Participatory Village Planning
Helping Gram Sabhas prepare realistic Gram Panchayat Development Plans through resource mapping and community needs assessment, so priorities come from the people and carry formal sanction.
Capacity of Elected Representatives
Orienting Sarpanches, Panchs and Panchayat Secretaries on their powers, financial procedures, record keeping and scheme guidelines, with focused support for first-time and women representatives.
Transparency and Scheme Convergence
Facilitating social audits, public display of works and the pooling of funds from different departments, so every rupee reaching the village is visible, accountable and well used.
Our Journey
History of IRA
A group of social scientists, educationists and administrators met one of the days in July, 1972 at Bhopal (India) and urged themselves to work for the advancement of social sciences research and planning for development, specially in a State where research culture was a forbidden fruit for non-governmental institutions. A series of further meetings gave form to ideas and defined the scope and objectives of a non-profit making body.
Institute of Regional Analysis, established in 1972, is registered under M.P. Firms & Societies Act as a voluntary non-profit research and action organisation aiming at advancing applied research in the fields of rural development, regional analysis and planning based on in-depth analysis of socio-economic problems particularly at the micro level.
The Institute seeks to analyze important economic and social facts using such methodology and techniques as would enable its findings carry conviction to all those who are concerned with the policy formulation and implementation of development programs.
1972
Established
50+
Years of Service
53+
Past Projects
12+
Intl. Sponsors
Milestones
July 1972
Founding meeting of social scientists, educationists and administrators at Bhopal. Scope and objectives of a non-profit research body defined.
October 10, 1972
Institute of Regional Analysis (IRA) formally registered under M.P. Firms and Societies Act. Late Prof. V.S. Krishnan (Vice-Chancellor, Bhopal University) elected first Chairman; Dr. Davendra K. Sharma as first Honorary Executive Director.
September 1976
Ford Foundation releases Institutional Development Grant of $100,000 for 3 years — enabling IRA to operate and build its core team.
1979 — Third Year
IRA generates 70% of resources internally through projects from Union and State Governments, autonomous Institutions and International Organisations including UNICEF.
1981–1983
Second Ford Foundation Grant of $160,000. Major portion goes to development of Rural Development Action Research Cum-Demonstration Cell — identifying and testing unconventional strategies for rural development.
Ongoing
Active collaboration with Satpura Integrated Rural Development Institution (SIRDI). Focus on Child, Woman, Household, Village Community and Rural Society through innovative field-level research-cum-action programs.
Roots in the Field
Action, Women and the Village
The Institute is governed by a body of professionals engaged in academic and research activities and subject matter specialists in the fields of regional planning, micro level planning, behavioral sciences, sociology, geography and public-administration.
"
We do not say we have done anything — the poor have fueled us for energy. We will walk with them, not run. We desire your goodwill; even contempt is worthwhile, but not indifference! Give us your smile and we give you our hand.
Eminent Board Members · 1972–2008
| Name | Occupation | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| Prof. V. S. Krishnan | Ex Vice-Chancellor, Bhopal University | Chairman |
| Shri B. K. Dubey (IAS) | Member, Board of Revenue; Former Chief Secretary M.P. | Member |
| Shri M. N. Buch (IAS) | Director & Special Secretary, Town & Country Planning, Govt. of M.P. | Member |
| Prof. Bijit Ghosh | Director, School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi | Director |
| Dr. V. L. S. Prakash Rao | Senior Fellow & Head, Institute of Social & Economic Change, Bangalore | Chairman |
| Dr. Yoginder K. Alagh | Adviser (PP), Planning Commission, New Delhi | Member |
| Dr. Kissen Kanungo | Dean, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi | Member |
| Prof. Fatehbir Bahadur IAS (Retd.) | Former Director, Tribal Research Institute, Mumbai | Chairman |
| Sh. Ravindra Sharma IAS (Retd.) | Bureaucrat | Chairman |
| Sh. B. M. Bharti | Journalist & Social Worker | Chairman |
Trust & Recognition
Credibility
IRA seeks study projects not merely to collect and analyse important economic and social facts, but to do so by using such methodology and techniques as would make its findings carry conviction with all those who are concerned with the policy formulation and implementation of development programs.
