What IRD does

IRD (Institution for Rural Development) is a non-profit, secular voluntary organization registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, headquartered at Nigrie Cottage, PMG, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Founded in 1988 and operating since the early 1990s, IRD delivers a portfolio of community development programs targeting women, children, MSM communities, tribal populations, BPL families, and youth across Thiruvananthapuram district. Its program stack includes the Suraksha/Sureksha HIV prevention Target Intervention project (since 2006, funded by KSACS), RCH (Reproductive Child Health) under NRHM, baby creches for tribal/rural children, microfinance and micro-insurance (LIC partnership), residential youth development camps, medicinal plant programs, roof water harvesting (CAPART-supported), and environmental programs on bio-diversity and solid waste management. The organization has progressively extended into technical consulting services — empaneled by ILDM for river mapping and sand auditing, by LSGD for DPR preparation, and by District Collector Trivandrum for Social Impact Assessment studies.

IRD's business model is grant-funded, not commercial. Revenue mechanics consist of project-based government grants from agencies including KSACS, NRHM, KSSWB, TRIFED, CAPART, KSCSTE, ILDM, LSGD, ITDP, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jalanidhi Project, Clean Kerala Mission, and KLGSDP, supplemented by interest income from microfinance lending to SHGs at low rates. The organization employs 51-100 staff, operates a Drop-in Centre in Trivandrum Corporation, and is led by Chairman C. Balachandran and Secretary N. Lathika. Pricing is not applicable in the commercial sense; programs are delivered free to beneficiaries under government and donor mandates. GTM is relationship-driven, relying on empanelment with government bodies and partnerships with resident associations, schools (Anganwadis, English medium schools), SHG/Kudumbasree networks, and PRIs for community-level outreach and beneficiary mobilization.

Name

IRD

Legal name

Institution for Rural Development

Website

https://irdkerala.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IRD (Institution for Rural Development) is a Kerala-based non-profit NGO delivering rural development, women and child welfare, HIV prevention, tribal development, microfinance, and environmental programs in Thiruvananthapuram district, funded primarily through Indian government grants and empanelments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management (BPADAOAC)

Keywords

• Rural development programs
• HIV prevention services
• Micro finance lending
• Social impact assessment
• Women empowerment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Thiruvananthapuram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Supply Chain

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

IRD (Institution for Rural Development) is a non-profit secular voluntary organization implementing a portfolio of social development, health, livelihood, environmental, and welfare programs for marginalized communities in Kerala. Core programs include HIV prevention targeted intervention for the MSM community (Suraksha/Sureksha), reproductive and child health services, micro finance, micro economic training, baby creche units, tribal development, social impact assessment studies, and DPR preparation for local self-government bodies.

Product overview

IRD (Institution for Rural Development) is a secular voluntary organization registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, serving as a premier institution for rural development. The organization operates as a portfolio of interconnected social development programs rather than a unified technology product. Core programs include the Suraksha/Sureksha Project (HIV prevention targeted intervention for MSM communities funded by KSACS), RCH Project (reproductive child health), and various livelihood programs. Supporting services include Micro Finance (soft loans to SHGs), Micro Economic Training Programme (entrepreneurship development), and Baby Creche (child welfare). Environmental initiatives encompass Medicinal Plant Program, Roof Water Harvesting, and Environmental Program. Technical services include River Mapping, Sand Auditing & Digitalization, Social Impact Assessment Studies, and DPR Preparation for gram panchayaths. The organization also provides Domestic Violence Service Centre and Tribal Development Programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Suraksha Project: Target Intervention project of MSM community in Trivandrum Corporation, Varkala, Kadinamkulam, and Nedumangad area funded by KSACS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Kerala. IRD has been implementing PSH Projects since 2006 under this brand.
• SUREKSHA
• URJAKIRAN

Products and services

• Suraksha Project
• RCH Project
• Micro Finance
• Micro Economic Training Programme
• Micro-Insurance
• Baby Creche
• Tribal Development Programs
• Domestic Violence Service Centre
• Residential Camp (Youth Development)
• Medicinal Plant Program
• Roof Water Harvesting
• Environmental Program
• Social Impact Assessment Study
• DPR Preparation
• River Mapping, Sand Auditing & Digitalization

Quantifiable outcome

• Covered 1078 MSMs across multiple project sites with 30% high-risk behavior population and 45% vulnerable population

