ASSET India (Adharshila for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation & Welfare)

Adharshila for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation & Welfare (ASSET & W) is a not-for-profit organisation in India that works on women's empowerment and inclusive rural development. Its mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. ASSET & W has a licensing agreement with Heifer International to adopt and implement the Values-Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD) model, and works in line with Heifer's principles. Its approach centres on building financial resilience in rural communities through livestock, farming and household nutrition interventions. It also aims to help communities build strong social capital and works in partnership with like-minded organisations on sustainable livelihoods and community resilience.

Major Areas of Work

• Rural livelihoods: Livestock-based and farm-based income activities that help rural households move out of poverty and vulnerability.

• Women's empowerment: Building women's income, skills and leadership roles within their communities, including as trainers and community resource persons.

• Food and nutrition security: Household-level food production through kitchen gardens and backyard poultry to reduce hunger.

• Sustainable agriculture: Integrated farming systems and natural farming practices that protect soil and the environment.

• Community institutions: Strengthening social capital so communities can sustain their own development.

Major Initiatives and Programmes

• Values-Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD): Heifer International's community development model, which ASSET & W implements under a licensing agreement.

• Livestock Based Sustainable Livelihood projects: Projects that use livestock rearing as a route to steady household income for rural families.

• JOHAR Project, Jharkhand: A livelihoods project in Jharkhand that includes breeder villages and trained Pashu Sakhis (community animal health workers), some of whom have introduced practices such as Azolla cultivation.

• Backyard poultry and kitchen gardens: Small-scale household interventions that improve nutrition and add to family income.

• Integrated Farming Systems and natural farming: Support for farmers to combine crops, livestock and natural inputs, with the aim of turning farmers into agripreneurs.

ASSET & W works in Sikkim, Jharkhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi NCR.

Leadership

• Kavita Nathan, Director

• Suryamani Roul, Director

ASSET & W suits people who want to work directly with rural communities on livelihoods, livestock, agriculture and women's empowerment. Its work across several states gives exposure to field implementation, community mobilisation and training of local women as resource persons. Working within the Heifer International model offers experience with a structured, values-based approach to community development. It is a good fit for those with a background in agriculture, animal husbandry, rural development or gender, and for anyone who prefers hands-on programme work over desk roles.