was started in 1968. Its history can be divided into two periods. From 1968 to 1978-79, MYRADA was involved entirely in the resettlement of Tibetan Refugees. From 1978-79 MYRADA has been involved with the rural poor. In response to invitations from State Governments and people, MYRADA is directly managing 16 projects in 12 backward districts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu. It is presently coordinating two operational networks of NGOs, one involved in arid zone regeneration in Andhra Pradesh and the second in the SUJALA - Karnataka Watershed Development Project. Other similar operational networks ended successfully in 2001.

In other regions, where it is not directly operational, it is engaged on a long term basis in capacity building of other institutions involved in rural development; major examples of such long term support are in North East India (Manipur, Meghalaya and Tribal Districts of Assam), Haryana and Indonesia (IFAD supported projects), in Uttar Pradesh (World Bank supported project), and in Myanmar (UNDP supported project).

Experienced and qualified staff of MYRADA has been deputed on a long term basis to the Mewat Development Agency in Haryana, to the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation and the Women and Child Development Department in Karnataka.

MYRADA has initiated a District strategy in four Districts, through a network of NGOs and with the support of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and private institutions to foster livelihood strategies through the promotion of Self-Help Affinity Groups (SAGs), Watershed Management.

Programmes and technical support for off-farm livelihood sources.

Some of these networks have also opted to foster strategies in preventive health. MYRADA has emerged as a major training resource. On average 7000 training programmes are conducted annually, 90% for people from communities we are working with, and the rest for NGOs, Bankers and Government officials. The training programmes for our people, who are largely members of community based institutions, are generally conducted in the village while those for others are conducted in MYRADA's 11 well-equipped residential training centres called Centres for Institutional Development and Organisational reform (CIDORs), one Krishi Vigyan Kendra and several Sub-Centres.

During the past year, 59 Community Managed Resource Centres (CMRC) have emerged in areas from which MYRADA is withdrawing. Each CMRC is staffed by a senior MYRADA staff and managed by a Committee comprising representatives from the community groups. Each CMRC supports around 120 Community groups, including SAGs and Watershed Management Associations; these community groups pay for the services provided by the CMRCs which include providing information on prices of farm produce, mobilising resources and establishing linkages, offering insurance and counselling services and lobbying for the interests and rights of the poor.

MYRADA's organisational structure consists of a Board comprising eminent persons, an Executive Director, a Deputy Director and Programme Staff. Programme Management and financial systems are decentralised to the project level and below; personnel policies and the Mission Statement are common.

Myrada , originally an acronym for Mysore Resettlement and Development Agency is now the accepted name and also serves as our logo.