Special features of the organization
Vrutti is a livelihoods resource centre. Vrutti engages in inclusive livelihoods promotion by developing effective strategies, processes, models and support systems through participatory action research, management services and sector level initiatives. , , Vrutti works in the sectors of Natural resource (such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, horticulture, livestock, poultry, etc); Trading and vending; Artisanal work (metalware, carpentry, basket weaving, etc); Micro, small and medium enterprise; Employment in or supply to various corporate supply chains and industries. Its approaches to livelihoods promotion include value chain development and livelihoods and social security programmes, cluster development; Regional economic development; Corporate supply chain development; Target focussed livelihood programmes (HIV and LH, Disaster and LH, Child focussed community development, Ultra poor focussed). , , Vrutti s work is through five models. , , 1. It engages directly with communities in the focus states of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. It seeks to develop models for issues and challenges for which solutions are yet to emerge. Some interventions include Micro-enterprises promotion through ongoing NREGA interventions in MP; Micro-enterprises development through support of Panchayats in MP; Livelihoods promotion around cold storage in Bidar district of Karnataka , , 2. Vrutti promotes facilitators for provision of Business Development Services to rural micro-enterprises. These services include capacity building and mentoring of persons engaged in micro-enterprises, facilitating market linkages, etc. Some of these initiatives include Development of village based Business Development Service (BDS) providers in Jajpur district of Orissa; Promoting value chain BDS providers in Angul District of Orissa; Forming and facilitating a BDS networking involving 10 CSOs in Orissa , , 3. Vrutti engages in collaborative action research and joint implementation initiatives with organisations having scale and long-term vision. , It has conducted an action research to understand the Dynamics of the Traditional Milk Market and Identifying Partnerships and Interventions for Improving the Sector for CALPI (Capitalisation of Livestock Program Experiences in India) a project supported by the Swiss Development Corporation. This research won an award in 2008 from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for Excellence in Research. , 4. Vrutti engages strategically with policy makers and large scale operators for specific support to contribute to improving effectiveness of their initiatives. In this area they have undertaken social value assessment studies, value chain studies, supported transformation of NGOs to MfIs, conducted feasibility studies, business planning and capacity building of partners, etc. , 5. Vrutti engages in knowledge management to generate and communicate knowledge from its work and that of partners for replication. In this area it has improved strategies to help Salt pan workers through engagement with policy makers, developed a pool of capacitated community facilitators and is steering India Network of Civil Society and Policy Research Organisations, under the banner of Evidence Based Policy in Development Network (EBPDN)- South Asia , , Through its work Vrutti seeks to network with agencies in development and also facilitate communities to access their entitlements from the government.
