India

BRAC began its journey in India in 2024. BRAC is working in India to support inclusive livelihood programmes that reach people living in extreme poverty.

The National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (NRLPS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, signed an MoU with BRAC. Together, we reach those furthest behind through our flagship inclusive livelihoods programme.

Currently, BRAC is working with the government at the national level, as well as five state-level rural livelihood programmes. They are based in Karnataka, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.

Our Impact

95%

of Graduation participants graduate from extreme poverty after this programme

9x

increase in savings among Graduation participants, plus a 37% increase in earnings

93%

of Graduation participants sustain the benefits 10+ years after graduation

“This partnership is taking shape at a crucial juncture for DAY-NRLM, which has been steadfastly dedicated to universal and inclusive mobilisation. With 100 million rural poor households mobilised already, our focus now shifts to uplifting 'lakhpati didis' through Samaveshi Aajeevika, an inclusive livelihood programme, while also ensuring the inclusion of the most marginalised in the SHG movement.””

Smt Smriti Sharan Joint Secretary, DAY-NRLM

Our Work

Scaling Graduation through Government

Scaling Inclusive Livelihoods through Government-Led Programmes

The Graduation approach is a proven way to help people graduate out of poverty. We work with people who face the biggest barriers to overcoming it. This includes women, people with disabilities, and those from marginalised castes.

Graduation is a sequenced programme that helps people build sustainable livelihoods in two years. Each participant gets support to meet basic needs and receives a productive asset. Assets could be livestock or inventory to start a small business. They also get coaching to build confidence, know-how, and hope.

BRAC partners with the Government of India at the national level to support people living in extreme poverty, especially women. Through this partnership, BRAC works in five states in India—Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.

The Graduation approach was first developed in Bangladesh in 2002. Today, over 100 organisations in nearly 50 countries use it. Through UPGI, BRAC hopes to help 21 million people escape extreme poverty by 2030—including 4.6 million families by 2026.

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Meet the leadership team

Shweta Banerjee, Country Lead

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Government Partners

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