“We believe rural communities must have the dignity to be heard, the capacity to become self-reliant and the collective strength to shape their own future.”
Secretary, TSRD
India's strength has always grown from its villages. Yet many rural communities continue to face inequalities that restrict access to resources, essential services, opportunities and dignified livelihoods.
Guided by the philosophy of “Antyodaya through Sarvodaya,” Tagore Society for Rural Development was established in 1969 under the leadership of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan and Revolutionary Pannalal Dasgupta. They envisioned villages where people could participate in development, strengthen their capabilities and shape their own future.
DIGNITY
Creating opportunities that respect people’s identity, culture and aspirations.
SELF-RELIANCE
Strengthening local knowledge, skills and resources so communities can shape their future.
COLLECTIVE GROWTH
Encouraging participation, cooperation and shared ownership across communities.
TSRD works towards the holistic development of marginalized rural communities through participatory and community-driven programmes. Our interventions respond to local needs while creating opportunities for sustainable and long-term change.
TSRD’s purpose is guided by the Gandhian philosophy of Sarvodaya and Rabindranath Tagore’s vision of restoring rural life by enabling villages to become self-reliant and self-respecting.
Development becomes meaningful and lasting when communities have the power to lead it.
We envision inclusive and resilient rural communities where people have access to knowledge, opportunities, essential services and productive resources, along with the collective strength to shape their own future with dignity.
Enable rural families and community institutions to identify local priorities, mobilise resources and lead their own development.
Combine local knowledge and cultural heritage with appropriate technology and modern practices to improve livelihoods and protect natural resources.
Involve communities in planning, implementation, monitoring and long-term management of development initiatives.
Build awareness, skills and access to education, healthcare, social entitlements and dignified livelihood opportunities.
Strengthen women’s Self-Help Groups, leadership, economic participation and role in household and community decision-making.
TSRD works to improve the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of poor and marginal rural families. Our objectives include strengthening agriculture and allied livelihoods, developing skills and community institutions, expanding access to education and healthcare, advancing women’s empowerment, conserving natural resources and preparing communities to manage climate and disaster-related risks.
YEARS OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DISTRICTS REACHED
BLOCKS COVERED
VILLAGES REACHED
TSRD's foundation was shaped by leaders who believed that meaningful rural transformation must be built on Sarvodaya, self-reliance, social justice and community participation.
FIRST CHAIRMAN · TSRD · 1969
A renowned freedom fighter, social reformer and socialist leader, Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan was a key figure in the Quit India Movement and the Sarvodaya movement. As the first Chairman of TSRD in 1969, he helped shape the organisation’s vision of empowering marginalized rural communities through self-reliance, participation and sustainable development.
ARCHIVAL · TSRD INSTITUTIONAL
MEMORY
FOUNDER SECRETARY · TSRD
Freedom fighter, social activist and visionary rural development leader Pannalal Dasgupta served as the Founder Secretary of TSRD. He played a pivotal role in building the organisation and establishing its people-centred approach based on the principles of Antodaya and Sarvodaya. His commitment to rural empowerment and social transformation continues to inspire TSRD’s work today.
ARCHIVAL · TSRD INSTITUTIONAL
MEMORY
TSRD follows a participatory and community-centred development methodology. Communities are involved from identifying challenges and planning interventions to implementation, monitoring and long-term management.
Gather ground-level information through community meetings, discussions and local consultations.
Identify problems and opportunities together with communities, experts and stakeholders.
Enable communities to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their lives.
Strengthen community institutions and connect them with relevant resource agencies.
Execute programmes through active participation with technical support from TSRD.
Strengthen knowledge, skills, leadership and institutional capabilities.
Create successful development models that can be replicated across communities.
Build linkages with institutions and government departments to leverage resources.
Use continuous monitoring, evaluation and learning to improve development outcomes.
Across West Bengal and Jharkhand, TSRD's community-centred programmes have generated measurable outcomes in livelihoods, women empowerment, natural resource management, child protection and community resilience.
Women Self-Help Groups Promoted
Building stronger community institutions and expanding opportunities for women’s participation and economic empowerment.
VERIFIED IMPACT
Saplings Planted
Including mangrove plantations in the environmentally sensitive Sundarban region.
VERIFIED IMPACT
Hectares Treated
Wasteland and fallow land treated under the Usharmukti Project through MGNREGA convergence.
VERIFIED IMPACT
Women Farmers
Promoted as Lakhpati Kisan and supported through successful Farmer Producer Companies.
VERIFIED IMPACT
Child Labourers Rescued
Rescued in Dakshin Dinajpur and mainstreamed into formal education and vocational training.
VERIFIED IMPACT
People Supported During Emergencies
Relief and emergency support provided during COVID-19 and natural disasters in the Sundarbans.
VERIFIED IMPACT
1,725 families benefited through watershed development projects supported by NABARD-RIDF in East Singhbhum.
800 ultra-poor families were supported towards sustainable livelihoods, alongside educational support for 247 students.
525 vulnerable children including victims of trafficking, child labour, abuse and child marriage, were rescued and rehabilitated.
TSRD-supported Producer Group was recognised as the Best Producer Group in Jharkhand in 2022, while Gram Panchayats supported through natural resource management initiatives received national recognition.
From small irrigation and Food for Work initiatives to comprehensive rural development programmes, TSRD's journey reflects continuous learning, adaptation and community partnership.
TSRD began its development journey through relief-oriented Food for Work initiatives and rural development interventions. Bolpur became one of the organisation’s earliest project locations.