Major Project Sponsoring Agencies
Some of the major organisations that have utilised the services of the Institute include:
🌐 Ford Foundation
🇺🇳 UNICEF
🔬 IDRC (Canada)
🇩🇰 DANIDA
🏦 World Bank
🌍 UNFPA
🤲 ICCO
🇮🇳 Government of India
🎓 ICSSR
🏙 NIUA
🌾 NABARD
🗺 Govt. of Madhya Pradesh
What We Do
Areas We Serve & Invite You to Support
We do not run parallel projects; we make the public system that already exists deliver at the last mile, and we prove it with results. Every initiative is anchored in Gram Sabha resolutions and converged with government schemes, so a funder's rupee unlocks and steers many more rupees of public spending, and the work endures long after the grant ends. From watersheds and farmer collectives to tribal rights, women's federations and the safety of young girls, our programmes are owned by communities, carried forward by trained local leaders, multiplied through a network of partner NGOs, and fed back into policy so that what succeeds in one block can be adopted across a district.
Master Trainer Cadre
Building a pool of certified local master trainers through Train-the-Trainer programmes, so learning can be scaled across clusters without losing quality or depending on outside experts.
Activity-Based Community Learning
Replacing lectures with games, role plays, field visits and demonstrations that adults and youth remember and act upon, delivered in the local language and idiom.
Rights and Entitlements Campaigns
Running door-to-door drives, wall writing, folk media and help desks so that families know which schemes they are entitled to and how to claim them.
Evidence-Based Policy Briefs
Converting data and lessons from our field pilots into short, practical notes for district administrations and line departments, with clear recommendations they can adopt.
Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues
Bringing officials, elected representatives, academics, civil society and community leaders to one table to resolve bottlenecks in programme delivery.
Amplifying Community Voice
Organising public hearings and community feedback forums so that the concerns of the poorest households reach decision-makers directly and are followed up.
Climate-Resilient Practices
Promoting crop diversification, natural and low-input farming, seed banks and efficient irrigation so that small farms can withstand erratic rainfall and rising input costs.
Farmer Producer Organisations
Organising small and marginal farmers into collectives for joint purchase of inputs, value addition and collective marketing, giving them bargaining power in the market.
Access to Credit, Insurance and Schemes
Linking farmers to Kisan Credit Cards, crop insurance, soil health testing and departmental schemes, and helping them complete the paperwork that often keeps them out.
Watershed Development and Water Harvesting
Planning ridge-to-valley treatment, check dams, farm ponds and recharge structures with the community, so that groundwater rises and more land can be irrigated.
Participatory Irrigation Management
Strengthening Water User Associations to take charge of distribution, maintenance and water charges in irrigation systems, ensuring fair supply to tail-end farmers.
Soil, Forest and Commons Regeneration
Reviving village ponds, grazing lands and degraded forests through community protection, plantation and soil conservation, restoring the shared resources the poor depend on.
SHG Federations and Livelihoods
Federating Self-Help Groups into village and cluster organisations that access bank credit, run enterprises and market products together.
Leadership in Public Life
Preparing women to speak in Gram Sabhas, contest and serve in Panchayats, and take up leadership roles in committees, cooperatives and producer groups.
Legal and Financial Literacy
Running camps on property and inheritance rights, protection from violence, banking, savings and digital payments, so women can make and defend their own decisions.
Forest Rights and Self-Rule
Assisting individual and community claims under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and strengthening Gram Sabhas to exercise their powers under PESA, 1996, in Scheduled Areas.
Forest-Based Livelihoods
Adding value to minor forest produce through collection, grading, processing and fair-price marketing, so that forest dwellers earn more without depleting the forest.
Health, Nutrition and Education Access
Bridging tribal hamlets with health, nutrition and schooling services in a manner that respects local language, customs and traditional knowledge.
Schooling and Learning Support
Tracking out-of-school children, running bridge and remedial classes, and working with School Management Committees to keep children, especially girls, in school.
Adolescent Health and Nutrition
Group sessions for adolescent girls on nutrition, anaemia, menstrual hygiene and health services, linked with Anganwadi and health department programmes.
Life Skills and Child Protection
Building confidence, communication and career awareness, while activating village child protection committees to prevent child marriage, child labour and abuse.
Capacity Building of Grassroots NGOs
Mentoring smaller organisations in project design, financial management, documentation and statutory compliance, so they become credible partners for funders.
