Bapuji Rural Enlightenment And Development Society

BREDS is involved in skill promotion and employability training for youth and school dropouts. In collaboration with Gramtarang Employability Training Services, this project has yielded positive results and is conducted in partnership with the EGMM program of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Previously, BREDS undertook an extensive training and placement program, supported by GTETs, focusing on skill development training for Customer Service Providers, ultimately successfully placing approximately 1200 unemployed women as Business Correspondents for Banks.

BREDS has been actively engaged in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures within its operational areas. The organization is working with 7500 families in the urban areas of Visakhapatnam, including street vendors, domestic workers, and building and construction laborers, with a particular focus on the development of women and children. BREDS recognizes the urgency of addressing climate change and its impacts and is taking concrete steps to mitigate and adapt to this global challenge.

Maathota, a community-based agri-horticulture development program initiated by BREDS in Andhra Pradesh with NABARD's support, aims to alleviate poverty and curb tribal community migration. The program focuses on sustainable resource conservation and management, emphasizing water and soil conservation, organic farming, and community-based asset creation. It bolsters food and nutritional security in tribal areas by increasing food availability and accessibility.
Through Maathota, BREDS has demonstrated a replicable model for horticulture development, expanding its success statewide. The initiative enhances the water-carrying capacity of water bodies, drinking and irrigation wells, while also addressing environmental degradation and the preservation of fragile community resources.
BREDS takes a campaign-oriented approach to sensitize communities and stakeholders about the significance of Green Growth, Green Decent Jobs, and the need to safeguard fragile resources.

Despite achieving national food self-sufficiency and transitioning from food aid dependence to becoming a net food exporter, new challenges have emerged, including slowing agricultural growth, climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. Large areas of farmland have become barren due to imbalanced fertilizer use, particularly an excessive reliance on urea.
BREDS, with over three decades of experience in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, has played a pivotal role in addressing food security challenges. The organization has introduced various community development programs, such as Nutrition and Kitchen Gardens, promoting organic farming and sustainable agricultural practices, adopting drought-resistant farming techniques, and preserving soil and water resources. BREDS is also actively working with urban unorganized sector families, focusing on women and children's development, and aims to contribute to doubling farmers' income by 2022.

Recognizing the central role of women in nurturing the Earth and promoting survival, BREDS has facilitated the formation of women's cooperatives and federations across 34 Gram Panchayats. These initiatives have cultivated strong women leaders with valuable survival skills and management capabilities. The women's federations are dedicated to enhancing food and livelihood security for vulnerable families, particularly focusing on differently-abled individuals, those affected by HIV, and single women-headed households. These federations collaboratively engage with local governance structures to access quality services and advocate for the inclusion of socially and economically disadvantaged communities. They empower communities with awareness and improved skills to develop sustainable solutions, emphasizing food security and inclusive development.