Centre For Advanced Research And Development

CARD focuses on various skill development, entrepreneurship, and livelihood enhancement programs aimed at empowering individuals and promoting economic growth. Through the PMKK initiative, in collaboration with NSDC and state agencies, CARD operates five skill development centres in Chhindwara, Balaghat, Dindori, Mandla, and Ujjain, offering courses in agriculture, apparel, IT, construction, healthcare, and security. As an NTI under ACABC, CARD conducts residential training courses, Through the EST&P project, CARD runs NULM centres in Dindori and Chhindwara, providing skill training and upgrading existing skills. Lastly, CARD is actively involved in the DDU-GKY program, training rural youth in data entry, duty assistance, and nursing in Mandla and Karnal.

CARD focuses on agricultural growth and natural resource management through various projects. It promotes Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to pool resources and access economies of scale. Collaborating with SFAC, NABARD, and BIRD, CARD provides agricultural supplies, technical support, and training. In the Bundelkhand region, the BIWAL initiative promotes natural farming and revitalizes water sources through integrated land and water management. Through the WADI-Orchards Initiative, CARD supports tribal communities with livelihood protection, education, and more. The Farmer Support Programme in Responsible Soya forms farmers' interest groups and provides training. CARD also implements watershed development projects in collaboration with Government organisations and agencies, covering large areas and multiple settlements.

To promote sustainable development and empower rural communities, CARD works with business and Governmental partners. It empowers communities and promotes attitudinal change as an addition to the mainstream strategy. 18,000 households are benefited from projects like Parivartan with HDFC Bank, and 15,000 women are affected by its initiative with E&Y, which develops women's self-help organisations. Through its partnership with the HSBC Swades Foundation, it trains and places individuals in jobs. Through these collaborations, CARD improves people's lives while fostering empowerment and sustainable progress.

Through the Women + Water Alliance, CARD partners with WaterAid India to ensure water security and safety, benefiting rural communities in Madhya Pradesh. It raises awareness about water quality, trains volunteers in testing and control, and collaborates with government initiatives like Jal Jeevan Mission. In the Ghughri area, it promotes sustainable harvesting of non-forest timber products. CARD’s efforts include training, establishing self-help groups, and sharing technology for vinegar production. It also partners with Madhya Pradesh Mahila Vitta Evam Vikas Nigam to strengthen women through self-help groups and provide training in various fields. The Tribal Woman Agricultural Transformation project empowers 4,500 woman farmers by building their capacities through the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojna.

CARD actively promotes health, nutrition, and sanitation through various initiatives. In Mandla district, it trains and activates peer educators called "Saathiyaas" to provide holistic guidance and counselling to adolescents. In Ujjain, its efforts focus on raising awareness and utilization of HIV-related programs, benefiting migrant workers, truckers, and women. CARD also supports the Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya Mission, improving WASH facilities in schools. Its targeted interventions for high-risk groups, such as female sex workers in Bhopal, work to increase testing rates for HIV and syphilis.