Consortium Partnerships
Forming partnerships of complementary NGOs to deliver larger, multi-district programmes jointly, sharing expertise, geography and accountability.
Shared Learning Platforms
Hosting regular meets, exposure visits and an open knowledge bank of tools and case studies, so good practices spread quickly and mistakes are not repeated.
Partner With UsWhether through expertise, volunteering, CSR collaboration or funding, your support strengthens every one of these areas on the ground.
Get in touchCompleted Studies
Past Projects
IRA has effectively completed several major study projects. The following is a list of important completed studies.
| # | Study / Project | Sponsoring Agency | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Socio-Economic Study & Evaluation of PIREP — Alirajpur (M.P.) & Bukhia (Rajasthan) | Ministry of Agriculture, Dept. of Rural Development, Govt. of India | Rural |
| 2 | Urban Housing in M.P. — Case study in Indore, Bhopal, Raipur, Bhilai & Durg | Dept. of Housing & Environment, Govt. of M.P. | Urban |
| 3 | New Horizons of Rural Development — Planning for the Poor | IRA Research and Development | Rururban |
| 4 | Fight Against Hunger, Ignorance and Poverty (FAHIP) | IRA Research and Development | Rururban |
| 5 | Survey of Administration-Tribal Interaction — Bijadandi T.D. Block, Mandla | Ministry of Home Affairs (Tribal Welfare), Govt. of India | Rural |
| 6 | Tribal Employment & Linkage Pattern — Mining Area of M.P. | ICSSR, New Delhi | Rural |
| 7 | Social Inputs in Shajapur ADP — 8 Development Blocks | UNICEF & Rural Development Dept., Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 8 | Role of Women in Changing Economic Landscape — Bhilai, Chhattisgarh | ICSSR, New Delhi | Rural |
| 9 | Socio-Economic Study of Submergence Areas — Chhirpani (Rajnandgaon) | Irrigation Dept., Govt. of M.P. (for IBRD) | Rural |
| 10 | Socio-Economic Study — Gaumukh (Guna) | Irrigation Dept., Govt. of M.P. (for IBRD) | Rural |
| 11 | Developmental Problems & Perspectives — SADA Durg-Bhilai Rural Urban Micro Region | SADA Durg & IRA Bhopal | Rururban |
| 12 | Role of Socio-Religious Cults in Rural Development — Amrawati District (SORCUL) | ICSSR, New Delhi | Rural |
| 13 | Formulation of Two Projects for National Adult Education Program | IRA and SIRDI | Rural |
| 14 | Socio-Economic Study — Sondur Irrigation Project (Raipur) | Irrigation Dept., Govt. of M.P. (for IBRD) | Rural |
| 15 | Formulation of Plan of Action for Women in M.P. (PAW) | Ministry of Social Welfare, Govt. of India | Rururban |
| 16 | Socio-Economic Study — Narmada Command Area Villages | NIUA, New Delhi | Rural |
| 17 | Repayment Performance of Borrowers — Chhindwara District | NABARD, Bombay | Rural |
| 18 | Evaluation of Integrated Rural Development Projects — Seoni & Chhindwara | Panchayat & Rural Development, Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 19 | Social Inputs — Area Development Project, Damoh (3 Blocks) | Rural Development Dept., Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 20 | Social Inputs — Seoni Area Development Project (3 Blocks) | Rural Development Dept., Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 21 | National Rural Employment Program | NCHSE, Bhopal | Rural |
| 22 | Problems of Women Bidi Workers — M.P. & Maharashtra | Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India | Rururban |
| 23 | Intensive Evaluation of Family Beneficiary Oriented Program — Tribal Blocks, M.P. | Govt. of India, Ministry of Welfare, Tribal Development Division | Rural |
| 24 | Concurrent Evaluation of NREP — 12 Districts of M.P. | Govt. of India, Ministry of Agriculture | Rural |
| 25 | NREP Evaluation — Balaghat & Durg Districts | Rural Development Dept., Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 26 | Concurrent Evaluation of Soil Conservation Programme — Indore & Dhar | Rural Development Dept., Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 27 | Concurrent Evaluation of IRDP — Sehore & Jhabua | Rural Development Dept., Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 28 | Concurrent Evaluation of IRDP — 3rd Round Survey | Govt. of India, Ministry of Agriculture, Dept. of Rural Development | Rural |
| 29 | Concurrent Evaluation of Micro Distribution System — Khargone | Rural Development Dept., Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 30 | M.P. Women in Agriculture — Female Headed Households (FHH) Study | Royal Danish Embassy (DANIDA), New Delhi | Rural |
| 31 | Concurrent Evaluation of Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) — 1st Round | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 32 | Emerging Settlement Pattern — Mid Narmada Tapti Regions (ESPASAM) | International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada | Rural |
| 33 | Availability & Accessibility of Credit Facilities to Women — 10 Major States | Govt. of India, Ministry of Welfare, Women & Child Development | Rururban |
