Projects & Programmes
- Unnat Bharat Abhiyan - 2.0
- Tribal Development
- Skill Development
- River Restoration
- PURA
- Life Skill Development
- GV School Development Programme
- Entrepreneurship
- Afforestation
- Awards and Recognition
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan - 2.0
VIT, as a professional higher education institution, contributes directly to the development of the rural sector. We have adopted five villages under UBA to address the huge developmental disconnects between the rural and urban sectors, such as inequity in health, education and basic amenities as well as creating employment opportunities The imperatives of sustainable development demand an eco-friendly de.velopment and the creation of appropriate employment opportunities. The students have learnt the urgent need for technology development for rural areas to address their day to day challenges. The vision is to bring transformational change in rural development processes by leveraging knowledge institutions to help build the architecture of an inclusive India.
Students engaged in Baseline line Survey of Households in adopted villages
Rural Internship for Holistic development of Villages
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 2.0 is inspired by the vision of transformational change in rural development processes by leveraging knowledge institutions to help build the architecture of an Inclusive India. To scale the noble objective, students of VIT- CSRD&RS formed a Group of 40 Rural Volunteers and access the villages via PRA and development activities. The ultimate objective of the programme is to invent or innovative ideas particularly which can be easily scaled up to rural areas. To improve the sanitation condition, improve the hygiene condition, promote entrepreneurship, increases the employment opportunities, women empowerment youth and women.
Empowering Tribal Community
VIT – CSRD&RS established a Village Resource centre (VRC) in 2009 at Jawadhu Hills, Tiruvannamalai Diarist and endorsed to form Women Self Help Group members (SHG) and Joint Liability Group (JLG) and Farmers club in Jawadhu Hills, Tiruvannamalai District consists of 11 Village Panchayats consists of 279 Village Habitations. The prime objective is to empower the tribal community and include them into the inclusive development framework towards nation building process.
In associated with NABARD through financial support, we engage the tribal community via various activities
- Financial literacy and awareness creation on banking
- Capacity building to tribal farmers
- Higher Educational support for tribal students (Scholarship)
- Skill Development for unemployed Youths
- School Infrastructure development for Forest schools and Tribal Welfare Schools.
Under the SHG / JLG / Farmers club formation is to provide access to institutional credit for small, marginal, tenant farmers, and oral leases and share croppers. These informal groups of 4-10 members are engaged in similar economic activities and are willing to jointly undertake to repay the loans taken by them from the Banks on individual basis through group mechanism against mutual guarantee.
Every year the Mega Loan mela will be organized and disbursement of loans to JLGs for livelihood development activities with subsidy like mulch cow, Goat rearing, Azola cultivation, Millets Processing Unit etc.
From the year 2013-14 to 2019-20, CSRD&RS linked 147 JLGs and 19 farmers group for credit linkage for an amount of Rs.5.58 crore with support of NABARD and Indian Bank, Jamunamarathur, Tiruvannamalai District.
Since the inception of VIT–CSRD&RS Village Resource Centre in Jawadhu Hills, Tiruvannamalai District, 5,058 members of the tribal community were benefitted under the various skill development training trades and credit linkage programs through inclusive development initiatives.
Major Economic Development Activities
- Milch cow and sheep rearing
- Honey Processing and value addition
- Millets Processing, Trading and value addition
- Tamarind processing and value addition
- Mushroom Value addition products
- Jack fruit value addition products
- Bamboo Value addition products
- Bee Keeping
- Tailoring Skill Development
- Beautician Skill Development
Skill Development Programme – Govt.Of Tamil Nadu
VIT- Centre for Sustainable Rural Development and Research Studies (CSRD&RS) actively engages in skill development programs aimed at fostering socio-economic empowerment. Leveraging its academic resources and community outreach, it provides a comprehensive platform showcasing various training programs designed to empower individuals and communities through targeted skill enhancement on vocational training, entrepreneurship development, digital literacy, and other relevant skill-building activities.
