Institute of Sustainable Development (ISD)

About us

The Institute of Sustainable Development (ISD) was founded by a group of social scientists and social workers in the year 2005 as a unit of the Karalapakkam Society for Rural and Sustainable Development (KSRSD) in TamilNadu. ISD is a non-profit organization engaged in community empowerment and rural development work in the most disadvantaged districts of India.

Our vision
Think globally and act locally to enable sustainable development to attain a just world
Our approach
• To be a multidisciplinary resource centre to think globally and act locally to enable sustainable development
• To be a learning centre/‘rural lab’ and facilitate an integrated learning in sustainable development with a multidisciplinary approach for aspiring professionals in Social Development/ Engineering/ Water/ Sanitation/Agriculture/ similar field
• To conduct research, document and provide evidence based policy recommendations for development programmes and in the process
• To be a resource centre for farmers and provide know-how and do-how on sustainable and profitable farming
• Mobilise and engage non-student youth for sustainable development through development initiatives
• To empower the women in order to enhance the quality of life, of women as well as that of their families
• To inculcate social and environmental consciousness among children to enable sustainable development

Focus areas:
• Social Development Research
• Training
• Community Participatory Initiatives

Activities:
• Water and Food Security(WaFoS) by empowering farmers and so far nearly 4000 farmer families are part of the programme implemented through Farmers’ Collectives, all functioning independently
• Farmers’ Training cum Resource Centre at Vengal: 4 acres campus with demonstration units of solar powered water pumping system, various micro irrigation models, solar fencing, different models of water harvesting including farm pond, open well, groundwater recharge shaft, and ground water recharge structures, fish farming, natural farming of vegetables, banana, greens, paddy, etc,inputs preparation for natural farmin, fodder varieties and their cultivation, and farm implements to ease farming activities.
• Farmers Resource Team for peer education for the farmers, recognising the local wisdom and traditional practices in farming
• Enabling public (government)-public(community) interaction to better the service provision as well as service delivery in different sectors, prominently in water and food, and education
• Rainwater Harvesting
• Health and Education - Medical Camps: Cancer Screening Camps for Women; Diagnostic camps for children- blood and stool; Dental screening camp for children and adults; Eye screening camp for adult and special cases
• Child Educational Support Programme
• Sustainable Learning Centres and WaSH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Clubs

Dr. Rema Saraswathy is the Member Secretary of the Institute of Sustainable Development (ISD).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.