Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi (RGVN)

RGVN has been introducing the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) to Northeast India as a resource-conserving technology management system. It has reached out to over 10,000 farmers in 26 districts of Assam, covering more than 5000 acres of land. RGVN has received grants from various agencies such as Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), NABARD, NEDFi, Power Grid, and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) to support its promotional efforts. Currently, RGVN is promoting SRI in 12 districts of Assam, benefiting small-scale farmers who own about 1-3 acres of land.

RGVN focuses on skill building across various sectors, categorized into three areas. It conducts capacity-building programmes for grassroots-level institutions like SHGs, NGOs, cooperatives, and farmers' clubs, aiming to enhance their governance, leadership, financial literacy, and other relevant skills. RGVN provides skill upgradation in specific sectors it operates in, with a focus on technological advancements in agriculture and allied fields. It collaborates with skill-building institutions and companies to train individuals in service sectors, such as mobile phone repair, electronics repair, carpentry, and tailoring, as well as soft skills development to improve employability.

The objective is to transform the village into a Model Village through planned interventions. The project, funded as a CSR initiative of IDBI Bank, includes interventions such as the provision of drinking water, sanitation facilities, health camps and kiosks, renovation of school buildings, construction of community hall, setting up of informatics centres, and other infrastructure development.

RGVN is dedicated to institution building, empowering grassroots initiatives and people's collectives through support in need assessment, capacity development, and strategic business planning. It establishes sustainable institutions, like RGVN(NE)MF Ltd. and UMaSS cooperative society, and forms self-help group federations and cooperatives, contributing to women's empowerment and livelihood promotion. Collaborating with HIVOS, RGVN facilitates microfinance organisations and supports livelihood options in sectors such as agriculture, forest products, bell metal work, and dairy farming, implementing institution-building through project committees and collectives.