About

BRLF

Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF) was set up by the Government of India as an independent society under the Ministry of Rural Development, to scale up civil society action in partnership with the central and state governments. The Union Cabinet decided to form Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF) through its decision on 3rd September 2013 to ensure better implementation and outreach of the government schemes and programmes in partnership with civil society organizations. It came into existence as an independent society on 10th December 2013 with an initial amount of INR 500 crore to be allocated in two instalments to create the corpus of this new society.

The principal objective of BRLF is to empower rural India, ameliorating the lives of its impoverished populace, especially the indigeous tribes and strengthening their confidence in the government and Indian democracy, in coordination with CSOs, Government of India and governments of various states. BRLF aims to better channelize funds allocated by governments, banks, corporates and other philanthropic foundations for various public programmes, and ensure their proper implementation at the grassroots to generate best results.

Working in tandem with civil society organisations that have a local presence, BRLF ensures that the desired results are produced through right strategies as well as efforts. BRLF supports a variety of projects across the breadth of the country, particularly in the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telegana and Gujarat that form Central India.

“It is proposed to establish a Bharat Livelihoods Foundation of India through Ajeevika. The foundation would support and scale up civil society initiatives and interventions, particularly in the tribal regions covering around 170 districts. Private trusts and philanthropic organisations would be encouraged to partner with the autonomous body that will be managed professionally.” – Former Union Finance Minister in the Budget Session of the Parliament in 2012

Objectives
  • To facilitate close coordination between the civil society organizations and the government for the development of rural households, with an emphasis on women, particularly in the Central Indian Tribal Region.
  • To provide financial and technical support to civil society organizations to ensure quality implementation of various flagship programmes and schemes of the government for enhanced livelihood opportunities of the communities in the Central Indian Tribal Region.
  • To address the capacity building challenge for existing and aspiring rural professionals who serve the rural communities through various government departments, PRIs, NGOs, and CBOs.
  • To join hands with private trusts and philanthropic organisations and encourage them for continuous and constructive support.
  • To support innovative programmes, technology, and approaches which would help to improve the lives of the community living in Central India.