Our Story
Sarvodaya IRDS is a secular, non-profit society registered under Societies Act. (Registration number – 181/94-95, PAN No. AACAS2879N, FCRA No. 094680005) on 29-11-1994. It is currently operating from Koppal as its administrative office and has branch offices Yadgir and Bangalore.
The jurisdiction of operation of the society has been expanded pan-India, keeping in mind the future of the organization. Originally the organization focused in the northern part of Karnataka (also known as Hyderabad Karnataka). Historically this part of the state was quite neglected.
Mr. Nagaraj Desai after completing his graduation in law at Dharwad, started participating in social movements as an activist. His vision of society with equality, justice and stable living for all, brought him closer to work with the differently able people where he further strengthened his desire to achieve his vision. His short stint working with differently able people, garnered him a lot of support of like-minded people.
This led to him co-found the Sarvodaya Integrated Rural Development Society in 1994, with Hagari Bommanahalli in Bellary district as a registered office, where he along with his dedicated team of board and staff worked with specially-able children.
In 2001 the organization decided to move the operations to Koppal district, which was then part of Bellary district. Currently the organization operates from the same office as its administrative office.
Keeping with the co-founder’s vision, the organisation has re-focused its spectrum of activities primarily towards agriculture, skill development, model village program and child rights. The entire northern part of the Karnataka has been reeling under shortage of rainfall resulting in frequent droughts, further resulting in people of the region resorting to mass migration. This has increased the number of children dropping out of school and being married off at an early age. Migrants end up with daily labour jobs in cities, since they don’t have skills to find better paying work.
With its integrated approach, Sarvodaya IRDS is looking to solve the problem holistically, reaching out to farmers through several agricultural programs; women and youth with skill development programs; children through Child rights and protection programs, and other areas with the Model village program.
