Development Alternatives

Society for Development Alternatives, New Delhi receives

Scientific & Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) certification from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).

Towards Resilient Futures

Our Check Dams Help Create Water Positive Villages

Towards Resilient Futures

We Innovate, Incubate Green Technology Solutions

Towards Resilient Futures

Our Innovations Help Farmers Improve Their Incomes and Lifestyle

Towards Resilient Futures

We Restore Lost Natural Spaces so Communities Can Live With Nature

Towards Resilient Futures

We Create Livelihoods That Help Rural and Peri-Urban Economies Thrive

Our Impact (2023-2024)

Empowered Communities

2.5  lakh

people made aware on health, nutrition, WASH, agriculture and other practices through Radio Bundelkhand

77,600

livelihoods secured

Clean and Green Environment

20,202

million tonnes (LC3, brick kiln, fly ash) CO2 mitigated

630

million litres of water potential enhanced

Income Generation Opportunities

11,700

job opportunities created

5,030

enterprises established

INR 40 cr+

raised in 2023-24 competitive advantage of systemic prototypes

What's New

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Episode 8 | Development Alternatives Journey : Solo or Collaborative?

Perspectives
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Making the Village Work: Integrated Development in Practice

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Events and Announcements
Publications
Newsletters

Stories of Change

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Bitra Saideswara Rao: Shaping stability through skilled craftsmanship

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Revitalizing Mangalagiri’s Gold Jewellery Cluster through Collective Livelihoods

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Turning Banana Fibre into a Future: Papiya Ghosh’s Story of Change

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अनिता: विनम्रता और दृढ़ता की एक आवाज़

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The Light They Carry: Banki's Women and their Solar-Powered Future

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Lemongrass and All Things Essential: The Story of the Churachandpur Aromatic Cluster

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Cash Crop Cultivation: Papu Devi’s Tryst with Mushrooms

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From Stigma to Strength: How Neelam Built an Enterprise on Menstrual Health

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Jitendra Kumar: From Local Services to Empowering Through Technology

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Chandraprakash’s Journey: Rebuilding a Sawmill, Restoring a Dream

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Empowering Rural Dreams: Archana's Milk Collection Center Success

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Lighting Up Lives: Rani Sharma’s Journey from a Small Grocery Store to a Bigger Leap!

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From Sakhi To Entrepreneur: Anita, an entrepreneur from Adhwar village

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From Small Beginnings to Big Aspirations: The Journey of Rajkumar Kailash Vishwakarma

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Prabha Rajput: Striving towards self-reliance and self-sufficiency

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From Vision to Reality: The Success Story of Archana’s Milk Collection Center

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From Struggles to Stitching Her Fate: Gayatri’s Journey of Resilience

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Fulmani Barman Mandal: From a Life of Boundaries to Empowerment

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From Fields to Fortune: Chawngneilien Infimate's Inspiring Journey

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Fostering Success for Women Entrepreneurs: Story of Nilamani Topno

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Baking Success: The Inspiring Story of Vikas Kumar

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From Threads to Triumph: Anita Maurya’s Entrepreneurial Saga!

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Ramrati Kushwaha: From Local Talent to Celebrated Bundeli Singer

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Sangita Devi's Rise as a Rural Entrepreneur

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Behind the Wheel of Resilience: Yasmeen's Story of Overcoming Adversity

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Miss Susama Bhuyan: A Successful Maize Farmer

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Empowering Tradition: The Triumph of Dhouramuda's Bamboo Artisans

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Overcoming Challenges, Nitesh Builds a Brighter Future with Skills Training

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From Dreams to Reality: Priyanka's Journey of Empowerment Through Skill Development

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Transforming Roads: The Journey of Md. Kasim and the Suhana Safar Program

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From Miles to Smiles: A Truck Driver's Journey to Financial Mastery and Family Security

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Empowering Rural Women: A Tale of Transformation in Rural Industrial Park, Ganiyari

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The Journey of Monvir Singh

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The spark of an All-in-One Shop: Sudhir Kushwaha

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Stitching courage in the tapestry of life: Brijesh Raja Chauhan

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Munni Devi’s Story: From Under the Veil to Behind the Wheel

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Finding Hope at the Prabhat Centre: Tannu's Story of Empowerment