The centre aims is to bridge the gap between education and employability, fostering sustainable livelihoods and contributing to socio-economic development by leveraging the expertise and resources. So far, 50,316 candidates were trained under skill development training in 25 skill trades for employment and self-employment (entrepreneurship)
An exclusive 25 & 15 days special training also conducted for 434 entrepreneurs under NEEDS scheme. And directly linked to various business platforms. By bridging the skill gap, VIT CSRD&RS contributes to sustainable development and improved quality of life within its operational areas.
Clean River Palar
The River Palar is the prime water source for Vellore City and nearby villages, which covers nearly about 4 km in Vellore corporation limit. The river has been exploited by dumping of solid and liquid wastes and growth of Prosopis Juliflora, a shrub which depletes the water table of river and water bodies.
VIT, initiated the Clean River Palar Project to restore the livelihood of the river, in collaboration with the Civil Society Organizations, Community Based NGOs, Merchant associations and Philanthropists in and around Vellore District.
The project implemented under the guidance of the District Collector and VIT has signed an MOU with the Public Works Department and Water Resource Department to clean and restore the habitat of the River Palar. Nearly around 1,14,00,000, Sq.feet of Prosopis Juliflora shrub has been successfully removed from the riverbed and restored the flow of river Palar.
PURA – PROVISION OF URBAN AMENITIES IN RURAL AREAS
PAVES WAY FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT
PURA is the dream programme initiated by His Excellency “Bharat Ratna” Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, the Former-President of India for Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas. According to him, one of the most important components of national development is PURA. Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas will eliminate the rural-urban divide. This model can be followed by other nations as well.
The Mission of PURA:
The number of PURA units for the whole country is estimated to be 7000. This envisages integrated connectivity for ensuring prosperity in rural India. This includes physical connectivity of village clusters through quality roads and efficient transport, electronic connectivity through telecommunication with high bandwidth fibre optic cables in rural areas and through Internet kiosks, and knowledge connectivity through education, vocational training for farmers, artisans and craftsmen and conduct of entrepreneurship programmes. These three aspects of connectivity will lead to economic connectivity through the establishment of enterprises with the help of banks, micro-credit agencies and marketing of the products. Each PURA cluster will connect about 20-30 villages depending upon the region and population and will cost about Rs.100 crores. This is a viable and sustainable business proposition. Following the initial short-term employment opportunities arising from construction, etc, plans for providing regular employment and self-employment opportunities for about 3000 people or more in nationally competitive small enterprises, in agro-processing, manufacturing and services sectors will be made. If the industrial/business parks are marketed well, they can generate employment opportunities in support and services sector for about 10,000 people or more. This will provide a sustainable economy in the rural sector leading to the removal of the urban-rural divide. It will also help ease out the growing slums in cities by converting rural areas into attractive habitats.
Life Skill Development for Government School Students
Life Skill Development is implemented through GV School Development initiatives by the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development and Research Studies (CSRD & RS). We have reached 302students in 6 Schools. From VIT – CSRD & RS team, with support of Vellore School Education Department support in implementing this esteemed programme.
The training includes and promotion of skills and attitudes such as self-awareness, empathy, communication, interpersonal skills, decision-making, problem-solving, creative thinking, critical thinking, coping with emotions and stress, etiquette, gender sensitization, and others.
The curriculum is taught over 6 years from Grade 6 to Grade 12, with a gradual progression in the complexity of comprehension. Each lesson has five key objectives, which are taught through interactive learning by way of a game, song, activity, role play, case study, or discussion. Each video lasts 30 minutes, with on average 15 pauses built-in where in-class teachers can stop the video and facilitate the activities suggested on film. About 120 modules in total have been developed using this technology.
Currently, 55 Student Volunteers were engaged in the process of educating the government School students from 6th STD to 9th STD Students.
GV School Development Programme
The VIT and CSRD&RS jointly organizing Performance award event for all Government schools in Vellore Districts with the School education department of Vellore District. Dr.G.Viswanathan, VIT Chancellor continuously working towards to improve the quality of infrastructure and education in government schools so that more children would be admitted in Government schools across the state and improve the education Quality & performance of Government schools.
