rural development

For decades, families in Bengal’s tribal belt drank water laced with iron and arsenic. That changed when Meghdutam Foundation installed an ultrafiltration plant, bringing clean, safe water to over 3,000 villagers and restoring health, dignity, and hope.

Abhay Todkar, a 44-year-old from drought-prone Dahiwadi village defied the odds of living with polio to lead a remarkable water conservation movement. His efforts have brought sustainable change to 64 villages, turning struggles into triumphs through determination and community-driven initiatives.

In Seem village, Uttarakhand, Jaya & Atul Shah turned 17 books into a library of 1,400. Today, it spans 5 villages, inspiring 400+ children with stories and hope.

Roundglass Foundation’s ‘The Billion Tree Project’ has planted over 3 million native trees across Punjab, restoring biodiversity, improving soil and water health, and creating thousands of jobs for women and youth. Learn how this movement is improving lives.

From onions and mushrooms to strawberries and processing units, SumArth’s holistic model transformed farming across 500 villages — turning recurring costs into recurring income.

Meet five extraordinary changemakers transforming Indian agriculture with bold ideas, indigenous wisdom, and innovations that are quietly reshaping the way India farms, eats, and thrives. This September, Optum Presents The Better India Showcase, supported by the M3M Foundation, is honouring their impact.

The Leap 300 model helps families escape extreme poverty in just 300 days through app-based selection, skill training, and business mentoring. With a 91% success rate, it enables participants to build sustainable livelihoods, boost incomes, and break generational poverty cycles.

In Punjab’s Manak Khana, women gained recognition through a powerful nameplate initiative that is changing the way villages see gender roles.

Can conversations save coasts? In Odisha’s villages, Climate Panchayats bring 10,000 villagers and experts together to tackle cyclones, mangrove loss, and fragile livelihoods.

Faced with crop spoilage in his village, 26-year-old Swuyievezo Dzudo used his science background to build a solar dryer that costs Rs 7,000. Now used by over 500 farmers in Nagaland, his invention is saving crops, boosting incomes, and earning national recognition.