TSRD expanded into comprehensive rural development programmes focused on livelihoods and community participation. Projects including Simulpur, Rangabelia in the Sundarbans and Tapan became part of the organisation’s growing development footprint.
TSRD expanded its programmes into Jharkhand and Odisha, introducing initiatives in irrigation, sanitation, non-formal education, adult education, plantation and livelihood development. Projects at Patamda and Maheshpur were initiated during this period.
International development partnerships helped TSRD expand programme coverage. Large-scale plantation programmes gained momentum, and the promotion of Women Self-Help Groups became an important part of TSRD’s community development strategy. The organisation ultimately promoted more than 6,000 SHGs across its project units.
TSRD strengthened collaboration with Central and State Government departments and Indian development agencies. A decentralised operational model became one of the organisation’s defining characteristics, enabling project units to respond more effectively to local needs.
Programmes increasingly focused on agriculture and allied value chains, watershed development, entrepreneurship, women farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations and large-scale livelihood development. Initiatives included tomato and poultry value chains, Tasar sericulture, Lakhpati Kisan, watershed development and Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana.
TSRD continues to strengthen community institutions, sustainable livelihoods, natural resource management, child protection, education, environmental action and disaster resilience while expanding its development footprint.
TSRD is governed by a Board of Management, the apex body responsible for the governance and policy direction of the organisation.
The Board comprises experienced social workers and development professionals committed to guiding TSRD towards inclusive and sustainable rural development. The Secretary serves as the Chief Functionary and oversees the organisation's day-to-day affairs and programme direction.
40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Chairman
Experience in Rural Development
21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Secretary / Chief Functionary
Experience in Rural Development
30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Joint Secretary
Experience in Rural Development
25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Treasurer
Experience in Rural Development
A team driven by purpose & impact.
Our values define not only what we seek to achieve, but also how we engage with communities, partners and one another.
We believe in creating opportunities that contribute to a more equitable and self-dependent society.
We place social inclusion, justice and respect for community culture and ethnicity at the centre of our work.
We remain committed to openness, responsibility and truthful engagement with communities and stakeholders.
We build relationships based on mutual confidence and respect between communities and the TSRD team.
We seek to understand the realities and vulnerabilities of communities before designing solutions.
We create spaces for learning, exchanging experiences and recognising the skills, competencies and strengths of people and institutions.
Discover inspiring stories of individuals and communities creating meaningful and lasting change.
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TSRD works across some of the most remote rural communities of West Bengal and Jharkhand, following a decentralised approach that enables programmes to respond to local needs and opportunities.
13
Districts124
Blocks5,878
VillagesDakshin Dinajpur, Paschim Medinipur, Birbhum, Purulia, Alipurduar, Bardhaman, Coochbehar, Howrah, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas.
2
Districts7
Blocks539
VillagesEast Singhbhum and Pakur, including Patamda, Boram, Gurabanda, Ghatshila, Maheshpur, Amrapara and Hiranpur.
TSRD's decentralised operational model actively involves local communities, Gram Panchayats, community institutions and other stakeholders in planning and implementation.
TSRD follows a decentralised and community-centred operating model. Programmes are designed around active participation from local communities, Gram Panchayats, community institutions and relevant stakeholders.
Village-level institutions play an important role in planning, implementation, infrastructure management and monitoring.
TSRD places strong emphasis on awareness generation, capacity building, leadership development and convergence with government departments and resource agencies.
Local communities, Gram Panchayats and community institutions actively participate in identifying needs, priorities and development opportunities.
Village-level institutions are strengthened to support planning, implementation, infrastructure management and community monitoring.
Awareness generation, practical capacity building and leadership development help communities take greater ownership of local development.
TSRD connects communities with government departments, institutions and resource agencies so development can continue beyond individual projects.
By strengthening local institutions and enabling communities to participate in decisions, TSRD works towards development that can continue beyond the duration of individual projects.
Sustainable rural transformation cannot happen in isolation. Over the years, TSRD has collaborated with government departments, development institutions, philanthropic organisations, corporate partners, financial institutions and international agencies to expand the scale and effectiveness of community development programmes.
Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation (BRLF) · Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India · CINI–Tata Trusts · Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives · Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) · NABARD · PRADAN · VB Net Foundation · Child Protection Foundation of India · Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD) · Rotary Club · Coal India · WRIDD–WBADMIP, Government of West Bengal · Agriculture Department, Government of West Bengal · SEEDS India · V-Guard · Banking Institutions · IndusInd Bank Limited
Ford Foundation, USA · Kari Kubel Stiftung (KKS), Germany · NETZ Bangladesh · Felissimo Forest Foundation, Japan · Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) · Sustain Plus through CINI Tata Trusts · International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) · IGSS · IR–UK
TSRD has been recognised for its contribution towards sustainable rural development, community empowerment and social leadership.
Presented by NEEDS Deoghar, Jharkhand
Recognition for community service and impact
Recognition for leadership in social development
Recognition for positive social contribution
These recognitions reflect the collective efforts of communities, field teams, partners and supporters who continue to advance TSRD's mission.
Since 1969, TSRD has worked alongside rural communities to strengthen livelihoods, expand opportunities and create pathways towards inclusive and sustainable development.
We believe lasting change happens when communities, institutions, governments, development organisations and responsible businesses work together.
Join us in building rural communities where people can live with dignity, opportunity and self-reliance.