Entrepreneurship Development Programme
The CSRD & RS so far organized training in 22 skill trades for employment and self-employment. So far, 2923 youths were trained and exclusive 25 & 15 days special coaching was conducted for 434 entrepreneurs under NEEDS scheme.
Objectives of the Scheme
- To provide entrepreneurship training to transform educated youth to entrepreneurs.
- To assist them in project preparation and in getting financial assistance with 25% subsidy and 3% interest subvention.
- To provide them with a reservation of 25% in allotment of plots/sheds in SIDCO estates subject to availability.
- CSRD & RS, in collaboration with EDI (Entrepreneurship Development Institute) and District Industries Centre, train the candidates in various skills to groom them as successful entrepreneurs.
Afforestation – Green Vellore
VIT has embarked upon the task of making Vellore greener and reducing the impact of climate change by planting tree saplings under its “Green Vellore” project. The conversion of the legal status of some land into tree cover land, an exclusive Afforestation Project.
Comprehensively around 15,000 saplings were planted since the inception of the project which was launched in August 2008 by the eminent scientist Dr.M.S. Swaminathan. The first phase of the project is about 6.8 km from Virudhampet Village to Brahmapuram Village. The project will be continuing process until Vellore City turns green. The objective of the project is to reduce the carbon emission and greenhouse gases and to bring a balance in climate change.
Awards and Recognition
| S.N | AWARD / ACHIEVEMENT | YEAR | CATEGORY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AY: 2021-22: | ||||
| 1 | METICULOUS WORK BY, VIT- CSRD&RS VRC IN JAWADHU HILLS, TIRUVANNAMALAI DISTRICT |  |
2021 | DISTRICT LEVEL |
| 2 | COVID SUPPORT AND SOCIETAL CONNECTIVITY AWARD IN VELLORE DISTRICT |  |
2022 | DISTRICT LEVEL |
| 3 | MOU WITH STATE INSTITUTE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYAT RAJ DEPARTMENT |  |
2022 | STATE LEVEL |
| AY : 2022-23: | ||||
| 1 | ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING SUPPORT |  |
2022 | DISTRICT LEVEL |
| 2 | FICCI-EXCELLENCE IN INSTITUTIONAL SOCAL RESPONSIBILITY- NEW DELHI |  |
2023 | NATIONAL LEVEL |
| AY : 2023-24: | ||||
| 1 | SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD FOR SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY IN JAWADHUHILLS, TIRUVANNAMALAI DISTRICT |  |
2023 | DISTRICT LEVEL |
| 2 | OUTSTANDING SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES IN RANIPET DISTRICT |  |
2024 | DISTRICT LEVEL |
| AY :2024-25 : | ||||
| 1 | DOING GOOD THROUGH GYAN FOR PLANET UNDER DOING GOOD BHARAT AWARDS – CSR BOX -2024, NEW DELHI |  |
2024 | NATIONAL LEVEL |
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan - 2.0
VIT, as a professional higher education institution, contributes directly to the development of the rural sector. We have adopted five villages under UBA to address the huge developmental disconnects between the rural and urban sectors, such as inequity in health, education and basic amenities as well as creating employment opportunities The imperatives of sustainable development demand an eco-friendly de.velopment and the creation of appropriate employment opportunities. The students have learnt the urgent need for technology development for rural areas to address their day to day challenges. The vision is to bring transformational change in rural development processes by leveraging knowledge institutions to help build the architecture of an inclusive India.
Students engaged in Baseline line Survey of Households in adopted villages
Rural Internship for Holistic development of Villages
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 2.0 is inspired by the vision of transformational change in rural development processes by leveraging knowledge institutions to help build the architecture of an Inclusive India. To scale the noble objective, students of VIT- CSRD&RS formed a Group of 40 Rural Volunteers and access the villages via PRA and development activities. The ultimate objective of the programme is to invent or innovative ideas particularly which can be easily scaled up to rural areas. To improve the sanitation condition, improve the hygiene condition, promote entrepreneurship, increases the employment opportunities, women empowerment youth and women.
