expensive private services, leading to increased poverty. Early interventions focused on health camps and improving drinking water and sanitation facilities, recognizing their impact on health indicators. MYRADA collaborates with local institutions to manage these resources effectively. In the past decade, it has played a significant role in HIV/AIDS prevention, employing a community-based approach and supporting groups affected by the disease. Current interventions aim to enhance primary healthcare quality and accessibility, ensure food and nutrition security, and prevent diseases.

Livelihoods are central to MYRADA's work, spanning various domains. It focuses on securing livelihoods, starting from the Tibetan resettlement period. Activities directly enhance livelihoods, while interventions in natural resources, agriculture, livestock, vocational education, and skills training indirectly contribute to community well-being. Initially, MYRADA participated in the government's Integrated Rural Development Programme, ensuring benefits reached the poor. It provided grants, extension services, and collaborated with banks to facilitate loans. Working with Self Help Groups (SAGs) revealed the need for diverse income sources and tailored financial transactions. Today, MYRADA implements livelihood programmes, supporting agriculture, animal rearing, productivity enhancement, and providing loans through SAGs. Its expertise spans over four decades, focusing on agricultural productivity and livestock improvement.

This programme aims to create independent environments while balancing the relationship between natural resources and people's needs. Its interventions focus on protecting and nurturing resources without compromising livelihoods. Activities include watershed management, nonfarm livelihoods, environmental sanitation, organic farming, and renewable energy. MYRADA's experience in engaging communities and managing natural resources led to the mainstreaming of watershed groups in state policies. It actively promotes people's institutions for resource management, emphasizing small farmers in watersheds. Projects involve soil conservation, agricultural productivity, and land regeneration, ensuring livelihood improvement. Over 608 empowered watershed institutions manage resources independently.

It integrates education and vocational training in all projects, supporting schools and tuition centres, promoting livelihoods through skill development in various fields, and establishing an industrial training centre. With a focus on India's young population and the shift away from agriculture, MYRADA establishes technical schools for dropouts, aligning skills with market demand. It integrates vocational training schemes for rural youth, collaborating with local institutions. Current programmes include entrepreneurship, tailoring, masonry, carpentry, and child sponsorship.

MYRADA focuses on training, capacity building, and networking to enhance its interventions and broadcast successful strategies. Staff training is a key component, including initiatives like the Development Professional Training Programme (DPTP) supported by the Ford Foundation. This programme, with modules led by resource persons from esteemed institutions, aimed to enhance the competency, strategic thinking, and communication skills of mid-senior staff. The case method and field experience were used, advancing effective learning and knowledge sharing. Staff members were also given opportunities to attend training courses at institutes like IRMA and IIRR.