Overview of NIWAD

The National Integrated Welfare and Development Trust (NIWAD) is a non-profit voluntary agency registered under the Indian Trust Act in 2005. The Chief Functionary, a woman with an M.Sc. in Extension Education and an M.Phil. in Sociology, demonstrated her commitment to social change through three years of active involvement in community development services in a village during her research studies. Inspired by these experiences, she dedicated her life to serving marginalized communities. Today, NIWAD is guided by a committed and high-profile Board of Directors.

For the first time, NIWAD has embarked on the preparation of a comprehensive five-year strategic plan. To ensure a participatory approach, a subcommittee was formed to lead specific tasks and planning exercises. With the guidance of the DHWANI Foundation, the organization revisited its mission, vision, and values, examined key milestones, and identified impact gaps among target groups. This process also created space to re-engage stakeholders—including communities, donors, government officials, Board Trustees, and staff—recharging their collective energy and motivating them to envision NIWAD’s future direction for the next five years.

Following the “Visioning Exercise for a 5-Year Strategic Plan” methodology, NIWAD facilitated a highly participatory process where stakeholders actively contributed to shaping the organization’s most desirable future. This inclusive exercise resulted in the development of clear goals, sub-goals, strategies, and major programs to guide NIWAD’s long-term growth.

Guided by this vision, NIWAD has implemented impactful programs in the fields of livelihoods, skill development, and environmental sustainability. Over the years, the organization has reached more than 15,000 small and marginal farmers, tribal communities, unemployed youth, and other vulnerable groups across seven blocks in and around Salem District.

A significant focus of NIWAD’s work is with tribal communities in Salem, who constitute nearly 27% of the population across the five hill ranges of Periyakalrayan, Chinnakalrayan, Pachamalai, Aranoothumalai, and Vellimalai. These communities face serious livelihood challenges, with over 80 families migrating annually from Pachamalai Reserve Forest to Salem town in search of employment. Furthermore, 26% of dairy-dependent families experience loss of regular income due to inadequate agricultural and livelihood technologies.

In response to these challenges, NIWAD implements diverse and integrated programs. Agriculture and Allied Activities include the promotion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), convergence with government departments for natural resource management, and technical support to strengthen agricultural productivity. Environment and Forest Programmes are implemented through initiatives such as the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Greening Project (TBGP), afforestation and eco-development projects, preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), construction of water storage structures, and promotion of social enterprises for forest-dependent families. Farm and Off-Farm Livelihoods are advanced through entrepreneurship programs that encourage transitions from traditional to value-added businesses, such as handloom products, millet-based value chains, dairy and goat rearing, agroforestry, and agricultural retail outlets. These efforts are further reinforced by forward and backward linkages, integration with MSME networks, and access to marketing platforms including TRIFED, e-NAM, ONGC, IndiaMART, local exhibitions, and national-level trade fairs.

The Service such as forming 350 SHG groups to provided micro credit services to empower the women by covering the 4680 families. All the target members have been imparted training on organization, accounts and entrepreneurship. After which the groups started to lend money to the members at a low interest for agricultural and other purposes. The members repay the loan in due - time. The members, who were previously severely affected by money lenders, are now able to get the loan from their own savings at a very low interest and use it for agricultural and other purposes including marriages, medical expenses housing, Farm equipment’s, education etc. NIWAD has facilitated in getting bank loans for various micro enterprises for SHG members to earn their livelihoods. The groups are effectively brought under an insurance scheme exclusively designed for the rural and urban poor.

In addition to 600 joint liability groups formed by covering 6000 and formed 150 farmers interest groups by covering 3000 small and marginal farmers to improve their well-being through innovative farming practices. As result of that the crop production increased and farmers are able to purchase the agricultural input in reasonable rate and sold their products directly to retailers and wholesalers without middle man involvement. Last one-decade origination provided financial assistance to 13680 families in the tune of 21.16 Cr through formal banking services.