Empowering Tribal Community
VIT – CSRD&RS established a Village Resource centre (VRC) in 2009 at Jawadhu Hills, Tiruvannamalai Diarist and endorsed to form Women Self Help Group members (SHG) and Joint Liability Group (JLG) and Farmers club in Jawadhu Hills, Tiruvannamalai District consists of 11 Village Panchayats consists of 279 Village Habitations. The prime objective is to empower the tribal community and include them into the inclusive development framework towards nation building process.
In associated with NABARD through financial support, we engage the tribal community via various activities
- Financial literacy and awareness creation on banking
- Capacity building to tribal farmers
- Higher Educational support for tribal students (Scholarship)
- Skill Development for unemployed Youths
- School Infrastructure development for Forest schools and Tribal Welfare Schools.
Under the SHG / JLG / Farmers club formation is to provide access to institutional credit for small, marginal, tenant farmers, and oral leases and share croppers. These informal groups of 4-10 members are engaged in similar economic activities and are willing to jointly undertake to repay the loans taken by them from the Banks on individual basis through group mechanism against mutual guarantee.
Every year the Mega Loan mela will be organized and disbursement of loans to JLGs for livelihood development activities with subsidy like mulch cow, Goat rearing, Azola cultivation, Millets Processing Unit etc.
From the year 2013-14 to 2019-20, CSRD&RS linked 147 JLGs and 19 farmers group for credit linkage for an amount of Rs.5.58 crore with support of NABARD and Indian Bank, Jamunamarathur, Tiruvannamalai District.
Since the inception of VIT–CSRD&RS Village Resource Centre in Jawadhu Hills, Tiruvannamalai District, 5,058 members of the tribal community were benefitted under the various skill development training trades and credit linkage programs through inclusive development initiatives.
Major Economic Development Activities
- Milch cow and sheep rearing
- Honey Processing and value addition
- Millets Processing, Trading and value addition
- Tamarind processing and value addition
- Mushroom Value addition products
- Jack fruit value addition products
- Bamboo Value addition products
- Bee Keeping
- Tailoring Skill Development
- Beautician Skill Development
Entrepreneurship Development Programme
The CSRD & RS so far organized training in 22 skill trades for employment and self-employment. So far, 2923 youths were trained and exclusive 25 & 15 days special coaching was conducted for 434 entrepreneurs under NEEDS scheme.
Objectives of the Scheme
- To provide entrepreneurship training to transform educated youth to entrepreneurs.
- To assist them in project preparation and in getting financial assistance with 25% subsidy and 3% interest subvention.
- To provide them with a reservation of 25% in allotment of plots/sheds in SIDCO estates subject to availability.
- CSRD & RS, in collaboration with EDI (Entrepreneurship Development Institute) and District Industries Centre, train the candidates in various skills to groom them as successful entrepreneurs.
Clean River Palar
The River Palar is the prime water source for Vellore City and nearby villages, which covers nearly about 4 km in Vellore corporation limit. The river has been exploited by dumping of solid and liquid wastes and growth of Prosopis Juliflora, a shrub which depletes the water table of river and water bodies.
VIT, initiated the Clean River Palar Project to restore the livelihood of the river, in collaboration with the Civil Society Organizations, Community Based NGOs, Merchant associations and Philanthropists in and around Vellore District.
The project implemented under the guidance of the District Collector and VIT has signed an MOU with the Public Works Department and Water Resource Department to clean and restore the habitat of the River Palar. Nearly around 1,14,00,000, Sq.feet of Prosopis Juliflora shrub has been successfully removed from the riverbed and restored the flow of river Palar.
PURA – PROVISION OF URBAN AMENITIES IN RURAL AREAS
PAVES WAY FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT
PURA is the dream programme initiated by His Excellency “Bharat Ratna” Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, the Former-President of India for Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas. According to him, one of the most important components of national development is PURA. Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas will eliminate the rural-urban divide. This model can be followed by other nations as well.