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRD implements PSH Projects (Suraksha) since 2006 covering micro site areas of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Varkala Municipality, Attingal Municipality, Nedumangadu Municipality and Kadinamkulam Panchayath. Funded by KSACS and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Kerala. Also collaborated for World AIDS Day observances.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of KeralacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funding partner for MSM Target Intervention project covering Trivandrum Corporation, Varkala, Kadinamkulam and Nedumangad areas.
• National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding RCH (Reproductive Child Health) project in Kuttichal Grama Panchayat especially under served and unserved areas. Priority is Mother & Children and adolescent under MotherNGO scheme.
• CAPARTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported construction of Roof Water Harvesting tanks to solve drinking water problem in interior pockets of Grama Panchayat of Trivandrum district.
• Kerala State Social Welfare BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting service providing centre for domestic violence victims at Amboori with legal and family counselors.
• Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting residential camps for adolescent mental, physical, life skill, personality and leadership development programs.
• KSSWB (Kerala State Social Welfare Board) - Govt. of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports 5 baby creche units in tribal and rural areas providing supplementary nutritional food.
• LIC of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRD is recognized by LIC for micro-Insurance programmes and Insurance to BPL families under this scheme.
• Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing Science Popularisation project approved by KSCSTE. Also received sanction for Technology Day observance. Project aims at waste management and promotion of organic vegetables.
• Institute of Land & Disaster Management (ILDM), Govt. of KeralacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRD was empanelled agency for river mapping training. Received adequate training during 2014 and allotted Kuttiyadi River to do river mapping. Also empanelled for Karamana River and Kuppom River mapping, sand auditing and digitalization.
• LSGD (Local Self Government Department)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRD was empanelled by LSGD for DPR preparation to improve infrastructural and livelihood capacity of underdeveloped gramapanchayaths in Kerala. Received 5 days training to prepare DPR worth 2 crores for each panchayath.
• District Collector TrivandrumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRD was empanelled by District Collector to conduct Social Impact Assessment study in connection with Land Acquisition for development of roads, bridges. Given 5 projects including light metro, drinking water, over bridge etc.
• Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRD is accredited NGO by TRIFED for tribal development programs and participatory income generation programmes.
• Ministry of Environment and ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting environmental programs like NEAC, Bio-diversity and solid waste management programs.
• Kerala Local Government Service Delivery Project (KLGSDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRD is accredited and empanelled for projects under KLGSDP.
• Clean Kerala MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRD is accredited for projects under Clean Kerala Mission.
• Jalanidhi ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRD is accredited for projects under Jalanidhi Project.
• ITDP, Govt. of Kerala, Revenue DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRD is accredited NGO by ITDP for Social Impact Assessment studies and tribal development programs.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mahila Samakhya: National government program for women's empowerment through education and collective action in rural India — closely aligned with IRD's women empowerment, SHG, and micro-economic activity objectives.
• MYRADA: Indian NGO specializing in rural development, micro-finance, and community institution building across multiple states — directly comparable to IRD's micro-finance, SHG, and community development programs.
• Kudumbashree: Kerala's flagship state-level women's empowerment and poverty eradication mission operating through SHGs and micro-finance — directly comparable to IRD's SHG, Kudumbasree, micro-finance, and women livelihood programs operating in the same state.
• Save the Children India: Indian NGO focused on child welfare, education, health, and protection — directly comparable to IRD's Baby Creche, RCH Project, adolescent residential camps, and child-focused programming.
• BAIF Development Research Foundation: Large Indian NGO focused on rural development, tribal livelihoods, and sustainable agriculture — directly comparable to IRD's rural development, tribal programs, and micro-finance work across India.
• ActionAid India: Indian arm of ActionAid International working on women's rights, education, livelihoods, and disaster response — comparable to IRD's women empowerment, child welfare, and community development portfolio.
• PRADAN: Indian NGO focused on promoting sustainable rural livelihoods through women's Self Help Groups and federations — comparable to IRD's SHG-based micro-finance, women empowerment, and livelihood training work.

Broad incumbents

• CARE India: Large international development organization with broad health, education, and livelihoods programs across India — operates at significantly larger scale than IRD but addresses overlapping themes of women's empowerment, health, and rural poverty.
• Oxfam India: Major international NGO working on inequality, women's rights, and rural livelihoods in India — broader in scope and scale than IRD but with thematic overlap on women's empowerment and marginalized community support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100076923373469
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irdindia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IRD