About Us

Welcome to AVARD

‘Quest for Swaraj (Self-rule)‘ aptly reflects AVARD’s pursuit of ‘ Voluntary Action‘ and ‘ Gram Swaraj’ since ‘Voluntary Action’ is the manifestation of human quest for ‘Swaraj’ just as’Gram Swaraj‘ implies village community’s quest for Swaraj (Self-rule).

AVARD is a well known open, secular, non-political, non-profit national association (network) of 328 autonomous voluntary agencies (NGOs) engaged in rural development throughout India.

It was Promoted in 1958 by a group of freedom fighters and eminent national leaders who had renounced power/electoral politics and stayed put in people’s action to rebuild India during the post-independence period. They include Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay , Shri Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), Shri Annasaheb Sahasrbudhe, Shri Dharampal and Shri L.C. Jain. Three of them, JP, Kamaladevi and Jain have received Magsaysay Award as well as the highest civilian awards of Government of India – Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibushan and Padma Vibhushan respectively. AVARD was privileged to have JP as its President for about two decades; his inspiring leadership proved a pillar of strength and gave tremendous fillip to voluntary action throughout the country.

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Why Choose Us

Together we can make a difference

Genesis

Pursuant to the recommendation of a seminar on ‘the Role of Voluntary Agencies in Rural Development’ held in New Delhi on 20-22 April 1956, AVARD came into existence in 1958 to provide a national level common platform of voluntary agencies spread across the country.

Promoters

Promoted in 1958 by a group of freedom fighters and eminent national leaders who had renounced power/electoral politics and stayed put in people’s action to rebuild India during the post-Independence period. They include Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Shri Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), Shri Annasaheb Sahasrabudhe, Shri Dharampal and Shri L.C. Jain. Three of them, JP, Kamaladevi and Jain have received Magsaysay Award as well as the highest civilian awards of the Government of India – Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Vibhushan respectively, besides Padma Bhushan to Annasaheb. AVARD was privileged to have JP as its President for about two decades (1960-79); his inspiring leadership proved a pillar of strength and gave tremendous fillip to voluntary action throughout the country.

Registration Details

AVARD is registered in Delhi under the Societies Registration Act 1860 (Act No. 21 of 1860) vide No. S-1357 dated 16 December 1958. It is also registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act FCRA 1976 vide No.231650021. Besides, it is exempted u/s 12A and 80G of Income Tax Act.

Objectives

  • To promote cooperation and understanding among voluntary agencies working for the rural communities in India;
  • to strengthen existing agencies and foster new ones;
  • to act as a clearing house of information and knowledge on voluntary action and rural development;
  • to facilitate interchange of ideas and experiences;
  • to provide training and research support; and
  • to serve as a link with like-minded national and international organizations.

Our Team

Our Vision

Deeply influenced by its genesis and promoters, AVARD’s vision of the future is that of a free, autonomous, self-reliant, non-exploitative, egalitarian Indian society, with minimal dependence on the State. Such a society would organically shape itself and act according to the concept of ‘Gram Swaraj’ (village self-rule), in which local autonomy, initiative, wisdom, endeavour and resources would play the key role.

Our Mission

To network and strengthen voluntary agencies and synergise voluntary action to endeavour to facilitate society’s continuing resolve and quest for ‘Gram Swaraj’ (village self-rule), self-reliance and happiness along with fulfilment of the basic needs – food, clothing, shelter, education and health care, of all with dignity.

Our Core Strengths

  • Long standing, glorious legacy, rich experience and rare expertise;
  • Value-based voluntary action and functioning, good image, secular Gandhian persuasion, transformative approach and well set focus on disadvantaged sections;
  • Wide-ranging live contacts from grassroot to global level;
  • Unique meaningful conceptual framework of voluntary action and networking;
  • Sustained dynamism through policy and practice of change with continuity; and
  • Not least, its extremely vital role in the current critical context.

Hence, AVARD merits generous support for project partnership, corpus and institutional strengthening, grants, contributions, and donations from donors, governmental or non-governmental, national or international, as well as under CSR