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A Story of Resilience

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Lakshmi, The Smartphone Didi

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Empowering Dreams: Ravi's Inspiring Journey from Struggle to Success

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A tale of Profitable Sustainable Enterprise

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Fields of Possibility: Kabita’s Lemongrass Odyssey

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Gig Economy Giving Women Wings

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Unlocking Potential: Empowering Women Through Digital Literacy

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WADI Model Transforming Rural Lives

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Shattering Gender Barriers, Pramila is Now the Primary Breadwinner of the House

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Nurturing Financial Futures: A Mother’s Testimony

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A Journey of Triumph: Pooja's Transformation to Financial Empowerment

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Entrepreneurial Triumph: Neha Gulia's Journey to Success

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Entrepreneurial Journey of Kali Devi Self-Help Group

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Pioneering Progress: Hemang Tiwari's Journey to Becoming a Digital Entrepreneur

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Stitching Success: Narendra Kushwaha's Journey from Tailoring to Entrepreneurship

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Balkishan’s Common Service Centre: Beacon of Hope in Envisioning Rural Enterprise Development

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Inspiring through her Art: Meenakshi’s Journey to Self-Sufficiency

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Manisha’s Path to Financial Independence

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Empowering Women, Empowering Communities

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Break the Barriers: How Chanchal’s Fight for Financial Independence Liberated Her

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Fighting Against the Odds: Usha’s Journey from a P.E. Teacher to a Handicrafts Entrepreneur

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Digital Service Provider and a Seamstress: Aarti, a Multitasking Legend

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Perseverance Pays Off: Anju’s Growth as a Proud Dairy Entrepreneur

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Mainstreaming Resilient Futures Together: Sunita’s inspiring journey to her jute bag business

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Driving Change: Rani's Journey to Empowerment through E-Rickshaws

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Wadi Farming: Transforming the Lives of Marginalised Farmers

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Ms Suchim: A Small-Scale Farmer Turned Entrepreneur from Nagaland

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Empowering Rural Entrepreneurship through udyaME Kiosk

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Waste To Wealth: Women-led rope weaving cluster generating 300+ Green Jobs

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Usha Devi's Inspiring Path to Entrepreneurship and Women's Empowerment

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A Sunny Solution: An Entrepreneur's Leap to Solar Power

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Driving the change in her community - Resilient Chanda Shukla

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Bringing Digital Access Closer to All

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Spinning A Yarn of Dreams

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The Common Facility Center Creating Livelihoods

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The Master Trainer in Silk Yarn Manufacturing

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Sanatan Maity: A supporter of the Laban Satyagraha Movement

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Is Your Coffee from Chintapalle?

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Testimonials

“The world is going through a polycrisis. We really need effective solutions to mitigate the problem of climate change. There is much coming out of India right now that gives us hope in the fight against climate change. DA has been very much in this fight.”

Mr Shombi Sharp
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in India

"Following the green agenda, on which we have had very fruitful discussions at the trialogue2047, will prove to be immensely beneficial for every one of us, from governments and corporate organisations to civil society and individuals. There are many positives that we can take away from the conference."

Dr. Ashok Kumar Ghosh
Chairman, Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB)

Awards & Recognitions

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2024

Special Recognition Award by HUL Prabhat : Drinking Water in Nalagarh

2024

Sohrab Pirojsha Godrej Environment Award

2024

Sustainable Environment Award at the Social Impact Conference & Awards (SICA)

2023

Great Himalayan Star Award, Balipara Foundation

2022

We the Change Now, UN

2022

Access Livelihoods Sitaram Rao Case Study Competition

2022

Rethinking Education for Sustainability, Commonwealth Education Award

2022

Dr. Ashok Khosla gets Lifetime Achievement Award, MSMEs

2021

IMEDF - Second runner up for case study in The Sitaram Rao Livelihoods India Case Study Competition

2020

Bridge 2 Livelihood programme, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL)

2014

Zayed International Prize for the Environment, Prime Minister of UAE

2013

The 6th Narain Dutt Award for the Conservation of Nature, Narain Dharmarth Aushdhalaya Trust

2011

Asia Award, Commonwealth Educational Media Centre

2011

Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal, WWF

2002

UNEP Sasakawa Environment Prize, Nippon Foundation