About / Who We Are
Established in 2019, SARD is a registered non-profit organisation committed to advancing environmental sustainability, strengthening rural livelihoods, and empowering communities across rural India.
Who we are
SARD — the Society for Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development — is a registered non-profit organisation working with rural communities to restore ecosystems, improve water security, strengthen livelihoods, and build local capacity.
Our work is organised into four programme brackets: Afforestation, Water Conservation, Community Development, and Model Villages. The model village bracket grows from practical field interventions already undertaken separately, then brings them together through community participation and local handover.
Each project SARD executes is scoped, costed, and reported on individually. A project is handed over to the community with a completion report — photographs, specifications, and a maintenance protocol — once the work is done.
To promote sustainable agricultural practices, restore ecological balance through afforestation and water conservation, ensure access to safe drinking water, and empower rural communities with the knowledge, skills, and infrastructure they need to build self-reliant and environmentally responsible futures.
A resilient rural India where thriving ecosystems, equitable access to natural resources, and empowered communities create the foundation for lasting prosperity and environmental harmony.
Supported by ITA
SARD's current programme is supported by ITA. The partnership covers field project planning, execution, and handover across SARD's active rural development work.
SARD welcomes additional partnerships for specific programme areas. Each supported intervention in afforestation, water conservation, community development, or model village work can be funded as a discrete, phased unit by a CSR partner or individual donor. Current work is grounded in practical field delivery and modest, responsibly managed project budgets.
SARD is registered under Section 12A and 80G of the Income Tax Act. CSR contributions under the Companies Act 2013 are applicable to SARD's programme activities.
How the work is done
Field execution, community handover
SARD's projects follow a consistent cycle from site identification to community handover.
SARD's field team identifies project sites through community consultation and technical survey — assessing local water, environment, livelihood, infrastructure, WASH, and community development needs before selecting the right intervention.
Each project is scoped and costed before execution begins. The scope sets the deliverables; the cost is agreed with the funding partner before work starts. There are no open-ended commitments, and larger rehabilitation work is sequenced in manageable phases.
SARD manages implementation through local contractors, field supervisors, community groups, and technical partners as needed. Progress is documented with photographs at key stages.
On completion, SARD produces a project completion report — photographs, specifications, measurements, and a maintenance protocol — and hands the asset over to the community or local body responsible for its operation.
Team and structure
SARD operates with a small field-oriented team in Andhra Pradesh. Field staff are deployed at active project sites and are responsible for on-site supervision, community coordination, and documentation throughout the project cycle.