| 34 | Concurrent Evaluation of IRDP — 4th Round Cash Disbursement Scheme | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 35 | Concurrent Evaluation of IRDP — 4 Districts M.P. (Rewa, Satna, Sidhi & Shahdol) | Rural Development Mantralaya, Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 36 | Concurrent Evaluation of JRY — 2nd Round | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 37 | Rehabilitation & Resettlement — Self-Employment of Oustees of Narmada Sagar Projects | Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA), M.P. | Rural |
| 38 | Evaluation of Surplus Land Distribution (Land Ceiling Act) M.P. | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 39 | Reconnaissance Study — Mandla & Raigarh; M.P. Profile Preparation | Hunger Project, India | Rural |
| 40 | Concurrent Evaluation of IRDP — 5th Round | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Areas & Employment | Rural |
| 41 | Social Assessment — Primary & Middle Education (Girls & STs) DPEP — Khargone & Vidisha | Rajiv Gandhi Prathmik Shiksha Mission, World Bank Project M.P. | Rural |
| 42 | Community Participation in IPDP — Jayant, Nigahi, Dudhichua OCP, Singrauli | World Bank, Coal India Limited, Calcutta | Rururban |
| 43 | Governor's Report on Scheduled Areas of M.P. — 1993–94 | ST & SC Welfare Dept., Govt. of M.P. | M.P. State |
| 44 | State Report — Concurrent Evaluation of IRDP 5th Round | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Areas & Employment | Rural |
| 45 | Concurrent Evaluation of Indira Awas Yojana and Million Wells Scheme | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Areas & Employment | Rural |
| 46 | Quick Evaluation — Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 47 | Quick Evaluation — Development of Women & Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 48 | Quick Evaluation — Supply of Improved Toolkits to Rural Artisans (SITRA) | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 49 | Quick Evaluation — Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM) | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 50 | Quick Evaluation — National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 51 | Quick Evaluation — Watershed Development Programme | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 52 | Quick Evaluation — Information Education & Communication (IEC) | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 53 | Promotion of Self-Employment Among PAPs — Singrauli Coal Fields, Dist. Sidhi | India Canada Cooperation Office (CIDA), Canada High Commission | Rural |
Active Work
Current & Recent Projects
A selection of IRA's current and recent project engagements across rural and urban India.
| # | Project | Sponsoring Agency | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Project SAKSHAM, Betul | Mission Samriddhi, Chennai | Rural |
| 2 | AWCT — Anganwadi Worker's Training Center (ongoing since 1984) | Women & Child Development Dept., Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 3 | Backward Region Grant Fund | Sanjay Gandhi Rural Development, Pachmarhi | Rural |
| 4 | Capacity Building of Gram Sabha Members | Panchayat & Rural Development Dept., Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 5 | Capacity Building for Women Elected Representatives, Panchayat Villagers | Mahila & Bal Vikas Vibhag, Govt. of M.P. | Rural |
| 6 | Skilled Training and Placement for Youth — Indore | World Vision India – Indore | Urban |
| 7 | Skilled Training and Placement for Youth — Raipur | World Vision India – Raipur | Urban |
| 8 | Three-Level Panchayati Raj Institutions Training for Women | Mahila & Bal Vikas Vibhag, Govt. of M.P. | Urban / Rural |
| 9 | Agriculture Training for Youth and Farmers | Farmers and Local NGOs | Rural |
| 10 | Assessment of Mobile Health Clinic in Madhya Pradesh | United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) | Rural |
| 11 | Kisan Mitra and Kisan Didi Training Program, Indore District | Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP), New Delhi | Rural |
| 12 | India Program of Research on Human Development — 26 Districts M.P. (1900 Households) | Collaboration with NCAER New Delhi & University of Chhattisgarh | Urban / Rural |
| 13 | Awareness Seminars on Promotion of Communal Harmony (M.P.) | National Foundation of Communal Harmony, New Delhi | Urban |
| 14 | Economic Empowerment through Watershed Management, Muher Sector — PAPs of Singrauli Coalfields | India Canada Cooperation Office (CIDA), Canada High Commission | Rural |
| 15 | Concurrent Evaluation of SGRY — 16 Districts of M.P. | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
| 16 | Concurrent Evaluation of SGSY — M.P. & Chhattisgarh (14 Districts) | Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development | Rural |
Leadership
Board of Governors
The current Board of Governors guiding IRA's mission and strategy.