The Mission of PURA:
The number of PURA units for the whole country is estimated to be 7000. This envisages integrated connectivity for ensuring prosperity in rural India. This includes physical connectivity of village clusters through quality roads and efficient transport, electronic connectivity through telecommunication with high bandwidth fibre optic cables in rural areas and through Internet kiosks, and knowledge connectivity through education, vocational training for farmers, artisans and craftsmen and conduct of entrepreneurship programmes. These three aspects of connectivity will lead to economic connectivity through the establishment of enterprises with the help of banks, micro-credit agencies and marketing of the products. Each PURA cluster will connect about 20-30 villages depending upon the region and population and will cost about Rs.100 crores. This is a viable and sustainable business proposition. Following the initial short-term employment opportunities arising from construction, etc, plans for providing regular employment and self-employment opportunities for about 3000 people or more in nationally competitive small enterprises, in agro-processing, manufacturing and services sectors will be made. If the industrial/business parks are marketed well, they can generate employment opportunities in support and services sector for about 10,000 people or more. This will provide a sustainable economy in the rural sector leading to the removal of the urban-rural divide. It will also help ease out the growing slums in cities by converting rural areas into attractive habitats.
Life Skill Development for Government School Students
Life Skill Development is implemented through GV School Development initiatives by the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development and Research Studies (CSRD & RS). We have reached 302students in 6 Schools. From VIT – CSRD & RS team, with support of Vellore School Education Department support in implementing this esteemed programme.
The training includes and promotion of skills and attitudes such as self-awareness, empathy, communication, interpersonal skills, decision-making, problem-solving, creative thinking, critical thinking, coping with emotions and stress, etiquette, gender sensitization, and others.
The curriculum is taught over 6 years from Grade 6 to Grade 12, with a gradual progression in the complexity of comprehension. Each lesson has five key objectives, which are taught through interactive learning by way of a game, song, activity, role play, case study, or discussion. Each video lasts 30 minutes, with on average 15 pauses built-in where in-class teachers can stop the video and facilitate the activities suggested on film. About 120 modules in total have been developed using this technology.
Currently, 55 Student Volunteers were engaged in the process of educating the government School students from 6th STD to 9th STD Students.
GV School Development Programme
The VIT and CSRD&RS jointly organizing Performance award event for all Government schools in Vellore Districts with the School education department of Vellore District. Dr.G.Viswanathan, VIT Chancellor continuously working towards to improve the quality of infrastructure and education in government schools so that more children would be admitted in Government schools across the state and improve the education Quality & performance of Government schools.
Skill Development Programme – Govt.Of Tamil Nadu
VIT- Centre for Sustainable Rural Development and Research Studies (CSRD&RS) actively engages in skill development programs aimed at fostering socio-economic empowerment. Leveraging its academic resources and community outreach, it provides a comprehensive platform showcasing various training programs designed to empower individuals and communities through targeted skill enhancement on vocational training, entrepreneurship development, digital literacy, and other relevant skill-building activities.
The centre aims is to bridge the gap between education and employability, fostering sustainable livelihoods and contributing to socio-economic development by leveraging the expertise and resources. So far, 50,316 candidates were trained under skill development training in 25 skill trades for employment and self-employment (entrepreneurship)
An exclusive 25 & 15 days special training also conducted for 434 entrepreneurs under NEEDS scheme. And directly linked to various business platforms. By bridging the skill gap, VIT CSRD&RS contributes to sustainable development and improved quality of life within its operational areas.
Afforestation – Green Vellore
VIT has embarked upon the task of making Vellore greener and reducing the impact of climate change by planting tree saplings under its “Green Vellore” project. The conversion of the legal status of some land into tree cover land, an exclusive Afforestation Project.
Comprehensively around 15,000 saplings were planted since the inception of the project which was launched in August 2008 by the eminent scientist Dr.M.S. Swaminathan. The first phase of the project is about 6.8 km from Virudhampet Village to Brahmapuram Village. The project will be continuing process until Vellore City turns green. The objective of the project is to reduce the carbon emission and greenhouse gases and to bring a balance in climate change.
Centre for Sustainable Rural Development and Research Studies (CSRD & RS)
-
Dr. C R Sundara Rajan
Deputy Director - CSRD & RS - Office : ALM Block - 203, 2nd Floor
- 0416 - 220 2299/2156
- projectofficer@vit.ac.in