SC
Mr. S. C. Jain
Chairman
SK
Dr. Sulbha Khanna
Member
VK
Shri Virendra Khare
Member
RG
Mr. Ravi Gupta
Treasurer
YM
Mr. Yugandhar Mandavkar
Member
TK
Mr. Tilak Raj Kapoor
Member
AK
Shri Ajay Kumar
Executive Director & Member Secretary
Expert Panel
Professional Support
IRA is supported by an eminent multi-disciplinary panel of professionals across agriculture, health, ICT, livelihood, training and more.
🌾 Agriculture
Mr. Ajit Kelkar
Consultant in agriculture and organic farming
Mr. Rajesh Tiwari
Engineer by profession, agriculturist by practice. Specialises in biodynamic agriculture
Mr. Ravi Kelkar
Consultant in agriculture and organic farming
🏭 CSR
Mr. Ajay Kumar
Experience in CSR projects, especially livelihood and agriculture
Mr. Pankaj Shrotriya
Engineer; experience with large CSR projects
📢 Media & Communication
Mr. Arvind Tiwari
Specialises in communication and media
Mr. B. M. Bharati
Specialises in communication and media
🏥 Health
Dr. Advity Goswami
Holistic health; Internet marketing and NGOs
Dr. Jyoti Prakash
Homoeopathic doctor; rural health, RTI & communications
Dr. Raj Kumar Nema
Practicing homoeopathic doctor; interest in rural health
Dr. S. S. Bardia
Practicing doctor with interest in rural health
💻 ICT for Development
Mr. Ajay Kumar
35 years in development sector; e-Governance, livelihood and agriculture
Mr. Yogesh Andlay
Ex-President IIT Alumni Association; entrepreneurship development; ICT for development
🤲 Livelihood, SHGs & Entrepreneurship
Dr. (Mrs) Sulbha Khanna
Socio-economic research, livelihood, M&E — 25+ years experience
Dr. (Mrs) Upma Diwan
Women and development, livelihood — 25+ years experience
Mr. Vaibhav — Wonder Grass
Young social entrepreneur; bamboo workers and urban consumers
🏗 Miscellaneous
Mr. Prasant Shrivastava
Architect; rural housing and environment-friendly buildings
Prof. Sudarshan Khanna
Designer from NID; rural products, especially toys
💧 Water Resources
Mr. Virendra Khare
Engineer; public health engineering & water resources
Mr. SC Jain
Expert in water management, rural development, agriculture
👩 Women & Development
Dr. (Mrs) Sulbha Khanna
Socio-economic research, livelihood, M&E
Dr. (Mrs) Upma Diwan
Director & Senior Fellow, IRA; women and development, livelihood
Dr. Vibha Gupta
Women and technology, SHGs, livelihood
🏙 Urban Affairs
Mr. Pavan Gupta
Town Planner & traffic management expert; human settlements & livelihood
📊 Socio-economic Research & M&E
Mr. Pankaj Srivastav
25 years in development; project design, M&E systems; worked for UN and donor organisations
Get in Touch
Contact Us
Head Office
Address
H. No. 88, First Floor, Sharda Nagar,
Gothana, Betul,
District Betul — 460001 (M.P.) India
Gothana, Betul,
District Betul — 460001 (M.P.) India
Mobile
Email
Website
Director & Senior Fellow
Dr. UPMA DIWAN
Field Office
Action-Research cum Training Center
Village: Bahiram (Karanja)
Taluka: Chandur Bazar
District: Amrawati (Maharashtra)
Pin: 444809
Taluka: Chandur Bazar
District: Amrawati (Maharashtra)
Pin: 444809
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